Beginning of the End: David Brought Before the King

 The words of David were repeated to the king, who summoned the youth before him. The shepherd said, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” Saul tried to talk David out of it, but the young man was not to be dissuaded. “‘The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you!’”

For forty days Israel had trembled before the Philistine giant. On his head was a helmet of bronze, he wore a metal coat that weight five thousand shekels, and he had bronze armor on his legs. The coat was made of bronze plates that  overlaid one another, like the scales of a fish, and no arrow could possibly penetrate the armor. The giant carried a huge javelin, also of bronze. “The staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him.”

Morning and evening, Goliath had challenged the camp of Israel, saying, “Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then will we be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants. ... I defy the armies of Israel.”

The king had little hope that David would be successful in his brave attempt. He gave the command to clothe the young man in the king’s own armor. The heavy bronze helmet was put on his head, and the coat of mail was placed on his body; the king’s sword was at his side. Thus equipped, he started toward Goliath, but soon he came back. The worried spectators thought that David had decided not to risk his life. But this was far from what the brave young man was thinking. When he returned he took off the king’s armor and in its place took only his staff and a simple sling. Choosing five smooth stones out of the brook, he put them in his bag, and with his sling in his hand, advanced toward the Philistine. The giant strode forward boldly, expecting to meet the mightiest of the warriors of Israel. His armor-bearer walked before him as if nothing could resist him. As he came near he saw a mere youth. David’s well-knit body, unprotected by armor, was impressive; yet there was a marked contrast between its youthful outline and the massive proportions of the Philistine.