IMITATE THEIR FAITH/DAVID

"JEHOVAH WILL SURRENDER YOU INTO MY HAND"

At first, Saul tried to outfit David with his own armor. It was much like Goliath's, made of copper, and it likely included a large hauberk, or shirt of mail, composed of overlapping scales. However, David tried moving about while wearing that large and cumbersome equipment and soon found that  it would not work for him. He was not trained as a soldier, so he was used to wearing armor, especially the armor that was worn by Saul, who was the tallest man in the nation of Israel! (1 Samuel 9:2)  He removed it all and chose the garb he as used to wearing-that of a shepherd equipped to protect his flock. -1 Samuel 17:38-40. 

David carried his  shepherd's staff, a bag over his shoulder, and a sling.  Now a sling might not seem like much, but it was in fact a formidable weapon. Consisting of a small pouch at the end of two leather straps, it was an ideal weapon for a shepherd.  He would place  a stone in  the pouch, whirl it around his head at great speed, and then release one of the straps, hurling the stone with lethal accuracy. So effective was this weapon that armies sometimes used divisions of slingers. 

Thus equipped, David hurried to meet his foe.  We can only imagine David's fervent prayers as he stooped in the dry riverbed on the valley floor and collected five small smooth stones. Then he went out onto the field of battle-not walking but running! 

When Goliath saw his opponent, what did he think?  "He sneered at him in contempt," we read,  "because he was just a ruddy and handsome boy."  Goliath boomed out:  "Am I a dog, so that you are coming against me with sticks?" Evidently he saw David's staff but took no note of the sling. He cursed David in the name of the Philistine gods and vowed to feed the corpse of this contemptible foe to the birds and beasts of the field. -1 Samuel 17:41-44. 

To this day, David's response stands as a great statement of faith.  Just imagine the young man calling out to Goliath:  "You are coming out against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I am coming against you in the name of Jehovah of armies, the God of the battle line of Israel, whom you have taunted."  David knew that human power and weaponry mattered little.  Goliath had shown disrespect for Jehovah God, and Jehovah would respond. As David put it,  "the battle belongs to Jehovah." -1 Samuel 17:45-47. 

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH/DAVID -Conclusion of  "JEHOVAH WILL SURRENDER YOU INTO MY HAND"

From the Watchtower magazine