Nehemiah-So Overworked We Became Mean

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 5

From Nehemiah's Journal

My name is Nehemiah. I have been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

I must admit, the years I'd spent growing up in Babylon as a servant seemed really difficult at the time. My Jewish brothers worked, how we worked to stay alive in the foreign country, to build homes, to please those who had power over us.




And now this problem. 

Every man worked on his section of the wall around the city of Jerusalem either by doing the physical work or by guarding those who did the physical work. We were tired. Hadn't eaten a decent meal in a while. Probably didn't drink enough water, either. 

We were cranky.

On top of lack of sleep, we tried our best to keep up. I mean, my Jewish brothers who worked on the wall got along just fine. Each man doing and give more than could be expected.

The problem was the nobles. These men refused to do any work. They didn't think they needed to. They even paid workers to do their assignment.

The nobles continued to get wealthier while the men who worked on the wall to protect the city left their fields. Their farms didn't bring in enough food as a result. Several families begged the nobles to lend them money.

And that's when the trouble began.

Because the men weren't there to work the farms the farms didn't produce enough food to pay the bills. The families couldn't pay back their debt to the nobles. They had to sell family members into slavery to stay alive.

Really?

Our nation is struggling and our own rich noblemen are taking slaves from those who cannot pay a debt because they are building the wall to protect the those very same noblemen and all the others Jews from our enemies? I was ANGRY.

I called the nobles and officials to a meeting and said, "You are taking money from your own countrymen! Can't you see how we worked to by back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles? And now you are selling your brothers into slavery for yourself??? What are you doing?"

The nobles and official stood quietly. They couldn't find anything to say.

So I said more, "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid mockery from our Gentile enemies? I, and my brothers, and my men are also lending the people money and grain. You...you need to stop taking tax and any other monies from your brothers. Give back their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses immediately. Give back the fees and taxes you're charging, you know I'm talking about the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine, and oil. Give it all back."

A Jerusalem gate. They are not small!! At this point
the men have built these walls half this height.
Photo Courtesy

The nobles apologized. "You're right. We'll give it back. And we will not demand anything more from them. We'll do as you say."

 They may have felt sorry then, but I couldn't take their word as a promise. I called the priests and made the nobles and officials promise in front of the priests to follow through with their word.

After they said their promises, I said, "In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!"

Well, I think they understood not to cross their brothers again. 

All the men who had gathered, including the priests said, "Amen," and praised the Lord.

And...the men did as they promised.







Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 

Nehemiah-Strength in Teamwork

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 5

From Nehemiah's Journal

My name is Nehemiah. I have been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

I must admit, the years I'd spent growing up in Babylon as a servant seemed really difficult at the time. My Jewish brothers worked, how we worked to stay alive in the foreign country, to build homes, to please those who had power over us.




After a really rough start back home in Jerusalem, my Jewish brothers and I have found strength and courage. Thanks to God who gave us the ideas, we have made progress on the walls surrounding the city despite the bullying from men who were not Jews.

Half of my men did the work rebuilding the walls, while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and armor. These guards posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who worked rebuilding the walls. Those who carried rock, mortar, or tools did so with one one hand holding a weapon. Each builder wore his sword at his side. 

I also had a few men with trumpets positioned next to me armed with trumpets. We had designed signals to have specific meanings. The messages were conveyed to the whole city with the trumpet blasts. This way brothers on the west wall would know if trouble happened on the south wall. The team effort made us strong. When the trumpet signal warned of trouble, men from all parts of the city ran to help. We had our confidence in the God who would fight for us.

The trouble didn't stop, though. Our bullies took the challenge to pester us even at night. I ordered the men who worked on the walls during the day to not go home, but to stay inside the city at night and guard against our tormenters. 

A Jerusalem gate. They are not small!! At this point
the men have built these walls half this height.
Photo Courtesy

Neither I, nor my brothers, nor my men, nor the guards with me changed clothes or took time to bathe. Each of us had a weapon, even when we went for water.

Even still our problems were not over. Since the men were working night and day on the wall, there was no one to tend the fields. Food became a problem. 











Come back next time to see what happens.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version 

               

Nehemiah-The Bullies Tormented Us...The Men Wanted to Give up...Nevergiveupstories

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 4

From Nehemiah's Journal

My name is Nehemiah. I have been a servant in Babylon for a long time. I was cupbearer to the king. 

I must admit, the years I'd spent growing up in Babylon as a servant seemed really difficult at the time. My Jewish brothers worked, how we worked to stay alive in the foreign country, to build homes, to please those who had power over us.

I thought those days were difficult.

Until now.

I was sent to Jerusalem to insure the people would rebuild the walls. Sanballat, his friend Tobiah, and their band of bullies have said the meanest, most discouraging words, or so we thought, until now. 

Until now the Jews rebuilding the city wall have endured the harassment. 

Sanballat, Tobiah, and their evil, bully friends have upped their tormenting to epic levels. 


The Jews were tired. We'd worked day and night searching for good bricks in the rubble, making new ones, spreading mortar, and hoisting the bricks above our heads until they fit in place on the wall. We hadn't taken a break. How could we with men like Sanballat and his band of bullies hanging around?

Sometimes when bullies say mean words over and over and over, the evil starts to wear a person down, right?  We know just how you feel.

This time Sanballat said to the working men, "Before the Israelites know it or see us, we'll be among them and will kill them and put an end to their work." Of course they added a dastardly laugh. 

The Jewish workers became afraid. They came to me. "Whenever we turn, they will attack us. How are we suppose to work? Tell us, Nehemiah. This is so discouraging. We can't keep working like this."

A Jerusalem gate. They are not small!! At this point
the men have built these walls half this height.
Photo Courtesy

They were right. The Jews needed help. I prayed and asked God for an idea how to give the men a sense of safety while they worked. God told me and I did as He said. I pulled some of the workers off the wall and stationed them behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places. I placed them by families so the men from Benjamin would guard where their brothers worked. The men from Reuben would guard where they worked, and so on for all the tribes of men. 

After the guards stood in place I saw the plan looked good. I went to a place where all the workers could hear me and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of Sanballat and his friends. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, you sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."

When our enemies heard that we knew all about their plot and that God had ruined it, we all returned to the wall, each man to his own work.

We chose not to be afraid, God was with us, and we would stand up and fight for our family, and home. We chose to never give up.

Never. 

The wall would be finished.

And Jerusalem...rebuilt.




Come back next time to see what happens.
*********************************************************************************************
sources: New International Version, New King James Version 
               

Ezekiel- Obeying God's Instructions No Matter What

By Mary Vee
Ezekiel 3

From Ezekiel's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Ezekiel. The Lord has asked me to be a prophet to the people of Israel living in Babylon as slaves.

After God spoke to me in the vision with the amazing creatures, He returned me to Babylon and took me to the Kebar River where the Israelites lived. I sat with them for seven days overwhelmed at what I had seen and heard in the vision.

At the end of the seven days, the word of the Lord came to me. God said, "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Listen to what I am about to say and give the warnings I tell you. 

"When the message is for a wicked man and you don't warn him or try to get him to stop doing his evil ways the evil man will surely die for his sin, AND I will hold you responsible for his blood.

"If you warn the wicked man as I instruct and he does not turn from his wickedness or stop his evil ways, he will die for his sin. But you will have saved yourself.

"Now if I give you a message of warning to give to a righteous man who has started sinning that man will die from his sin and if you did not warn him you will be held responsible for his blood and die, too. But if you warn the righteous man to not sin and he stops, he will surely live because he listened to the warning, and you will have saved yourself, too." 

So, what God wants us to do is to warn people not to disobey God. If we don't warn them, we are in the same trouble as the person who is sinning.

I'll tell you more next time.

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1. Where did God send Ezekiel after the vision?
2. Who lived there?
3. How long did Ezekiel sit there?
4. What happened next?
5. What did God tell Ezekiel to do?

Honorable Men from Jabesh

By Mary Vee
I Samuel 31

An Israelite Soldier

The Philistines were too strong for us.


We couldn't match their weapons or their numbers. What would you do if a swam of bees flew toward you. Run? Precisely. 


We hid, far enough away to be safe, but close enough to watch the Philistines do their worst. Those evil men went into our homes, stole our animals, clothes, and anything they could touch. They cooked with our pots, ate from our plates, killed our animals for food. 


That night the Philistines drank their fill of wine and danced around fires, mocking us. My anger boiled because they not only mocked us, they mocked our God.


The next day the Philistines searched the fallen Israelite soldiers, taking whatever pleased them. When they found the bodies of Saul, our beloved king, and his sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua they...cut off Saul and his son's heads and stole their armor. 


Word spread like wild fire to all the Philistine cities telling their wicked people to shout from the temple of their idols so that all would know: The Israelite king was dead.


Our spies watched the Philistine lords set Saul's armor inside the temple of the Ashtoreths. Why? My king's armor in the temple of an idol? A temple that does not worship God?


They didn't stop there. 


Oh, no.


The Philistines took Saul and his son's bodies and hooked them to the wall of Beth Shan for all their people to mock, and spit on. 


Enough. No more.


I and the other men from Jabesh Gilead rose up like a mighty stealth army unified to restore the honor of our king. We traveled all night. Absolutely nothing would stop our mission. We sneaked behind enemy lines  to the place where Saul and his son's bodies hung.


The Philistines may think they are mighty, but we had God on our side.


We tenderly took down the bodies of our beloved king and his sons and carried them back to Jabesh Gilead to give them an honorable burial under the tamarisk tree. 


We were so overcome with grief, every man banned together and fasted for seven days to morn and honor the memory of the first king of Israel, a man chosen by God.


The tear stains you find on this journal, were unavoidable...


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image courtesy of Christianimageresource.com


1. What made the Philistine too strong for this battle?
2. What did the surviving Israelite soldiers do?
3. What did the Philistine soldiers do to the cities?
4. What did the Philistine soldiers do to the slain soldiers?
5. What did the Philistine soldiers do the Saul and his sons?
6. The men of Jabesh were __________ and chose to _________
7. Why did the men of Jabesh fast for seven days?

Death of a King

By Mary Vee

I Samuel 31

Saul's Armor Bearer's Journal

The moment Saul called the army together I knew we didn't stand a chance.

He wanted to get instructions from Samuel, but Samuel had just died. 


Saul wanted to get instructions from God, God didn't answer His prayer like Samuel had warned. 


Saul finally went to a medium for instruction. Apparently he spoke with Samuel somehow while meeting with the medium, and learned he and his sons would die in the battle.

It was too late to change anything. Saul had walked away from God.

The Philistines lined up like fruit flies on rotting fruit. The army grew by the minute. Seemed like soldiers came out of cracks in the earth and hidden caves. We formed our army on Mt. Gilboa, overlooking our enemy. If only Saul had continued to follow the Lord's commands we would have had His protection.

I chose to follow my king into battle, carrying his armor, as I should, even if death strikes me.

The battle started shortly after. The Philistines came strong and sure, wielding their weapons, sharpened and new. We had hardly anything to fight with. A while ago the Philistines had robbed our blacksmiths of their sharpening tools. They could not do their work. If we needed a plow sharpened we had to go to the Philistines and pay them. 

Now in time of battle, what did we have? No blessing, no weapons, and a leader who had chosen not to follow God's commands.

We were doomed.

Israelite troops fled the scene by the thousands. Many still fell to the Philistine sword. The best Philistine soldiers hunted Saul and his sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. Despite their warrior skills, they became trapped behind battle lines. I tried to help, but failed.

An arrow hit Saul, wounding him severely. Saul looked up at me and coughed a deathly sound. "Draw your sword and thrust it through me. Don't let a dog of a Philistine come and have the victory of sending me to my death. They will first abuse my body before killing me."

I couldn't stand the pain in his eyes, but I also could not be the one to end his life. He was my king! "I--I can't!" 

Saul mustered the last of his strength, grabbed his sword and thrust it into his own body. "I will not die at the hand of a Philistine."

News traveled to my part of the battlefield stating Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchisua had also been killed by the Philistines.

What a terrible day. A day of disgrace.

I am writing down these events before I do what is honorable. My king, the one whom I have served by carrying his armor, has died in battle, therefore so shall I.

I will end my life in the same way. May God have mercy on all our souls.

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1.  Who attacked the Israelites?

2.  Who was the commander of the Israelites?

3.  What had Samuel warned Saul?

4.  What happened to the Israelite soldiers?

5.  What happened to Saul's sons?

6.  What happened to Saul?

7.  What happened to the armor bearer, and why?

8.  Throughout this story the armor bearer told why these things happened. What was the reason?

David Follows a Higher King

By Mary Vee
I Samuel 27

David's Thoughts

I heard it in his voice. 


Saul had no intentions of calling an end to his death ordered against me. How many times had he promised? How many times had he lied?


Do I regret not killing him when I had the chance? No. My devotion was to God first above any feelings I may have had. God appointed Saul king, which meant I had no right to change it. 


Still...I had a responsibility to my men and their safety. And so, to honor the king who wished to kill me, yet keep my men safe, I chose to leave my home. My beloved city.


And live with the Philistines, where we'd find safety.


We broke camp and left for Gath, Goliath's home country. King Achish agreed to let me speak with him. "Thank you for allowing us to make homes in the royal city, but who are we but your humble servant? If I have found favor in your eyes, give us a place to live in some town in your country." 


Achish seemed pleased with my idea and granted us the city of Ziklag to set up housing. We no longer had to hide in caves or brush. The 600 men who had traveled with me built homes for their families and I built a home for my wives, Abigail and Ahinoam. I had a feeling we would live there for a long time.


After settling in Ziklag, I sent a scout to check on Saul's whereabouts. "David, I have learned Saul's plans," the scout said when he returned. "Once he heard you were living in the  land of the Philistines he called off the search."


At last. Maybe now he'll focus more on protecting the country than chasing me.


This doesn't mean I sat around and did nothing in Ziklag. I was a warrior, and my men soldiers. We had a duty to protect the land God gave our people. Once our families had homes we moved about the Promised Land raiding the inhabitants of the land from old. We struck any foreign people from north to south. 


We raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites leaving no man or woman alive to tell the story. After each raid I showed king Achish the sheep, oxen, donkeys, camels, and clothing we brought back. 


He seemed impressed and always asked, "So where did you raid today, David?"


I would answer: against the southern area of Judah or against the southern area of the Jerahmeelites, or against the southern area of the Kenites.  Since we spared no one from the cities we raided, Achish never found out what we really did. He thought we attacked Israelite cities to pay Saul back for attempting to kill me. 


I heard Achish once say, "David has made his people, Israel, utterly hate him; therefore he will be my servant forever." In all that time he never figured out we fought all foreign nations in the Promised Land.


For one year and four months we followed the orders of a higher king than Achish, the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, to protect and rid the Promised Land of their enemies.


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1.  Did David believe Saul's promise?
2.  What did David do.
3.  What did David ask of king Achish?
4.  After settling in the city of Ziklag, what did David and his men set out to do?
5.  What did king Achish believe?
6.  Whose orders did David follow?


photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

Jonathan Pleads David's Case

Mary Vee

I Samuel 19

Jonathan's Thoughts

My dad has been the king of Israel, the first king chosen by God and the people of this land.

He use to be a fun person to be around and because of his bravery I felt proud to call him my dad.

Then he changed.

He offered a sacrifice by himself instead of waiting for the priest, he built monuments to himself, he didn't even take charge of the battle against Goliath. Nothing and no one pleased him. I didn't like watching him sit all day when others went to battle. Why was he so angry? Why wouldn't he get up and lead?

One day he called me to his chamber along with a few of his servants. He said, "I want you to kill David." 

David was my friend! I couldn't kill him, but I could warn him. I sneaked out of the castle and met with my friend. I said, "My father wants to kill you. He's put the order out for your death. Please find some place to hide here in the field. I'll bring my father out here and speak with him about you. Meet me afterwards."

He agreed. Later that day my father walked with me as I had asked. I stopped in the field where David hid. "Father, please don't have David killed. He hasn't done anything against you, in fact, he's done many things to honor your name. 

"Remember he took his own life in his hands when he fought Goliath. The Lord helped him save the entire army with one stone. You saw it and celebrated with us, remember? Why do you want to do hurt an innocent person who has helped you? Why do you want to kill him without a cause?"

I had hoped he'd listen to my words and change his mind. 

Standing in the fresh air seemed to do him good. He took a deep breath and looked at our beautiful countryside. He didn't say anything for a long time, but the look on his face was not one of anger.

After a while longer he stepped closer to me and put his hand on my shoulder. "Jonathan, my son, you are right. As the Lord lives, David will not be killed."

It was the best news ever. He's never changed his mind before. Surely God has helped him.

I couldn't wait to tell David. Later that afternoon I met with David in the hidden place and told him what my father said. "So, David, you need to come back to the King's house. If we leave now we can still eat supper with him at his table."

David looked at me almost as if he wasn't sure if I told the truth or not. Then he smiled. "Sure, Jonathan. I'd be happy and honored to go back to king Saul's table."

"And you'll play your music to calm him as you did before?"

David laughed. "Yes, yes, I'll play my music, if he wants me to. Now, are we going to get something to eat or not?"

David returned to all his duties as before. He sat at my father's table, played his music, and captained an army to battle the Philistines. All was well again. For now at least.

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1.  List some of the things king Saul did that he should not have done.

2.  What did king Saul ask his servants and son Jonathan to do?

3.  Where did Jonathan go and what did he do? What plan did they make?

4.  What did Jonathan tell Saul in the field?

5.  What was Saul's answer?

6.  What did Jonathan do afterwards.

The People Love David More Than Me.

By Mary Vee

I Samuel 18

Saul's Thoughts

I must admit, that young David fellow did a good job killing the giant, Goliath. He had gumption coming into my tent chamber asking to fight that rude Philistine. David practically rebuked our own Israelite soldiers...and me for not trusting God to fight the giant.

I couldn't blame the other men. To lose meant the soldier not only would lose his life but also the entire Israelite army would have been doomed to slavery to the Philistines. That didn't bother David. He didn't look at what would happen if we lost. He only looked at the victory.

Since he proved himself a warrior, I kept the lad in the army for other battles. Victory became a part of our daily routine. David spent much of his free time singing songs to the Lord. He dedicated everything to God including the battles. Why, he acted almost fearless.

In all David's fearlessness, though, he never disobeyed my orders. I naturally placed him over the men of war. And even though he was younger and shorter, the men respected him. Even my servants came to respect him and obeyed any command he gave.

One day, as we returned after another battle with the Philistines, Israelite women gathered along the road to greet us. They cheered, danced, and sang. Some swung their tambourines with joy and others played different instruments. It was a great sight to see as we walked toward the city!

The closer I marched with the men, the better I could hear the words of their song:

"Saul has slain his thousands

And David his ten thousands"

Wait, what did they say? Did they say David killed ten thousands but I have only killed thousands? If they sang songs such as this, then soon they would want him king instead of me!

Treachery. 

I shall watch this David who seems to want to take my throne from me. He may have the Lord close to him, but I still have my throne.

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1.  What did Saul think of David at first?

2.  How did Saul reward David?

3. What did the other soldiers and servants think of David?

4. What happened one day after a battle with the Philistines?

5.  Why was Saul angry?

6. What did he think would happen?

A New Friend

By Mary Vee
I Samuel 18

Jonathan's Thoughts

David had come to my father's chamber a few times before. My father is king Saul.


David was the one who brought his harp and played music to soothe my dad's angry temper. Before he came, Dad would would have angry fits. He stormed around yelling and screaming at everyone. Absolutely nothing would calm him down.


Each day he became worse until his servants found David, a harp player who tended sheep.


David didn't come every day. He had to return to care for his own father's sheep. Sometimes father would call for David at battlefields to play calming music, then he'd send him back home.


All in all, I didn't really know David other than the one who came to calm father's angry fits.


One day a giant Philistine challenged our army to a one-man fight. The winner could declare victory for his whole army. The man stood taller than anyone I'd seen. His armor weighed more than I could carry without a chariot's help. Not one man in my father's army volunteered to fight. Not even me. 


True, not long ago, my servant and I crept into a Philistine camp and with the help of God killed many of their soldiers, but this was different. If I lost this battle, the entire Israelite army would pay the price, not just me. 


After forty days of the giant's mocking our army, David happened along to bring food for his brothers. He listened to the giant's mockery and became angry. He caused such a fuss the soldiers took him to my father.


I watched his fury build, this person about the same age as me who played soothing music for my father. He talked about the lions and bears he'd killed with his bare hands and about God's power which would help him kill this giant, too. I found his spirit for God amazing. 


I laughed when father put his armor on David. Hah. It was like putting a lamb in a lion's skin. David had to take the armor off to fight, of course, he couldn't even walk! He didn't even want a spear or sword from father. I couldn't figure out how he planned to kill the giant.


David went out to the meeting place, yelled something about the Lord's power, took one of five stones from his shepherd's bag and whipped it at the giant. The giant fell dead. Just like that.


This is a person I wanted for a friend. This person lived for the Lord, no matter what came his way.


Our army chased the Philistines, conquering them then returned to camp. I went to David and gave him my robe, my armor...which fit him much better, my sword, bow, and belt. I said, "David, you are a person I want for a true friend." 


He smiled and said, "Yes, Jonathan. You are a person I want for a true friend as well."


I've wanted to have a best friend for a long time, and now I have one, David, son of Jesse.


*********************************
1. What had David done for his father?
2. When had Jonathan seen David?
3. What happened the day David brought food for this brothers?
4. Why didn't Jonathan offer to fight Goliath?
5. Had Jonathan offered to fight when no one else would before? When?
6. Why did Jonathan want to be friends with David?
7. Who is Jonathan?


How about you? Tell about your best friend.


photo courtesy of visualbibleimages.

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."


*****************************
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?

Saul's Armor Didn't Fit David

By Mary Vee

From David's Journal

King Saul gave me permission to fight Goliath.


I wanted to run from his tent, load my sling and knock the giant dead right then and there. Unfortunately, King Saul didn't agree.


He called his servants to bring  his armor, helmet, coat of mail, and his sword. Did he plan to fight Goliath with me? I didn't understand. I thought only one man from each army could fight.


The servant returned a moment later with king Saul's battle gear and placed it before him. Saul pointed at me. "Put the armor on David."


Me? Wear the king's armor? I am only a shepherd. 


I didn't get a chance to say anything. The servants put the king's armor on me. The waist hung too low. I felt like a walking barrel. 


Next the servant set the king's bronze helmet on my head. It flopped over my eyes. How could I kill a giant if I couldn't see him?


Next the servant dressed me in the king's coat of mail. The web of chain pushed down on my shoulders. I couldn't lift my arms. If I couldn't lift my arms how would I move my sling shot?


Last the servant fastened the king's sword to the armor. It drag on the floor. King Saul sat back in his chair and nodded. "There, David, you are now ready to fight."


Seriously? This is ready to fight? I couldn't even take a step forward. He could have wrapped me up like a mummy and I'd look the same. I tried to bow before the king. "Um, my lord, I--" I tried to lift one knee. "I can't walk with your armor on me. See?" I tried to take another step.


If the soldiers from Israel saw me using king Saul's armor and sword, they'd think he gave me power they didn't have. All I wanted to do was to silence the giant who mocked us. King Saul had been appointed king over Israel by God. And I will honor God's appointment.


"My lord, your gracious gift is good. Please forgive me, but I am not ready to use your armor." I asked the servant to help me remove the armor. 


I bowed to king Saul. "To kill the giant, I need to fight the same way I fight bears and lions. The Lord will protect me."


King Saul looked at me for a long moment. I wish I knew his thoughts. After a while he nodded to me. "Go, David. May the Lord be with you."


I stepped outside the tent and took a deep breath. It smelled sweet, good. I looked at the sky and smiled because my whole insides burst with excitement. I would fight Goliath.


*****************************


1.  What did Saul agree to let David do?
2. What gifts did Saul give David? (4)
3. What was wrong with each gift?
4.  What couldn't David do?
5. What did David ask of king Saul?
6.  What will David do?


picture courtesy of Christian Image Resource