Leslie M. John
This meditation is about two individuals in the war between Philistines and the children of Israel at a land that belonged to Judah. The first one was Goliath, who was proud, huge, tall, strong man from Philistines. The second one was David, the son of Jesse, who belonged to the children of Israel.
Philistines took pride in their leader Goliath in the battle at Shochloh, which beloged to Judah. Saul and men of Israel gathered on the other side by the valley of Elah. Philistines stood on a mountain on one side and the Israel stood on a mountain on the other side (1 Samuel 17:1-3)
Saul was the first king of Israel. He was the son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was young, handsome and taller than any one among the children of Israel. (1 Samuel 9:1-2)
There was no response to Goliath’s challenge either from Saul or any one from Israel until the ruddy shepherd David came along to take up the challenge. Goliath looked upon David with scorn and shouted. Goliath ridiculed the God of Israel and wondered if David thought that Goliath was a dog! He boasted in his gods and said that he would give David’s flesh to the fowls of the air and to the beasts of the field.
The response from David who hoped in the Almighty and living God was equally challenging. David honored the living God when he said to Goliath that he was facing the mighty man in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of armies of Israel, whom Goliath defied.
”Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel”. (1 Samuel 17:45-46)
Goliath arose, went to meet David in the battlefield, and drew close, like a stalking mountain, overlaid with brass and iron. David advanced with greater strength in God and cheerfulness, as one that aimed more to execute God’s command rather than to make a figure: He hasted, and ran, was being lightly clad, to meet the Philistine. Before honor is humility. David put one of the pebbles in the sling and hurled at Goliath. There it was! The pebble struck straight at Goliath's forehead and in the twinkling of an eye, it fetched him to the ground. Goliath fell with his face down on the ground.
”Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled”. (1 Samuel 17:51)