As I was growing up, I didn’t read much of the bible except the stories of David in the Old Testament. So I really didn’t know what God has said. I knew the stories were exciting and I wanted a God to do for me just like He did for David. David was the youngest of 12 children of Jesse. That meant that he got the short end of the stick for family assignments. His older brothers apparently didn’t like living in the wilderness with the sheep. Sheep aren’t the brightest animal around. And they don’t smell too good. They don’t smell as bad as pigs, but they still stink. Someone had to be with the sheep to get them out of trouble and keep them in a certain area. In David’s day, there were lions, tigers and bears, oh my, that roamed the wilderness looking for food. Now David had to learn to defend the sheep against all predators. And he had to learn to defend himself against the wild animals. David had 3 weapons, a sling, a club and a staff with a crook. A sling to thrown rocks, a club to beat off animals and a staff with a crook to pull sheep out of the biers or a thorn bush. David would practice each day until he could use these weapons proficiently. A lion came and grabbed a sheep. David killed the lion and got back the sheep. A bear came and took a lamb. David killed the bear and recovered the lamb. David loved the wilderness. It was where he had time to know God and trust Him. After several years in the wilderness, the Philistines marched against Israel. All the young men of fighting age were called up. David was still too young. But His father let him take food to his brothers in the army. The Philistines had a champion named Goliath. He was a giant over 9 feet tall. No one in the Israeli army wanted to face Goliath. The King kept asking for a volunteer. But no one would. Finally David answered and said he would go. He told him he had killed a lion and a bear. He said, this uncircumcised Philistine was no match for the living God. The king offered his armor, but David said no. he picked up stones and ran toward Goliath. David took his sling and a stone and struck the philistine in to head and God push the stone into his head. Goliath died and David took his sword and cut off his head. David was ready with an answer because he had spent time with God and practiced.
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