What is the story of David and Goliath?
For more of David’s story, read 1 Samuel 17 in the Old Testament.
David trusted the Lord to give him victory over the giant Goliath. "The Lord saved me from the paw of the lion. He saved me from the paw of the bear. And he’ll save me from the powerful hand of this Philistine too" (1 Samuel 17:37).The Philistines and the Israelites were battling one another. One of the Philistines, a nine-foot-tall giant named Goliath, dared the Israelites to send a man to fight him. But the Philistines were very afraid of Goliath and no one wanted to fight the giant.
David, a shepherd, had been sent by his father (Jesse) to the Israelite camp to take food to three of his brothers who were soldiers. While David was there, Goliath again announced his dare. David told King Saul (the leader of the Israelites) he would go and fight Goliath. Saul thought David was too young and too inexperienced in war to defeat Goliath. But David told Saul he had killed lions and bears in order to protect his sheep and that God would deliver him from Saul. Saul tried to get David to wear some his armor, but David declined.
David gathered five smooth stones from a brook and brought his sling as he approached Goliath. Goliath laughed at David because he was young and without the usual weapons or armor. David said the battle was the Lord’s and that God would deliver Goliath into his hand. As Goliath came closer, David ran to meet him. David sent a stone flying with his sling and struck Goliath in the head. Goliath fell to the ground and was dead. David used Goliath’s own sword to cut off the giant’s head. The Philistines ran away in fear as the Israelites chased them.
This story shows us God can defeat any of the giants in our lives (kids who are mean to us, problems in our families, fear of the future) if we trust Him. God is all-powerful and loves His children very much!
