David Fights Goliath

By Mary Vee
I Samuel 17

David's Thoughts

King Saul gave me permission to go and fight Goliath!


I picked up my staff and walked, well, no...I guess I'd have to say I hurried to the stream that flowed through the Valley of Elah. Five smooth stones lay along the edge of the water. I picked them up. They felt good in my hand, the right shape, size, and weight. "Perfect." I dropped them into my shepherd's bag.


I was ready to fight. 


I walked to the meeting place and waited. Instead of knees trembling, great strength from God pumped into my muscles. I was determined to prove God to this wicked Philistine. 


Goliath stepped forward to the same place he had for the last forty days. He didn't seem unbeatable to me. Yes, he towered over me, he had great weapons, but he didn't have God.


Goliath squinted at me. He scanned the rest of the valley then returned his gaze at me. "You've got to be kidding me. Your army sent a boy? Am I a dog that you come to fight me with sticks?" 


He held his fist in the air and cursed his gods and David. "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"


That was it. I couldn't stand it another minute. This Philistine had gone to far. "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied."


I took two steps closer to show I was not afraid. "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand. I will strike you and take your head from you. This day I will give the bodies of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth so that all may know there is a God in Israel. Then all the assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's and He will give you into our hands."


Goliath rolled his eyes and mocking laughed.


I reached into my bag and took out a stone. It cradled nice in my slingshot. My arm swung the sling around and around, gaining speed. At just the right moment...I released the stone and watched it sail through the air.


I didn't hope, or pray...I already knew God directed the stone's path. In an instant, the stone hit Goliath in his forehead. His eyes flashed wide and his mouth fell open. He wobbled forward and back then fell on his face to the earth. 

I realized I didn't have a sword to finish the job. There, Goliath's sword lay on the ground next to him. I sprinted to his wounded body, took his sword out of the  sheath and killed him by cutting off his head. 


The Philistine army had laughed as long as Goliath stood. But when I held his head in my hands they screamed like scared children and ran. The Israelite trumpet blew, signaling the soldiers to attack the Philistine army.


After the battle I carried Goliath's head and presented it to king Saul. He said, "Who's son are you?"


I lowered my head, "I am the son of your servant Jesse, the Bethlehemite."


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pictures courtesy of Visualbiblealive.com


1. Where did David go after leaving king Saul's tent?
2. What did David look for?
3. Who came out to talk with David, and what did he say?
4. What did David to with the stone?
5. After Goliath fell, what did David do?
6. What did the trumpet signal?