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and deadly weapon in the hands of an expert.
It
was
constructed with two long (30 inches or so) straps of
leather with a pocket
in
which to hold a rock at their
ends. The centrifuga! force generated by whirling the
stone at a rm's length built up the power of impact of a
modern bullet! It had a greater range than even Goliath
with his spear. And to add caution, thought and care to
his faith, David chose five round, smooth stones (not just
one) to use as his ammunition. Smooth to improve his
aim and reduce friction. Five because David never heard
of the six-gun and because five was all he figured he'd
have time to use. For good measure, he took along his
shepherd's staff.
God helps those who help themselves-at least a little
bit!
Glant lnsult
oliath had been waging psycho–
logical war on Israel for forty
days- forty successful days. His
morale and that of all the Philis–
tines was high. The cowards of
Israel were the laughingstock of the whole camp. Now at
last it seemed there was going to be someone to take up
Goliath's challenge. Decked out in all his armored glory,
the half-ton monster went eagerly to face bis hapless
opponent.
What a shock it must have been when he saw
what
it
was that proposed to fight him- him, Goliath, champion
of Gath and all the Philistines! It must have unnerved
him just a little! What good would it do his reputation to
kili this imp? What great victory song could the women
of Gath sing about his crushing of a gnat? Could this be
serious? Were the Israelis playing sorne joke? He cer–
tainly couldn't refuse to fight, since he had offered the
challenge to anyone eighty times in a row for forty days.
Now it was the Jolly Gath Giant-ho, ho, ho-who
couldn' t figure out what todo! But all his comrades were
watching, and he had to do something! This was in–
sulting!
"Am I a dog," Goliath roared at a hundred and for ty
decibels, " that you send out a pink-faced punk lo fig ht
me with a stick?" The shepherd 's staff was David's on ly
visible weapon-a sling can be concealed in the hand.
Then Goliath roundly cursed David with a string of
Philistine epithets in the name of every god he could
Playing games with God, His will, and
His people. can be not only dangerous,
but humiliating as well!
recall and shouted that he was going to make bird food
out of this toy soldier!
There! At least that ought to take the edge off the
humil iation and make for an interesting anecdote back
in the bars ofGath!
The only trouble was a t this point Goliath had made
the most classic and basic of military blunders: he un-
20
derestimated his enemy! He made the same mistake all
Israel made before him: he discounted God. He couldn't
see God. The only weapon he could see was a club-and
that was in the hands of a boy! Blind with rage, Goliath
charged this shrimp, contemptuously leaving behind his
defensive shield (which could have warded off David's
rocks until Goliath could close with him). After all,
what giant needs a sh ield aga inst a boy with a
stick!
Vlctory From the Jaws of Defeat
ommitted. David ran toward his
enemy, fixing a stone in his sling
as he ran. Stopping suddenly
fiiiiiiiJII!I-111
when in range, David whirled his
concealed weapon. The last words
the giant of Gath was heard to say were: " Here
I
come,
bird feed!" The stone found its mark in Goliath's unpro–
tected forehead and dropped him like a stunned ox!
Since David had no sword of his own, he rushed forward
and, grasping the Phil istine's own weapon from his
senseless fingers, killed him with his own sword and then
whacked off his head!
The unbelievable had happened! Stunned, shocked.
and in turn frightened, the Philistine army turned in
ftight. Israel gave a great shout and followed in pursuit.
A bloodbath ensued. Goliath and thousands of his fel–
low Philistines became that day the bird feed they were
so sure he would make out of David.
What an upset victory. Nobody believed it until
they ·recounted it in one another's ears a hundred
times.
·
David quietly took Goliath's head (a burden he cou ld
hardly carry unaided) and had his armor sent to his own
tent. David knew the outcome all along- but everyone
else was beside himselfwith joy!
Spontaneous victory songs sprang up to celebrate the
event. One was particularly odious to Saul. Its refrain
went: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten
thousands!"
Knowing what he had offered to the slayer of Goliath.
Saul's first question to his chief of staff, Abner, was,
"Wha t kind of family does this David come from?" H is
promise of great monetary reward, tax exemption for the
family and marriage to his own daughter weighed heav–
ily on his mind. He knew Samuel's prophecy that
God had already rejected him as king, that another
had been selected-and he viewed everyone with suspi–
cion.
From that time forward, Saul kept a jealous watch on
David. When the evil spirit from God tormented him, he
called David as before to soothe him. But, while David
played, Saul ftung his spear at him to kili him! Watchfu l
and nimble, David dodged and fted . Finally Saul
banned him from his presence and demoled him in rank.
But in the public eye this only increased the popularity
of David, the giant killer!
David's success had spelled dire failure in the court of
Saul!
Since his offer of reward was public, Saul was faced
with having to deliver it. He was reluctant to become a
rela tive of David's, even through marriage. He puzzled
The
PLAIN TRUTH August 1978