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A Sure Outcome, June 7
1 Samuel 17:38-58
Then said David to the Philistine, ... I come to thee in the name of the
Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
1
Samuel 17:45
.
Goliath railed upon David and cursed him by his gods. He felt that it was an
insult upon his dignity to have a mere stripling, without so much as an armor,
come to meet him.... David did not become irritated because he was looked upon
as so inferior, neither did he tremble at his terrible threats, but replied: “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 speech, given in a clear, musical voice, rang out on the air, and was
distinctly heard by the listening thousands marshaled for war. The anger of
Goliath was roused to the very highest heat. In his rage he pushed up the helmet
that protected his forehead and rushed forward to wreak vengeance upon his
opponent. The son of Jesse was preparing for his foe. “And it came to pass,
when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David
hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand
in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in the
forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the
earth.”
Amazement spread along the lines of the two armies. They had been con-
fident that David would be slain; but when the stone went whizzing through
the air, straight to the mark, they saw the mighty warrior tremble, and reach
forth his hands, as if he were struck with sudden blindness. The giant reeled,
and staggered, and like a smitten oak, fell to the ground. David did not wait an
instant. He sprang upon the prostrate form of the Philistine, and with both hands
laid hold of Goliath’s heavy sword. A moment before, the giant had boasted that
with it he would sever the youth’s head from his shoulders and give his body
to the fowls of the air. Now it was lifted in the air, and then the head of the
boaster rolled from his trunk, and a shout of exultation went up from the camp
of Israel
[165]
12
Testimonies for the Church 3:219
.
13
Patriarchs and Prophets, 648
.
170