David
Long ago in the days of King Saul of Israel, a boy named David helped his seven brothers look after their father's flocks of sheep. David was the youngest son but he loved and trusted God. All the time he spent in the fields around Bethlehem gave him time to think of God and the lovely world God had created.
David protected his father's sheep from dangerous animals like lions and bears. Once a lion came after the sheep and David went after it with a club and grabbed the sheep from the lion's mouth.
The prophet Samuel was sad that King Saul was not obeying God. God sent Samuel to Jesse, David's father. God told Samuel that one of Jesse's sons was to be the new king of Israel.
When Samuel arrived Jesse brought each of his older sons in front of Samuel. Samuel said that God has not chosen any of these. He asked Jesse if he had any sons left? Jesse brought David in from taking care of the sheep. No one could believe that David was the one God chose because he was the youngest. But God looks at what a person is thinking and their feelings. Samuel obeyed God and anointed David's head with oil. This was the sign that God had chosen David to be the next King of Israel.
Immediately, Saul felt the Spirit of the Lord leave him and he was
very sad and
frightened. His servants thought that music might calm him down and they
thought of David. David played the harp well and it helped Saul
think clearly and not be afraid.
The Philistines were fighting Israel and Saul's armies. The
armies of the Israelites and the Philistines were on opposite sides of
the hill, and both armies were ready for battle. Each day the
Philistines sent their champion, Goliath, who was fully armed and
gigantic in size, to shout across the valley “Choose a man, and if he
were able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants.
But if I kill him, then you shall serve us.”
The Israelites trembled as they heard the voice of Goliath.
David's brothers fought with Saul. David went to the battle field to bring his brothers food and drink. David was amazed that everyone was so afraid and he offered to fight Goliath.
Saul wanted to give David his own armour and spear, but David was not
used to them
.
Instead he picked up five smooth stones from the brook, and along with
his slingshot he went to face Goliath
Goliath laughed at him and made fun of David. But David was not afraid. He said "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD Almighty – the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
“Today the Lord will deliver you into my hands and all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” David ran fearlessly towards the Philistine giant. He slipped one of the stones into his sling, and skillfully flung it so that it hit Goliath in the forehead, who fell to the ground.
David cut off Goliath's head. When the Philistine army saw that their champion is dead, they fled the battle. The Israelites won the battle and David whom God had chosen to be the future king of Israel was the hero of the people of Israel.
