David is young and has been anointed to be the next king of Israel but Saul is still the current king and David respects Saul. David has a good heart and he knows that it is God who will someday give him the throne so he does not push his way into it. God's Spirit is with David and this gives David unusual boldness and courage. The Philistines are enemies of Israel and they meet as a strong army to battle king Saul's army.
The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them. Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span...He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel and said to them, "Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. "If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us." Again the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together." When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.*
Have you ever been afraid? We all experience being afraid once in a while in our lives. In this story everyone seems to be afraid at the same time. And Goliath knows that everyone is afraid of him. He is the big bully and is making fun of all Israel. David knew what to do when he was afraid he said:
When I am afraid,
I will put my trust in You.
In God, whose word I praise,
In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?*
The good news is we do not even have to be afraid to die.
Special Note: The Old Testament will refer to the descendents of Jacob who were slaves in Egypt as: My people, Hebrews, Sons of Israel, Children of Israel, Israel, Israelites and Jews.
1 Samuel 17:3-4, 8-11, Psalm 56:3-4 (NASB)
Lesson Questions for the Full Story:
Content: Yo!, Youth Outreach, Youth
Outreach, Children's Devotionals,
Children's Bible Devotionals, Children's Daily
Devotionals, Children's Bible Lessons, Children's
Bible Stories, Children's Missionary Stories,
Children's Bible Verses, Children's Scripture Memory,
Devotionals for Youth, Bible Devotionals for Youth,
Daily Devotionals for Youth, Bible Lessons for Youth,
Bible Stories for Youth, Missionary Stories for Youth,
Bible Verses for Youth, Scripture Memory for Youth,
The Gospel, The Good News, The Gospel of Lord Jesus
Christ, New Testament Stories, Old Testament Stories,
Jesus, God's only begotten Son, Stories of Jesus,
Jesus Parables, Born Again, The way the truth and the
life, God's love, Everlasting life, The Father the Son
and the Holy Spirit, The Holy Ghost, The Everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace, The bright and morning
star, God so loved the world, yoroom
