STORY TIME
with Aunt Jo!

DAVID AND GOLIATH

Hi, children, young and old! We've got a good story for you today. It is about a shepherd boy that wasn't afraid of lions, bears -- or even giants. Yes, you guessed it. His name was David!

David knew God and loved Him. He was the youngest of Jesse's children. While his older brothers were at war against the Philistines, David's job was to keep the sheep.

While watching the sheep, he would play and sing praise songs to God. He is the one who gave us the book of Psalms, which are hymns of praise to God.

Two different times, David had wild animals come to kill the sheep. Once it was a bear, and the other time it was a lion. But both times God helped the young shepherd boy to kill the lion and bear. Although David was skillful with his sling, it was his trust in God that made him the person that he was.

One day he was sent by his father to the place of battle, to bring food to his brothers. While he was there, he saw the giant Goliath come down into the valley and make his boast:

"Who is brave enough to fight me. There is no use for both armies to fight each other. Send a man to fight me, and if I kill him, Israel will become the servants of the Philistines. If he kill me, the Philistines will be servants to the Israelites."

David watched to see who would go and fight the giant--but no one volunteered. They were all afraid--even his brothers! David sent word to the king that he wanted to fight the giant. The king tried to arm David with his armor, but it was far too big for David, and besides, David said, "I have not proved these things!"

What David had proved was God. When the giant saw him coming, he began to laugh. "Am I a dog," he said, "that you come to me with your shepherd's staff. Come to me and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air, and the beasts of the field."

But David was not afraid. He answered:

"You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel. This day will the LORD deliver you into mine hand; and I will kill you, and take your head from you, that all of the earth may know that there is a God in Israel."

Then David began to run towards the giant. At the same time he took a smooth stone from his pouch, and put it in his sling. Then, with a prayer on his lips, he slung the stone.

The giants entire body was covered with armour. So was his head, except for a very small place between the eyes. That is exactly where the stone hit the giant, and he fell to the ground. David ran to him, and taking the giant's sword, cut off his head, and took it back to the armies of Israel.

Most likely the people were already weeping for the little shepherd boy who had sacrificed his life for Israel. But when they saw him coming, holding the giant's head, their weeping turned into rejoicing!

The "giant" that wants to destroy us is the devil. But we don't have to be afraid of him. When he comes tempting us, we can use the name of Jesus Christ, to send him running!

The devil may try to get you to sin, but send him running by the name of Jesus!

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