- 0nce
the Philistines built their camp on one mountain the
 Israelites pitched
theirs on the opposite mountain.
- Out of the Philistines'
camp came a ten-foot giant named Goliath. He was covered with bronze armor.
He called out to the Israelites, "Choose a man from among you. Let him
come down to fight me. If he kills me, we will be your servants. If I kill
him, then you shall become our servants."
- Saul and the Israelites
were very much afraid. Many days passed. Still no Israelite dared to fight
Goliath. One day David arrived at the Israelite camp to see his three
brothers who were in Saul's army. He heard the giant shouting, "I defy you,
Israelites! Give me a man, so that we may fight together."
- David asked, "Who is
this man who defies the army of God? I will fight him!"
- "You cannot fight
Goliath," said Saul; "you are only a boy and he has fought many battles."
- "I have killed both a
lion and a bear that took a lamb of my father's flock. God, who protected
me from those wild animals, will protect me against this Philistine giant,"
answered David.
- So David took his
shepherd's staff and his sling in his hand, and picked out five smooth
stones from the brook and went to meet Goliath.
- The giant came forward
to meet his enemy. A shield-bearer marched in front of him. When he saw
coming toward him only a boy, the giant was angry and roared, "Am I a dog
that you come t,o me with a staff? Come, and I will feed you to the birds!"
- And David said, "You
come to me with a sword, a spear, and a shield. I come in the name of God,
who will deliver you into my hands."
- Then the boy took a
stone and put it in his sling and shot it. The stone struck Goliath in the
forehead and he fell to the ground. David took the giant's sword and cut
off his head. Then David was given a place of honor among the fighting men
of Israel. And all the people loved David.
- Dear God,
- I know it was not the stone from David's sling
that stroke the giant Goliath but Your power and strength. Help always
remember this message from You. In Jesu´s Name. Amen.
- Love, Tia Célia
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