"LET NO ONE LOSE HEART BECAUSE OF HIM"

While serving Saul, David often returned home to shepherd the sheep, sometimes for extended periods. It was during one such period that Jesse sent David to check on his three oldest sons, who were serving in Saul's army. Obediently David, laden with supplies for his brothers, headed to the valley of Elah. When he arrived, he was dismayed to find the two armies locked in a stalemate described at the outset of this article. They faced each other from the opposing slopes of that wide curved valley. - 1 SAMUEL 17:1-3, 15-19. 

To David, the situation was not tolerable. How could the army of the living God, Jehovah, flee in terror from a mere man-and a pagan at that? David saw how Goliath's taunts as direct insult to Jehovah. So he began talking eagerly to the soldiers about defeating Goliath. Before long, David's brother, Eliab, got wind of David's talk. He rebuked his younger brother harshly, accusing him of being there only to witness the carnage of the battle. But David answered him: "What have I done now? I was only asking a question!" Then he went right on speaking confidently about defeating Goliath, until someone repeated his words to Saul. The king ordered David to be brought before him. - 1 SAMUEL 17:23-31. 

Next time: "LET NO ONE LOSE HEART BECAUSE OF HIM" 

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