Latest / Bible in a Year with Jack Graham / Chapter 06: David & Goliath

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Chapter 06: David & Goliath · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: But seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness, and all
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  Speaker 1: these things will be given to you as well. Matthew
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  Speaker 1: 6.33 Father, today I choose to seek You first. Seek
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  Speaker 1: Your kingdom and Your righteousness. I know that in Your
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  Speaker 1: kingdom there is no sickness, no poverty, no jealousy or strife.
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  Speaker 1: There is no lack or need. because you so generously
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  Speaker 1: and abundantly provide. As I pursue you, Lord, as I
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  Speaker 1: embrace a kingdom mindset and focus on applying kingdom principles
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  Speaker 1: to my life, I realize I don't ever have to
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  Speaker 1: worry about anything. I don't have to worry about what
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  Speaker 1: I will wear or what I will eat or where
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  Speaker 1: I will sleep. Your word says you delight in protecting me.
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  Speaker 1: providing for me, and meeting all of my needs. Because
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  Speaker 1: you love me. So today I will spend time in
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  Speaker 1: your presence. I will seek your face. I will listen
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  Speaker 1: for your voice. And then I will step out in faith.
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  Speaker 1: I will walk with confidence and authority. I will boldly
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  Speaker 1: pursue every opportunity you give me, every open door you
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  Speaker 1: open to me. I will accomplish each one of the
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  Speaker 1: tasks you have assigned to me. I will live up
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  Speaker 1: to my high and holy calling. I will bring glory
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  Speaker 1: and honor to you. As I do, I know you
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  Speaker 1: will continue to provide everything I need to fulfill my destiny.
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  Speaker 2: I thank you.
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  Speaker 1: And I praise you today. And I pray in Jesus' name.
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  Speaker 3: Amen.
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  Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with me today. Stay tuned to
• 2:06
  Speaker 1: immerse yourself in the greatest stories ever told from Pray.com's podcast,
• 2:12
  Speaker 1: Heroes in the Bible.
• 2:15
  Speaker 3: Hi, I'm Dr. Tony Evans, your host for Heroes in
• 2:18
  Speaker 3: the Bible. If you've enjoyed this podcast so far, please
• 2:22
  Speaker 3: share it with your family and friends and help us
• 2:25
  Speaker 3: spread God's Word. Welcome to The Epic Adventure of David,
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  Speaker 3: a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
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  Speaker 3: and murder. While most people know of David the myth,
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  Speaker 3: few people know about David the man. I'm glad you're
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  Speaker 3: here with me as we mine the depths of this
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  Speaker 3: renowned tale. In this episode, we encounter the famous story
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  Speaker 3: of David and Goliath. This story has been told in
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  Speaker 3: thousands of different ways using thousands of different mediums. It
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  Speaker 3: is a tale embedded in our culture. The underdog defying
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  Speaker 3: all odds and the little guy standing up against the bully.
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  Speaker 3: But make no mistake, the epic of David and Goliath
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  Speaker 3: is not about you and me. We are not David
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  Speaker 3: and our problems are not Goliath. No, this legend points
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  Speaker 3: forward to an even greater battle of good and evil.
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  Speaker 3: The story of David. Bravely vanquishing the harbinger of death, Goliath,
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  Speaker 3: is meant to be an image of something even more significant.
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  Speaker 3: In this episode, allow yourself to be caught up in
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  Speaker 3: the majesty of David's story. Be inspired by his bravery
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  Speaker 3: and be encouraged by his heart for God. But remember
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  Speaker 3: that David is not the ultimate hero of this tale.
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  Speaker 3: He is a shadow of greater things to come and
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  Speaker 3: a conduit for the deliverance of God. May we all
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  Speaker 3: be inspired by this story to look to God the
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  Speaker 3: same way David looks to God and trust in his
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  Speaker 3: final victory over death. Our episode begins with a prelude,
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  Speaker 3: a story in the future of God's greatest hero. This
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  Speaker 3: prelude reminds us that there is a greater giant than
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  Speaker 3: Goliath and a greater hero than David. Let's not wait
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  Speaker 3: any longer. It's time for Episode 6, David and Goliath.
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  Speaker 4: Prelude to Chapter 6 The thundering skies bellowed like war drums.
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  Speaker 4: Death itself was raging like a wild animal. Its claws
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  Speaker 4: were sinking deeper into the neck of God's chosen hero.
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  Speaker 4: Jesus knew his hour had come. It was time for
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  Speaker 4: the full weight of God's wrath to be poured out
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  Speaker 4: onto him. Every sin, past, present, and future, Eli.
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  Speaker 2: Eli Eli, levas sabachthani?
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  Speaker 4: Which means?
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  Speaker 2: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
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  Speaker 4: People laughed at his cries, but they did not see
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  Speaker 4: the cosmic shift taking place before them. Jesus, who had
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  Speaker 4: been connected with the Father and Spirit since before time
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  Speaker 4: was created, was now separated from them. Jesus endured separation
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  Speaker 4: from God so that no person would ever have to again.
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  Speaker 4: It had been done. The weight of mankind's sins were
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  Speaker 4: thrust on his shoulders. Now the only thing left to
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  Speaker 4: do was bury them in the grave. To do that,
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  Speaker 4: Jesus had to die. He looked down at the people below.
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  Speaker 4: His eyes were darkened and nearly lifeless. I am thirsty,
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  Speaker 4: Jesus whispered. The soldiers shrugged and took a sponge from
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  Speaker 4: the latrines. They would use sour wine to sanitize themselves.
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  Speaker 4: So they took the sponge filled with excrement, and placed
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  Speaker 4: it on his lips. Jesus tasted the filth of humanity,
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  Speaker 4: then looked to the heavens. He lifted his legs and
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  Speaker 4: arms to take one final breath. The lightning struck beside him,
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  Speaker 4: causing the soldiers to fall back. Then with the booming
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  Speaker 4: voice of the Almighty.
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  Speaker 2: Jesus yelled, It is finished!
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  Speaker 4: And he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
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  Speaker 4: Just as he had spoken, the good shepherd laid down
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  Speaker 4: his life for his sheep. God's chosen hero had vanquished
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  Speaker 4: the enemy. The fear and death had been conquered by
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  Speaker 4: the loving yet powerful passion of the Good Shepherd.
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  Speaker 5: Battle.
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  Speaker 4: Saul craved it. The sound of iron and bronze clashing
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  Speaker 4: and clanging. The smell of campfire intermixed with blood and sweat.
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  Speaker 4: More than anything, Saul craved the glory. He craved the
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  Speaker 4: sounds of his people cheering and singing his praises. He
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  Speaker 4: longed for the moment shortly after victory, lifting his arms
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  Speaker 4: and basking in the admiration of his men. Saul imagined
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  Speaker 4: these things as he led his men up the hills
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  Speaker 4: of Succa. The Israelite army gathered and encamped on a
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  Speaker 4: mountain overlooking the valley of Elah. On the other side
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  Speaker 4: of the valley, encamped on a mountain standing opposite them,
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  Speaker 4: were the Philistines. Their clamoring echoed across the canyons. Saul
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  Speaker 4: stood tall and proud on the other side of the
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  Speaker 4: valley in front of his men. His bright and polished
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  Speaker 4: armor gleamed in the sun. His large sword was strapped
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  Speaker 4: securely to his side. The hilt of his sword, much
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  Speaker 4: like his armor, was interlaced with gold and fine jewels,
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  Speaker 4: a statement of Saul's importance and sense of worth. Saul
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  Speaker 4: looked down at the battlefield. The grassy and flat valley
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  Speaker 4: was surrounded by large stones and cracks in the ground.
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  Speaker 4: The mountains surrounding the valley had uneven footing. It would
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  Speaker 4: be a treacherous descent for both armies. He looked up
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  Speaker 4: to see the horde of Philistines swaying back and forth
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  Speaker 4: on the other side. The slow beat of drums began
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  Speaker 4: to play, echoing across the valley. The drums were haunting.
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  Speaker 4: Their swaying and chants quickened with the beats of drums.
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  Speaker 4: They hissed and sneered at the Israelites. Their sways became
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  Speaker 4: frantic and animalistic. Jonathan was beside his growing nervous at
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  Speaker 4: the strange confidence of the enemy. Then, like the Red
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  Speaker 4: Seas once did many years ago, the Philistine horde parted
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  Speaker 4: in two. They crouched and bowed to their knees, laughing uncontrollably.
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  Speaker 4: The drums ceased, but the ground was still shaking. Saul
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  Speaker 4: could feel the quaking of the earth on his feet.
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  Speaker 4: Something wasn't right. The men of Israel looked. and from
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  Speaker 4: the crowd of Philistines emerged an inhuman-like creature. He had
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  Speaker 4: the frame of a man, but his size was like
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  Speaker 4: the beasts of old. He cast a shadow over the
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  Speaker 4: Philistine soldiers below as he marched forward. His legs were
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  Speaker 4: as wide as tree trunks. He wore a coat of
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  Speaker 4: mail draped over his monstrous chest. Saul stepped back in terror.
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  Speaker 4: His arms were dense with muscle, holding a spear of
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  Speaker 4: pure iron. The monster's name was Goliath. His name was
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  Speaker 4: being chanted across the valley, reverberating into the ear of Saul.
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  Speaker 5: There will be no glory in fighting that man, Saul
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  Speaker 5: thought to himself.
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  Speaker 2: His hands will crush my skull in an instant.
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  Speaker 4: Goliath paced up and down the ranks of his men,
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  Speaker 4: roaring like a lion. The Philistines cheered and banged their
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  Speaker 4: swords against their shields. Goliath unsheathed his sword and swung
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  Speaker 4: it against Come now! Why shed any more blood than
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  Speaker 4: we have to?
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  Speaker 6: Am I not a Philistine? Are you not all servants
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  Speaker 6: of Saul? Let us settle this battle.
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  Speaker 4: King Saul gulped. He feared what his next words would be.
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  Speaker 4: Even from a hundred yards away, Goliath could smell Saul's fear.
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  Speaker 4: It wafted over to him like the smoke from freshly
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  Speaker 4: cooked meat. He soaked it in, enjoying every moment. The
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  Speaker 4: giant smiled with all his teeth. He lifted his spear
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  Speaker 4: and pointed it to Saul.
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  Speaker 6: Choose a man, king of Israel.
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  Speaker 5: Let him come down and battle me.
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  Speaker 6: If he is able to kill me, the Philistines will
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  Speaker 6: be your servants.
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  Speaker 4: The giant let down his spear and looked back at
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  Speaker 4: the soldiers. The Philistines laughed. Their mocking cackles filled the
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  Speaker 4: air like a bad smell. Then there was silence. Goliath
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  Speaker 4: looked over at Saul with nostrils flaring. With a low
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  Speaker 4: and rumbling voice, the giant spoke seriously.
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  Speaker 6: Saying, But if I prevail against your man, when I
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  Speaker 6: tear every limb from his body, feasting on his flesh,
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  Speaker 6: then you, King Saul, and all your people will be
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  Speaker 6: enslaved to us for generations to come.
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  Speaker 4: The giant's challenge sent shivers down Saul's spine. The king
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  Speaker 4: composed himself. Judging by the size of both armies, he
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  Speaker 4: knew that they were outmatched. If they sent any more
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  Speaker 4: soldiers down into the valley, they would surely succumb to
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  Speaker 4: the Philistines. However, there was no man in his ranks
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  Speaker 4: able to take on the giant. The offer from Goliath
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  Speaker 4: was a mockery. The Philistines knew that they would win
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  Speaker 4: either way. Sending Goliath was nothing more than a taunt.
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  Speaker 4: Saul had always stood ahead above every man he fought.
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  Speaker 4: He rarely feared the swing of another man's sword. However,
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  Speaker 4: the creature standing before him was no man. He was
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  Speaker 4: a beast from ancient days. He had the frame of
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  Speaker 4: monsters told in children's tales. He was a harbinger of
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  Speaker 4: death and a symbol of Saul's inevitable demise as king.
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  Speaker 4: Before Saul could open up his mouth, Goliath's voice thundered
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  Speaker 4: again across the valley.
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  Speaker 6: I defy you, Saul. I spit in the face of
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  Speaker 6: your people, your nation, and your God. If you do
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  Speaker 6: not have a man brave enough to fight, prove that
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  Speaker 6: you are not a coward and fight me yourself.
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  Speaker 4: Saul was motionless. His men looked at him, waiting for
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  Speaker 4: a response. Clouds covered the sun above, removing the gleam
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  Speaker 4: from Saul's armor. Never before had Saul felt so helpless.
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  Speaker 4: This would be a good moment to pray. However, he
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  Speaker 4: knew nobody would listen. God had turned his face from him.
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  Speaker 4: For forty days, Goliath walked down into the valley, goading
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  Speaker 4: Saul to fight him. For forty days, Saul and the
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  Speaker 4: people of Israel were silent.
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  Speaker 2: Did you pack the bread?
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  Speaker 4: Jesse asked David. Yes, father. David said while strapping the
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  Speaker 4: rest of the supplies to his donkey.
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  Speaker 2: What about the extra wineskins and the bandages?
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  Speaker 4: Jesse continued in a sharp tone.
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  Speaker 7: I've packed both, father. Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah will have
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  Speaker 7: everything they need.
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  Speaker 4: David replied respectfully. Jesse grunted and walked off. Since David
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  Speaker 4: became Saul's armor-bearer and musician, he had been making his
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  Speaker 4: way to and from the palace. He still had sheep
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  Speaker 4: to tend to, even though he was now a servant
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  Speaker 4: of the king. David packed his donkey filled with supplies
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  Speaker 4: to bring to his brothers. They had marched with Saul
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  Speaker 4: to Succa to battle the Philistines. His father beamed with
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  Speaker 4: fatherly pride that his three eldest sons had joined the
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  Speaker 4: ranks of the king's army. A part of David longed
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  Speaker 4: for his father to look at him with the same
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  Speaker 4: approval and admiration. However, since being in the courts of Saul,
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  Speaker 4: he felt his need for fatherly attention less and less.
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  Speaker 4: Saul was kind to David and seemed to enjoy his presence.
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  Speaker 4: Not only that, but David had grown close to his
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  Speaker 4: son Jonathan during his time in the palace. Jonathan gave
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  Speaker 4: him the brotherly affection he lacked from his own brothers.
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  Speaker 4: David led his donkey towards Succa, anxious to see how
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  Speaker 4: Israel was faring against the Philistines. He had heard Saul
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  Speaker 4: speaking with his generals about being outnumbered. Although he was
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  Speaker 4: Saul's armor-bearer, it was more a title than an actual job.
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  Speaker 4: The king would never allow a child like him to
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  Speaker 4: march with him into battle. He had not yet seen
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  Speaker 4: the glory of war. He did not have the privilege
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  Speaker 4: of marching with Saul or carrying his own sword to
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  Speaker 4: defend Israel. He was forced to remain with his sheep
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  Speaker 4: and carry supplies to his brother's. David reached Sukkah, anxious
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  Speaker 4: to see what had come of the battle. He had
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  Speaker 4: a boyish excitement for war, heroism, and bravery. In him
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  Speaker 4: was a warrior spirit that desperately desired to join in
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  Speaker 4: arms with his countrymen. Instead, David was unloading a sack
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  Speaker 4: filled with cheese and bread for his brothers and their commander.
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  Speaker 4: The low status David held in his family disappointed him
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  Speaker 4: at times, but David was resolved in his own identity
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  Speaker 4: before God. He did not strive to be someone he wasn't. Rather,
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  Speaker 4: with every step, he sought to honor the Lord in
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  Speaker 4: the best way he could. If that meant delivering supplies
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  Speaker 4: to his haughty older brothers, then so be it. David
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  Speaker 4: cared not how he was used by God to serve.
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  Speaker 4: He only cared that what he did pleased the heart
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  Speaker 4: of his Lord. As David entered camp, he could hear
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  Speaker 4: the shouts of war rumbling near the valley. Giddy with excitement,
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  Speaker 4: David tied up the donkey and ran towards the hill
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  Speaker 4: overlooking the battlefield. He was surprised to see no battle
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  Speaker 4: at all, rather the armies of the Israelites and Philistines
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  Speaker 4: posturing at one another from either side of the valley.
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  Speaker 4: Each army clamored at the other, banging their swords on
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  Speaker 4: the shields and hurling insults. It was a confusing sight
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  Speaker 4: to David. The shepherd boy waded through the crowds in
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  Speaker 4: search of his brothers.
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  Speaker 7: The little lamb is here, a.
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  Speaker 4: Voice chided from the distance. David paused and looked down
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  Speaker 4: at his feet. He closed his eyes and sighed in irritation.
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  Speaker 4: Out of all the shouting and clamoring of soldiers, Shammah's
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  Speaker 4: mocking voice was loud and clear. David turned around to
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  Speaker 4: see Shammah and Abinadab walking over. They wore their thick
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  Speaker 4: armor with bronze buckles to hold the straps. However, they
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  Speaker 4: hung loosely on their chests. The shaft of their spears
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  Speaker 4: were made of wood with iron tips at the end,
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  Speaker 4: and David noticed how peculiarly dull the tips of their
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  Speaker 4: spears were. It was almost as if they had not
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  Speaker 4: sharpened them in days. Aren't they about to march into battle?
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  Speaker 4: David thought to himself.
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  Speaker 7: Why not sharpen your spears and tighten your armor?
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  Speaker 4: Shammah took David's head under his arm and ruffled his
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  Speaker 4: light curly hair.
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  Speaker 7: The runt of the litter is here to watch.
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  Speaker 4: He teased. Shammah and Abinadab laughed at David's expense. Their
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  Speaker 4: teasing was a regular part of David's childhood. He expected
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  Speaker 4: nothing less from them. Clearly, they hadn't been to battle
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  Speaker 4: even once since marching up to Sukkah with Saul. David
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  Speaker 4: was curious as to why that was. He released himself
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  Speaker 4: from his brother's grip and walked towards the front of
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  Speaker 4: the crowd. His brothers were irked by his indifference towards
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  Speaker 4: their presence. Where are you off to?
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  Speaker 7: Don't bother the other soldiers, runt.
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  Speaker 4: They yelled. David ignored them as he made his way
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  Speaker 4: to the front. He found a high vantage point on
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  Speaker 4: a stone overlooking the battlefield. David peered forward, looking upon
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  Speaker 4: the Philistine horde chanting opposite them. They banged their drums
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  Speaker 4: and swayed back and forth Their laughs were like the
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  Speaker 4: hissing of a brood of vipers. The evil in their
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  Speaker 4: eyes sent chills down David's spine.
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  Speaker 7: What are they chanting for?
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  Speaker 4: David thought. He scanned the entire Philistine side. As the
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  Speaker 4: Philistines had every day since meeting the Israelites, the army
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  Speaker 4: parted in two to make way for their champion. The
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  Speaker 4: beast-like man covered in bronze mail marched forward, making the
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  Speaker 4: ground quake beneath him. The sword strapped to the side
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  Speaker 4: of his belt was as long as David's torso. Every
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  Speaker 4: step seemed to hold the weight of a mountain as
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  Speaker 4: he marched forward to the edge of the canyon. The
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  Speaker 4: giant raised his spear high above his head, then slammed
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  Speaker 4: the end of it into the ground in front of him.
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  Speaker 4: Rocks cracked on the edge and fell into the valley below.
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  Speaker 4: The giant laughed and leaned forward towards the Israelite army.
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  Speaker 4: He cried. David's heart reverberated in his chest at the
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  Speaker 4: giant's roar.
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  Speaker 6: Who among you dogs will come and fight me?
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  Speaker 4: Goliath yelled.
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  Speaker 6: I've waited and you cowards have yet to send a challenger.
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  Speaker 4: He pointed the spear at Saul, just as he did
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  Speaker 4: every day.
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  Speaker 6: Is your guard as weak as your spine, King Saul?
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  Speaker 6: Aren't you the brave Israelites that conquered Pharaoh? I spit
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  Speaker 6: at your ancestors and your guards.
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  Speaker 4: David's muscles tightened and his brow furrowed. He felt the
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  Speaker 4: same fire in his bones from the night he saw
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  Speaker 4: the lion take his lamb. David looked to his left.
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  Speaker 4: King Saul was standing in front of the soldiers. He
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  Speaker 4: was a sight to behold. His broad chest puffed out
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  Speaker 4: towards the Philistines as he stood atop his horse. The
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  Speaker 4: light beamed off his golden armor. The hilt of his
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  Speaker 4: sword was engraved with Hebrew battle poetry. However, the king
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  Speaker 4: was motionless, speechless. He had nothing to say to the Philistine.
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  Speaker 4: For weeks, Saul had tried to strategize a way to
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  Speaker 4: gain an edge over the enemy. However, they outnumbered them greatly,
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  Speaker 4: and the best way to defeat them was to accept
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  Speaker 4: Goliath's offer. However, no one moved. The king who was
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  Speaker 4: once lauded for his bravery was paralyzed by fear and inaction.
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  Speaker 4: The men began to disperse back to their tents. Once again,
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  Speaker 4: their posturing was fruitless. No amount of battle cries were
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  Speaker 4: going to make the Philistines flinch. They knew it was
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  Speaker 4: only a matter of time before Israel lost all hope.
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  Speaker 4: That is when they would strike. There is no weapon
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  Speaker 4: greater than fear, and the Philistines wielded it like no
• 20:54
  Speaker 4: one else. David slid down the stone and stopped a
• 20:58
  Speaker 4: few of the men marching back.
• 21:00
  Speaker 7: Can somebody please tell me what is going on?
• 21:03
  Speaker 6: He asked.
• 21:04
  Speaker 5: You haven't heard?
• 21:04
  Speaker 4: One of the soldiers asked.
• 21:06
  Speaker 5: This giant has come to defy Israel.
• 21:09
  Speaker 7: The king has promised riches and his daughter's hand in
• 21:12
  Speaker 7: marriage to whoever defeats him. And no one has come
• 21:15
  Speaker 7: up against him?
• 21:16
  Speaker 2: David asked.
• 21:17
  Speaker 4: Not one.
• 21:19
  Speaker 7: You've seen the size of his hands. They could grip
• 21:22
  Speaker 7: a man's skull like a loaf of bread. I will
• 21:25
  Speaker 7: not pursue him, and I can attest that no one
• 21:28
  Speaker 7: here will either.
• 21:30
  Speaker 4: Not even the king. David's fist tightened and his jaw clenched.
• 21:34
  Speaker 4: He has mocked our God, he said under his breath.
• 21:39
  Speaker 4: The soldiers nodded.
• 21:40
  Speaker 3: He has.
• 21:42
  Speaker 7: However, none of us wish to make a greater mockery
• 21:45
  Speaker 7: of him by jeopardizing our army. Under the rules of
• 21:49
  Speaker 7: the challenge, if he prevails, the entire nation will be
• 21:53
  Speaker 7: made Philistine slaves. Who among us wants to be responsible
• 21:58
  Speaker 7: for dying at the hands of Goliath and allowing him
• 22:02
  Speaker 7: to enslave all our people?
• 22:04
  Speaker 4: The man made a valid point. David pondered the question.
• 22:08
  Speaker 4: Bravery was not enough to march against Goliath. If someone
• 22:12
  Speaker 4: went to fight him and they died, the Philistines by
• 22:15
  Speaker 4: right would be able to enslave the survivors. Whoever marched
• 22:19
  Speaker 4: up against the giant didn't just need a warrior's heart.
• 22:22
  Speaker 4: He needed to be sure he would win. David was
• 22:26
  Speaker 4: lost in thought for a moment. Then a firm grip
• 22:29
  Speaker 4: grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him around. It
• 22:32
  Speaker 4: was Eliab, his oldest brother. He grabbed David and shook him.
• 22:36
  Speaker 2: What are you doing here? He scolded.
• 22:39
  Speaker 8: Have you left the sheep to wander around and die
• 22:41
  Speaker 8: in the wilderness?
• 22:42
  Speaker 2: Go home!
• 22:43
  Speaker 4: Eliab shoved David to the ground. David got back up
• 22:46
  Speaker 4: immediately and lunged at his brother, shoving him back. Eliab
• 22:50
  Speaker 4: caught him by the arm and threw him to the
• 22:51
  Speaker 4: ground again. David got back up. But Aliab raised a
• 22:56
  Speaker 4: finger and yelled.
• 22:58
  Speaker 8: I know why you're here, baby brother. You have come
• 23:01
  Speaker 8: here to see the battle. You just couldn't help yourself,
• 23:04
  Speaker 8: could you? We're all here, ready to die, and you
• 23:06
  Speaker 8: seek to watch the battle like a sport.
• 23:09
  Speaker 2: Go home.
• 23:10
  Speaker 8: There is no place for you here.
• 23:13
  Speaker 4: David paused and looked at his older brother. He had
• 23:16
  Speaker 4: all the looks of a hero, but on the inside,
• 23:20
  Speaker 4: he was no greater than the giant on the other
• 23:21
  Speaker 4: side of the valley. He used his size and power
• 23:25
  Speaker 4: to intimidate and taunt. David looked back towards the Philistine
• 23:29
  Speaker 4: army and clenched his fist. His brother continued to chide him,
• 23:33
  Speaker 4: but he did not listen. With his back turned to Eliab,
• 23:37
  Speaker 4: he sighed and said.
• 23:40
  Speaker 7: You and I both know I have done nothing.
• 23:44
  Speaker 4: David turned his head. His eyes burned with holy fire.
• 23:48
  Speaker 4: Eliab stepped back, unable to discern what David would do next.
• 23:53
  Speaker 4: The shepherd left his brother and marched towards Saul's tent.
• 23:59
  Speaker 4: Saul paced back and forth in his tent. The king's
• 24:02
  Speaker 4: tent was wide and tall enough to host his generals
• 24:05
  Speaker 4: and the battalion commanders. Jonathan was also in attendance standing
• 24:09
  Speaker 4: beside his father. They could all sense a weariness from
• 24:12
  Speaker 4: the king. His eyes were heavy and deep in anxious thought.
• 24:16
  Speaker 4: He leaned over the side of his throne and sighed.
• 24:21
  Speaker 4: This giant is.
• 24:23
  Speaker 5: made a mockery of us, and yet there is nothing
• 24:27
  Speaker 5: we can do about it. Saul whispered, I have made
• 24:30
  Speaker 5: the reward for his head great, yet no one has
• 24:35
  Speaker 5: mustered up the courage to go out and fight him.
• 24:39
  Speaker 4: We have run out of time, my king. One of
• 24:42
  Speaker 4: his commanders said, If.
• 24:43
  Speaker 5: We wait any longer to accept his challenge, they will
• 24:46
  Speaker 5: just march against us in the night.
• 24:49
  Speaker 3: We cannot.
• 24:49
  Speaker 7: I know.
• 24:50
  Speaker 5: What they are capable of.
• 24:52
  Speaker 4: Saul snapped, throwing his cup against the beams of the tent.
• 24:55
  Speaker 5: I have marched against these demons for years, and yet
• 24:59
  Speaker 5: they multiply like rodents in the city streets.
• 25:03
  Speaker 2: What am I to do?
• 25:04
  Speaker 7: Am I to send out men into battle with that
• 25:07
  Speaker 7: giant casting its shadow over them?
• 25:10
  Speaker 2: They will run in.
• 25:11
  Speaker 7: With weak knees and retreat at the first sign of trouble.
• 25:15
  Speaker 4: Saul sat down and rubbed his head. He breathed in
• 25:18
  Speaker 4: deeply and composed himself. Saul lifted his hand apologetically. We
• 25:23
  Speaker 4: are at an impasse. Our men are without hope. They
• 25:28
  Speaker 4: are without something to inspire them to battle. The king
• 25:32
  Speaker 4: trailed off into thought. He stared at the fire burning
• 25:35
  Speaker 4: in the center of the tent. He recalled the faint
• 25:38
  Speaker 4: memory of simpler times when he sat by the fire
• 25:40
  Speaker 4: with Samuel and spoke about his new kingdom. He poked
• 25:44
  Speaker 4: the dying embers. We need some sort of Spark, Saul
• 25:51
  Speaker 4: whispered to himself. All of the men in the tent
• 25:53
  Speaker 4: were silent as they watched Saul brood over the fire.
• 25:57
  Speaker 4: Then abruptly breaking the silence, David burst through the tent.
• 26:01
  Speaker 4: Saul looked up and smiled. Ah, David, I am glad
• 26:05
  Speaker 4: you are here. We could all use some music to
• 26:09
  Speaker 4: calm our souls at the moment. David ignored Saul's request
• 26:14
  Speaker 4: and instead bowed to the floor. He beat his fist
• 26:17
  Speaker 4: against his chest and said, My king.
• 26:20
  Speaker 7: Let no man's heart lose hope because of the giant
• 26:23
  Speaker 7: on the other side of the valley. I will go
• 26:27
  Speaker 7: and fight the Philistine.
• 26:29
  Speaker 4: Saul and the others in his tent held back chuckles.
• 26:32
  Speaker 4: The king leaned down and helped David up on his feet.
• 26:35
  Speaker 4: Brushing the dust off his clothes, Saul shook his head
• 26:38
  Speaker 4: and said.
• 26:40
  Speaker 5: Surely you are filled with fire, young David. But what
• 26:43
  Speaker 5: sort of king would I be to let a boy
• 26:46
  Speaker 5: go up against a giant? You are young, and that
• 26:50
  Speaker 5: giant has been killing warriors since he was your age.
• 26:54
  Speaker 4: David stepped back and bowed his head.
• 26:57
  Speaker 7: My king, are you familiar with the role of a shepherd?
• 27:01
  Speaker 4: He asked calmly. Saul scratched his head.
• 27:05
  Speaker 7: Of course.
• 27:06
  Speaker 5: My father had a few flocks of his own. You
• 27:09
  Speaker 5: tend to the sheep, leading them to the best grass
• 27:12
  Speaker 5: and water.
• 27:13
  Speaker 4: David shook his head.
• 27:14
  Speaker 7: That may be so, but the role of the shepherd...
• 27:18
  Speaker 7: was first and foremost to protect the sheep at all costs.
• 27:24
  Speaker 7: When there came a lion or a bear to take
• 27:27
  Speaker 7: one of my lambs, I did not hesitate to attack it.
• 27:33
  Speaker 7: I have run for miles and climbed mountains to pursue
• 27:36
  Speaker 7: the beasts that take my sheep. When a lion once
• 27:40
  Speaker 7: took my lamb, I pursued it and rescued the lamb
• 27:43
  Speaker 7: straight from its jaws. I struck it down because a
• 27:46
  Speaker 7: good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.
• 27:50
  Speaker 4: The rest of the men in the room were stirring uncomfortably.
• 27:54
  Speaker 4: The passion in David's voice was abrasive. They did not
• 27:58
  Speaker 4: like a young nobody like David having such a tone
• 28:01
  Speaker 4: in front of the king. He pointed back towards the valley.
• 28:05
  Speaker 4: He gave a slight grin. His eyes were gleaming with
• 28:08
  Speaker 4: intensity and hope.
• 28:10
  Speaker 7: This Philistine is no greater than that lion. He comes
• 28:13
  Speaker 7: in and threatens God's flock. He roars and bares his
• 28:17
  Speaker 7: teeth against us. He has defied the armies of God
• 28:21
  Speaker 7: and made a mockery of him. I will strike down
• 28:25
  Speaker 7: this giant with the same power by which I struck
• 28:28
  Speaker 7: down the lion, by the might of God himself. The
• 28:33
  Speaker 7: Lord who delivered me from the paw of the predator
• 28:36
  Speaker 7: will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.
• 28:40
  Speaker 4: Saul's heart beat swiftly listening to David speak. In his
• 28:44
  Speaker 4: voice was the very passion of God. It had been
• 28:48
  Speaker 4: a long time since Saul came in contact with the
• 28:51
  Speaker 4: Spirit of God. He had longed for his presence and
• 28:54
  Speaker 4: his anointing once again. Coming through the voice of this
• 28:58
  Speaker 4: small shepherd boy, the very courageous Spirit of God was
• 29:02
  Speaker 4: bursting forth like a mighty tempest. Saul stood up and smiled.
• 29:07
  Speaker 2: Very well.
• 29:09
  Speaker 1: Go.
• 29:09
  Speaker 6: Go.
• 29:10
  Speaker 4: The Lord be with you. The officers in the room
• 29:13
  Speaker 4: gasped at Saul's words. He had just commissioned a boy
• 29:17
  Speaker 4: no older than 16 to march against the greatest warrior
• 29:21
  Speaker 4: the world had ever seen. Saul held David by the
• 29:25
  Speaker 4: shoulders and smiled.
• 29:28
  Speaker 5: I can feel your fire, David, but you will need
• 29:31
  Speaker 5: help if you're going to stand against a giant. You
• 29:35
  Speaker 5: will need the finest armor and weaponry Israel has to offer.
• 29:40
  Speaker 4: Saul took his armor that was resting on the side
• 29:42
  Speaker 4: of his throne and draped it over David's body. He
• 29:45
  Speaker 4: put a helmet of bronze on his head and draped
• 29:48
  Speaker 4: a coat of mail over him. He strapped his sword
• 29:51
  Speaker 4: over his shoulder and tightened his belt to keep the
• 29:53
  Speaker 4: armor together. The firelight bounced off of the golden armor.
• 29:57
  Speaker 4: David waddled in place. The armor was so heavy that
• 30:01
  Speaker 4: he was barely able to move. For all its splendor,
• 30:04
  Speaker 4: the armor was more of a hindrance than a defense.
• 30:08
  Speaker 4: Saul's sword was beautifully crafted and elegant, but it was
• 30:11
  Speaker 4: heavy with jewels and gold. It had the appearance of glory,
• 30:15
  Speaker 4: but ultimately, it fell short of being truly effective. David
• 30:19
  Speaker 4: took the helmet off and slipped out of the armor.
• 30:22
  Speaker 4: Placing the sword in Saul's hand, David bowed his head
• 30:25
  Speaker 4: and said.
• 30:26
  Speaker 7: My king, your armor is splendid. However, I have not
• 30:31
  Speaker 7: tested it, nor do I see it helping me. For
• 30:35
  Speaker 7: all its beauty, I fear it is more of a
• 30:38
  Speaker 7: hindrance than a defense.
• 30:40
  Speaker 4: Do not be foolish, boy. You need a real weapon.
• 30:43
  Speaker 5: You need real armor.
• 30:45
  Speaker 4: Saul scolded. David gripped his staff and secured his sling
• 30:50
  Speaker 4: tightly to his belt. These will be my weapons, he said.
• 30:55
  Speaker 4: God has done far more with far less. The shepherd
• 30:59
  Speaker 4: boy smiled and left the tent without another word. Saul
• 31:03
  Speaker 4: was speechless. He ran his fingers through the bright golden armor.
• 31:08
  Speaker 4: For all the king's glamour and appearance of strength, it
• 31:12
  Speaker 4: seems that he had just been taught a lesson from
• 31:14
  Speaker 4: a child. David quietly descended down the side of the
• 31:18
  Speaker 4: canyon towards the trees. The forest was silent and serene,
• 31:22
  Speaker 4: hosting the songs of birds and a babbling brook. David
• 31:26
  Speaker 4: sat near the brook and breathed in deeply. He closed
• 31:29
  Speaker 4: his eyes, feeling the slight breeze caress his cheek. The
• 31:33
  Speaker 4: sun above was scattered from the leaves above. David dipped
• 31:37
  Speaker 4: his hands in the water and took a sip. He
• 31:40
  Speaker 4: ran the cold water over his neck and looked up.
• 31:42
  Speaker 4: You are my shepherd, he said to God.
• 31:45
  Speaker 7: Even though I walk into the valley of death, I
• 31:49
  Speaker 7: will fear no evil.
• 31:52
  Speaker 2: You are with me.
• 31:53
  Speaker 4: The wind rustled the leaves above. The humming sound of
• 31:56
  Speaker 4: swaying trees was a comforting response. David reached down into
• 32:00
  Speaker 4: the brook and retrieved five smooth stones the size of
• 32:03
  Speaker 4: his palm. He meticulously chose each of them and placed
• 32:07
  Speaker 4: them in his leather pouch. He stood to his feet
• 32:10
  Speaker 4: and stretched his arms with his shepherd's staff. Then, with
• 32:14
  Speaker 4: the silent courage of a warrior, David marched towards the
• 32:18
  Speaker 4: valley to meet Goliath. The Philistine descended into the valley
• 32:24
  Speaker 4: as he had done every day. He roared challenges to
• 32:27
  Speaker 4: the Israelites above. He clanged his spear against his shield,
• 32:31
  Speaker 4: making it echo across the valley.
• 32:33
  Speaker 6: Who shall fight me?
• 32:35
  Speaker 4: He yelled.
• 32:36
  Speaker 6: Who shall come and slay me?
• 32:38
  Speaker 4: He taunted. The giant had grown angry that so much
• 32:42
  Speaker 4: time had passed since he first made the challenge. He
• 32:45
  Speaker 4: was vexed by their cowardice. He was angry. He was
• 32:48
  Speaker 4: thirsty for blood. Saul stood over the cliffs with the
• 32:52
  Speaker 4: other men, watching the giant march into the center of
• 32:55
  Speaker 4: the valley. He stretched out his arms and raised his
• 32:58
  Speaker 4: voice to Saul.
• 32:59
  Speaker 6: This is the final chance to send a champion, Saul.
• 33:04
  Speaker 6: Let the dogs of Israel send a man to fight me,
• 33:07
  Speaker 6: or we will lay waste to your camps and your cities.
• 33:12
  Speaker 4: The men of Israel stirred and murmured. They all looked
• 33:15
  Speaker 4: to their king to see if he would step forward. However,
• 33:18
  Speaker 4: Saul remained still and silent, looking at the battleground below.
• 33:22
  Speaker 4: The giant smiled and banged his spear against his shield again.
• 33:26
  Speaker 2: Cowards! All of you are cowards!
• 33:30
  Speaker 6: You have shamed your ancestors this day to survive the
• 33:34
  Speaker 6: slavery of Egypt, all to crumble by our hand. Pathetic worms!
• 33:42
  Speaker 4: As Goliath was taunting the Israelites, he heard them all
• 33:46
  Speaker 4: gasp and turn to the left of the canyons. Out
• 33:48
  Speaker 4: from the stones to Goliath's right, the shepherd boy emerged.
• 33:53
  Speaker 4: His light curls were held back with a bandana revealing
• 33:56
  Speaker 4: his eyes. They were lit with the fiery passion of
• 33:59
  Speaker 4: God himself. He marched towards the giant with intention. Every
• 34:04
  Speaker 4: step was purposeful and filled with confidence as he stepped
• 34:08
  Speaker 4: out of the shadows into the.
• 34:09
  Speaker 2: Light of day.
• 34:11
  Speaker 4: He stopped 20 yards in front of Goliath and guided
• 34:14
  Speaker 4: his shepherd staff firmly into the ground. The giant had
• 34:17
  Speaker 4: a challenger and Israel had its champions. Goliath's beastly grin
• 34:23
  Speaker 4: turned into a visceral snarl. He spat at David and
• 34:26
  Speaker 4: roared at him.
• 34:27
  Speaker 6: Am I a dog that you come to me with twigs?
• 34:31
  Speaker 6: Of all the mighty men of Israel, they send you
• 34:35
  Speaker 6: to fight me?
• 34:37
  Speaker 2: I am insulted.
• 34:39
  Speaker 6: I can break this boy between my fingers.
• 34:43
  Speaker 4: The wind whistled through the valley. David was immovable and resolute.
• 34:49
  Speaker 4: His gaze was locked onto the giant. He opened not
• 34:52
  Speaker 4: his mouth. He simply looked forward at the foe ahead,
• 34:56
  Speaker 4: calculating his next move. Goliath was irked by David's silence.
• 35:01
  Speaker 4: He wailed curses into the air, banging his fists against
• 35:04
  Speaker 4: his chest like a silverback.
• 35:06
  Speaker 6: You and your god will crumble beneath my feet. Come
• 35:11
  Speaker 6: to me, boy. I will give your flesh to the
• 35:15
  Speaker 6: birds and beasts to feast on. There will be no
• 35:19
  Speaker 6: memory of you. I will make it so there is
• 35:23
  Speaker 6: no glory in your death.
• 35:27
  Speaker 4: David paid close attention to the wind shifting through the valley.
• 35:31
  Speaker 4: It shot out from the side of the canyon and
• 35:33
  Speaker 4: whistled from his left to his right. He had to
• 35:36
  Speaker 4: be sure about the wind. David threw his staff at
• 35:39
  Speaker 4: the giant's feet and stretched out his arms.
• 35:41
  Speaker 7: You come to me adorned with glimmering armor. Your sword
• 35:45
  Speaker 7: is large and your spear is heavy.
• 35:48
  Speaker 4: David's gaze was fearsome. He beckoned the giant and said.
• 35:53
  Speaker 7: I come to you in the name of the Lord
• 35:55
  Speaker 7: of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, the
• 35:58
  Speaker 7: liberator of slaves and creator of the stars. It is
• 36:02
  Speaker 7: he who is your challenger, giant, not I. So come,
• 36:08
  Speaker 7: come at me with all the strength in your bones,
• 36:11
  Speaker 7: for I declare this day that no man, no matter
• 36:15
  Speaker 7: how large, is any match for the creator of the
• 36:18
  Speaker 7: sun and stars. This day it will be your head
• 36:22
  Speaker 7: that rolls off your shoulders to be eaten by the beasts.
• 36:26
  Speaker 5: And the birds.
• 36:28
  Speaker 7: All the world will know that there is a God
• 36:31
  Speaker 7: in Israel. All will know that he needs no sword
• 36:35
  Speaker 7: or spear. The battle is his. The outcome is final.
• 36:40
  Speaker 7: So come, come to me, giant. Do your worst and
• 36:45
  Speaker 7: I shall do mine.
• 36:49
  Speaker 4: Goliath's anger was kindled towards the shepherd with all his
• 36:56
  Speaker 4: might the earth quaked beneath him david could feel the
• 37:00
  Speaker 4: ground shift and shake with every leap the giant was
• 37:03
  Speaker 4: surprisingly quick goliath closed the gap between him and his
• 37:08
  Speaker 4: prey however david was prepared as the giant began his
• 37:13
  Speaker 4: pursuit David took a single step back and retrieved the
• 37:17
  Speaker 4: sling and a single stone from his pouch. He placed
• 37:20
  Speaker 4: the stone in the sling and began to swing it
• 37:22
  Speaker 4: behind him. He bent his knees and drew a deep breath.
• 37:26
  Speaker 4: For a single moment, time itself stood still. The wind
• 37:32
  Speaker 4: ceased its blowing, and all David could hear was his
• 37:35
  Speaker 4: own breathing. He watched the giant run at the same
• 37:39
  Speaker 4: pace of his own heartbeat. He had one shot at
• 37:42
  Speaker 4: the giant. Only one. He pivoted his foot back, bent
• 37:48
  Speaker 4: his front knee, and prepared for the first strike. If
• 37:51
  Speaker 4: the giant attacked first, it was over. He must be
• 37:55
  Speaker 4: the first one to act. The boy burst forward with
• 37:58
  Speaker 4: the sling still swinging behind him. Wyeth took the bait
• 38:01
  Speaker 4: and pounced forward with his sword high in the air.
• 38:04
  Speaker 4: The shepherd released the sling, sending the stone whistling through
• 38:08
  Speaker 4: the air. The stone landed directly into the beast's head.
• 38:13
  Speaker 4: cracking it instantly. The giant's momentum was halted as it
• 38:17
  Speaker 4: crumbled to the ground. The entire earth shook beneath him.
• 38:22
  Speaker 4: The boy took action immediately, pouncing on the giant fearlessly.
• 38:26
  Speaker 4: He took the giant's sword in his hands and raised
• 38:28
  Speaker 4: it high in the air. The giant laid there with
• 38:31
  Speaker 4: his back on the ground, looking up at the shepherd boy.
• 38:34
  Speaker 4: The final thing his eyes beheld on earth was the
• 38:37
  Speaker 4: swing of God's mighty hero. The young shepherd roared. as
• 38:42
  Speaker 4: he swung the sword down, beheading the giant. David's roars
• 38:49
  Speaker 4: echoed through the valley. His cries of victory were not
• 38:52
  Speaker 4: like any other warriors. It was a passionate and victorious
• 38:56
  Speaker 4: song given unto the Lord. Its sound was powerful and
• 39:01
  Speaker 4: straight from the heart of God. The men of Israel
• 39:05
  Speaker 4: were in shock as they watched the boy that Goliath
• 39:07
  Speaker 4: had into the air. God's chosen hero, had vanquished the enemy.
• 39:13
  Speaker 4: The very embodiment of fear and death had been conquered
• 39:17
  Speaker 4: by the loving yet powerful passion of a shepherd. The
• 39:24
  Speaker 4: Israelite army cried out in victory and descended down the
• 39:27
  Speaker 4: canyon towards the Philistines. Emboldened by David, they ran towards
• 39:32
  Speaker 4: the enemy. The Philistines ran as the children of Israel
• 39:35
  Speaker 4: stormed their camp. David picked up another sword and began
• 39:39
  Speaker 4: to fight alongside them. Saul also entered the battlefield with
• 39:42
  Speaker 4: renewed fire in his bones. He rode into the enemy
• 39:46
  Speaker 4: lines atop his horse. The king swung his sword with
• 39:49
  Speaker 4: fury and confidence. The entire army of Israel did not
• 39:53
  Speaker 4: consider for a moment that they were outnumbered. They had
• 39:56
  Speaker 4: just beheld a small shepherd boy demonstrating the power of
• 40:00
  Speaker 4: God against a fierce warrior. Nothing was impossible for them,
• 40:05
  Speaker 4: because nothing was impossible for God. Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah
• 40:12
  Speaker 4: ran and battled with passion as well. They struck together,
• 40:15
  Speaker 4: gaining an advantage over several Philistine soldiers. When they began
• 40:19
  Speaker 4: to feel outmatched, David joined them. The brothers watched as
• 40:24
  Speaker 4: the runt of the litter wielded a blade with grace
• 40:27
  Speaker 4: and power. He was like a musician, using rhythm and
• 40:30
  Speaker 4: cadence with each swing and parry. He was a sight
• 40:34
  Speaker 4: to behold, and he restored hope to every soldier. Saul
• 40:38
  Speaker 4: watched David from a distance. It was unlike anything he
• 40:42
  Speaker 4: had ever seen. Who is that warrior? The king thought
• 40:45
  Speaker 4: to himself.
• 40:46
  Speaker 5: It cannot be the boy who played the harp in
• 40:49
  Speaker 5: my halls.
• 40:51
  Speaker 2: It was.
• 40:52
  Speaker 4: The forgotten son of Jesse the Bethlehemite was the hero
• 40:56
  Speaker 4: of Israel. God's chosen shepherd had protected the flock and
• 41:01
  Speaker 4: saved them from the jaws of the lion.
• 41:07
  Speaker 3: God's chosen hero has vanquished the enemy. The fear and
• 41:10
  Speaker 3: death has been conquered by the loving yet powerful passion
• 41:13
  Speaker 3: of the Good Shepherd. This was the final line in
• 41:17
  Speaker 3: the prelude to this episode. It can be used to
• 41:20
  Speaker 3: describe David's victory against Goliath. But we know by now
• 41:25
  Speaker 3: there was something even greater that was accomplished on the
• 41:27
  Speaker 3: cross by Jesus. We are supposed to look at the
• 41:30
  Speaker 3: fight of David and Goliath as a picture of Christ's
• 41:34
  Speaker 3: triumph over sin and death. Jesus is David, born in
• 41:37
  Speaker 3: Bethlehem and ridiculed by his own brothers. Goliath is sin,
• 41:42
  Speaker 3: paralyzing even the strongest men. Looking at it this way
• 41:46
  Speaker 3: puts the whole story in a different perspective. This doesn't
• 41:49
  Speaker 3: mean we can't relate to David. As we follow his
• 41:52
  Speaker 3: life even more, we will find that we have much
• 41:55
  Speaker 3: in common with him. But this story in particular stands
• 41:58
  Speaker 3: above the rest. It is meant to give us a
• 42:00
  Speaker 3: glimpse into the heart of heaven itself. The entire Bible,
• 42:05
  Speaker 3: leading up to this point has been pointing to the cross,
• 42:08
  Speaker 3: but it hadn't yet had a powerful image like David
• 42:11
  Speaker 3: versus Goliath. The young shepherd's bravery, trust, and passion expresses
• 42:15
  Speaker 3: the heart Jesus had when he marched up the mountain
• 42:18
  Speaker 3: for you and I. This episode began with Saul's craving
• 42:22
  Speaker 3: for conquest.
• 42:23
  Speaker 2: The way he.
• 42:24
  Speaker 3: Thinks about his own glory is similar to how an
• 42:27
  Speaker 3: addict thinks about their next fix. With the absence of
• 42:30
  Speaker 3: God and Samuel guiding his conscience, He has descended even
• 42:35
  Speaker 3: further down the dark pit of pride. However, his delusion
• 42:38
  Speaker 3: of grandeur are brought to a halt when he sees Goliath. Saul,
• 42:43
  Speaker 3: who is used to being the largest person in battle,
• 42:45
  Speaker 3: comes face to face with the monstrosity of a man.
• 42:49
  Speaker 3: His hawking frame and beast-like features make Saul a scared child.
• 42:54
  Speaker 3: There are some enemies even the strongest among us can't defeat.
• 42:57
  Speaker 3: Goliath delivers a challenge to the people of Israel. They
• 43:01
  Speaker 3: must send one man to fight him. And if that
• 43:04
  Speaker 3: man prevails, then the Philistines have lost. The structure of
• 43:08
  Speaker 3: this challenge is very important. Whoever faces Goliath will represent
• 43:12
  Speaker 3: all of Israel. If he wins, he will be solely
• 43:15
  Speaker 3: responsible for their deliverance. Every man under the command of
• 43:18
  Speaker 3: Saul must think about how they measure up to this
• 43:21
  Speaker 3: giant and make a conscious decision to fight or flee.
• 43:26
  Speaker 3: No man, even the king himself, feels strong enough to
• 43:29
  Speaker 3: face such a menacing foe. The truth is, We're all
• 43:33
  Speaker 3: helpless to defeat sin on our own. The enemy can
• 43:37
  Speaker 3: only be defeated by a hero, but we know deep
• 43:40
  Speaker 3: down that we aren't that hero. Even the strongest among
• 43:44
  Speaker 3: us are helpless in the face of sin and death.
• 43:46
  Speaker 3: So who is strong enough? Who is the deliverer brave
• 43:50
  Speaker 3: and strong enough to fight Goliath? David enters the camp
• 43:54
  Speaker 3: of Israel, perplexed by their inaction. It seems plain to
• 43:57
  Speaker 3: David what should be done, and he almost seems surprised
• 44:01
  Speaker 3: that nobody has risen up yet. David, from the outside,
• 44:05
  Speaker 3: can appear naive in his confidence. Men far more seasoned
• 44:09
  Speaker 3: in battle wouldn't dare face Goliath, but David seems to
• 44:12
  Speaker 3: have no fear. Is David naive? Is he delusional and
• 44:17
  Speaker 3: perhaps too confident in his own skills?
• 44:19
  Speaker 7: No.
• 44:20
  Speaker 3: Actually, it's the exact opposite. David doesn't consider his skills
• 44:24
  Speaker 3: too much at all. He knows that God is at
• 44:27
  Speaker 3: the front of this battle and all he needs to
• 44:29
  Speaker 3: do is step out and obey. The Lord has proven
• 44:32
  Speaker 3: time and time again that he doesn't need skilled warriors.
• 44:36
  Speaker 3: He needs willing hearts. David is willing. After enduring the
• 44:40
  Speaker 3: mockery of his brothers, David steps forward into Saul's tent
• 44:44
  Speaker 3: and volunteers himself to face the giant. He is met
• 44:48
  Speaker 3: with chuckles and grins, which makes sense since he is
• 44:51
  Speaker 3: just a shepherd boy. David, up to this point, has
• 44:55
  Speaker 3: only been known as Saul's personal musician. Of course, he
• 44:59
  Speaker 3: would not be taken seriously. However, David's words compel Saul
• 45:03
  Speaker 3: and his men. David tells Saul about his encounter with
• 45:07
  Speaker 3: the lion, then says, he defied the armies of God
• 45:11
  Speaker 3: and made a mockery of him. I will strike down
• 45:14
  Speaker 3: this giant with the same power by which I struck
• 45:16
  Speaker 3: down the lion, by the might of God himself. The
• 45:21
  Speaker 3: Lord who delivered me from the paw of the predator
• 45:23
  Speaker 3: will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. Saul
• 45:27
  Speaker 3: is moved and feels that David may be the spark
• 45:30
  Speaker 3: Israel needs. Saul gives David his blessing, then proceeds to
• 45:35
  Speaker 3: give David his golden-scaled armor, sword, and shield. Naturally, it
• 45:40
  Speaker 3: doesn't fit David. He politely rejects Saul's gesture and takes
• 45:44
  Speaker 3: the armor off. What Saul perceives as necessary, David perceives
• 45:49
  Speaker 3: as a hindrance. Saul saw it necessary to cover himself
• 45:52
  Speaker 3: head to toe in protection and splendor. but David saw
• 45:56
  Speaker 3: it as a danger. This is a grand metaphor. Saul's
• 46:00
  Speaker 3: armor is a representation of his own pride and self-reliance.
• 46:04
  Speaker 3: Saul used it to protect himself, but also to parade himself.
• 46:08
  Speaker 3: The armor was a symbol of the outward appearance of
• 46:11
  Speaker 3: strength Saul held so dear. David, having inner strength and
• 46:16
  Speaker 3: trust in God, did not need Saul's false protection. He
• 46:19
  Speaker 3: refused the armor and thus refused to take on Saul's persona.
• 46:24
  Speaker 3: The world is going to try its best to cover
• 46:27
  Speaker 3: you with armor you don't need, but there is no
• 46:29
  Speaker 3: substitute for the peace that comes from God. David goes
• 46:34
  Speaker 3: down to the brook near the battlefield and prays to God.
• 46:37
  Speaker 3: You are my shepherd, he said to God. Even though
• 46:39
  Speaker 3: I walk into the valley of death, I will fear
• 46:42
  Speaker 3: no evil. You are with me. This was taken from
• 46:45
  Speaker 3: Psalm 23, a famous song and prayer to God. It
• 46:49
  Speaker 3: is not a stretch to think that David prayed something
• 46:52
  Speaker 3: similar before facing Goliath. He knew he had nothing to fear,
• 46:56
  Speaker 3: for God was with him. Our new and budding hero
• 47:00
  Speaker 3: bravely entered the valley, standing opposite the giant ready for
• 47:04
  Speaker 3: the battle. Goliath was insulted by David's presence and cursed him.
• 47:10
  Speaker 3: David was small and young, clearly no match for a
• 47:14
  Speaker 3: warrior like Goliath. Here lies a common theme found in Scripture.
• 47:18
  Speaker 3: The small and powerless rise up to take on the
• 47:21
  Speaker 3: large and powerful. Think about Joseph rising up in the
• 47:25
  Speaker 3: hostile country of Egypt. Think about Moses and the Israelites
• 47:29
  Speaker 3: standing up to Pharaoh. Think about the liberated slaves of
• 47:33
  Speaker 3: Israel taking on the giant armies of the Canaanites. The
• 47:36
  Speaker 3: entirety of Scripture up until this point has told us
• 47:40
  Speaker 3: the story of David and Goliath before we even met them. David,
• 47:44
  Speaker 3: as small as he may be, has a giant of
• 47:48
  Speaker 3: a God beside him. The odds are not in Goliath's favor,
• 47:52
  Speaker 3: and David knows it. This is why he is able
• 47:56
  Speaker 3: to speak boldly to the giant yelling, you come to
• 48:00
  Speaker 3: me adorned with glimmering armor. Your sword is large and
• 48:05
  Speaker 3: your spear is heavy. I come to you in the
• 48:08
  Speaker 3: name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the
• 48:10
  Speaker 3: armies of Israel, the liberator of slaves and the creator
• 48:14
  Speaker 3: of the stars. It is he who is your challenger, giant,
• 48:18
  Speaker 3: not I. So come, come at me with all the
• 48:21
  Speaker 3: strength in your bones. For I declare this day that
• 48:25
  Speaker 3: no man, no matter how large, is any match for
• 48:28
  Speaker 3: the creator of the sun and the stars. This day,
• 48:32
  Speaker 3: it will be your head that rolls off your shoulders
• 48:34
  Speaker 3: to be eaten by the beast and the birds. All
• 48:38
  Speaker 3: the world will know that there is a God in Israel.
• 48:41
  Speaker 3: All will know that he needs no sword or spear.
• 48:44
  Speaker 3: The battle is his. The outcome is final. So come,
• 48:49
  Speaker 3: come to me, giant. Do your worst and I shall
• 48:52
  Speaker 3: do mine. These words send chills down my spine. David
• 48:56
  Speaker 3: spoke with such passion and confidence. I can only hope
• 48:59
  Speaker 3: to have this kind of faith. This episode reaches its
• 49:03
  Speaker 3: climax when Goliath leaps toward David, all to be met
• 49:07
  Speaker 3: with the stone lodged in his skull. David beheads his
• 49:11
  Speaker 3: enemy and lifts it up for all to see. What
• 49:14
  Speaker 3: happens next is a brilliant image. The entire army of
• 49:19
  Speaker 3: Israel is filled with passion after David's victory. They storm
• 49:23
  Speaker 3: the valley and take on the Philistines. That carriage was
• 49:26
  Speaker 3: given to them by David. He is the one who
• 49:29
  Speaker 3: slew Goliath, but they are all beneficiaries of that triumph
• 49:33
  Speaker 3: and are emboldened by it. This is what Christ's victory
• 49:37
  Speaker 3: does to us. The victory Jesus has over death gives
• 49:40
  Speaker 3: us courage, strength, and passion. We are beneficiaries of Christ's triumph.
• 49:47
  Speaker 3: The people of Israel now know who David is. It
• 49:50
  Speaker 3: is impossible for him to remain anonymous. In our next episode,
• 49:55
  Speaker 3: we will see how fame affects David. Will he succumb
• 49:58
  Speaker 3: to the same temptation Saul did? How will Saul deal
• 50:01
  Speaker 3: with David's growing popularity? And what about Saul's promise to
• 50:05
  Speaker 3: give his daughter's hand in marriage? To find out, tune
• 50:08
  Speaker 3: in to our next episode, A Dowry of Blood. Thanks
• 50:12
  Speaker 3: again for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers, and
• 50:17
  Speaker 3: wisdom to last a lifetime, go to Pray.com. Share this
• 50:21
  Speaker 3: podcast with a family member or friend and help us
• 50:24
  Speaker 3: spread God's Word. God bless.