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avocations, and when he characterized his God-inspired courage and confidence as
carnal, and a delight in war and bloodshed for its own sake (ver. 28). But it was too
late to arrest David by such objections. Putting them aside, as making a man an
offender for a word, but without retaliating by convicting Eliab of his own
uncharitableness, worldliness, and unbelief, David turned away to repeat his
inquiries. Tidings of the young champion, who had displayed quite another banner
against the Philistine than that of Saul, were soon brought to the king. In the
interview which followed, the king bade the shepherd think of his youth and
inexperience in a contest with such a warrior as Goliath. Yet he seems to speak like
one who was half convinced by the bearing and language of this strange champion,
and easily allowed himself to be persuaded; not so much, we take it, by the account
of his prowess and success in the past as by the tone of spiritual assurance and
confidence in the God of Israel with which he spake.
Once more thoughts of the past must have crowded in upon Saul. There was that in
the language of this youth which recalled the strength of Israel, which seemed like
the dawn of another morning, like a voice from another world. But if he went to the
combat, let it be at least in what seemed to Saul the most fitting and promising
manner - arrayed in the king's own armor -as if the whole meaning of David's
conduct - nay, of the combat itself and of the victory - had not lain in the very
opposite direction: in the confessed inadequacy of all merely human means for every
such contest, and in the fact that the victory over Goliath must appear as the Lord's
deliverance, achieved through the faith of a personal, realizing, conscious
dependence on Him. And so Saul's armor must be put aside as that which had "not
been proved" in such a contest, of which the champion of the Lord had never made
trial in such encounters - and of which he never could make trial. A deep-reaching
lesson this to the Church and to believers individually, and one which bears
manifold application, not only spiritually, but even intellectually. The first demand
upon us is to be spiritual; the next to be genuine and true, without seeking to clothe
ourselves in the armor of another.
A few rapid sketches, and the narrative closes. Goliath had evidently retired within
the ranks of the Philistines, satisfied that, as before, his challenge had remained
unanswered. And now tidings that a champion of Israel was ready for the fray once
more called him forth. As he advanced, David waited not till he had crossed the
wady and ascended the slope where Israel's camp lay, but hastened forward, and
picked him five stones from the dry river-bed in the valley. And now the Philistine
had time to take, as he thought, the full measure of his opponent. Only a fair-
looking, stout, unarmed shepherd-youth, coming against him with his shepherd's
gear, as if he were a dog! Was this, then, the champion of Israel? In true Eastern
fashion, he advanced, boasting of his speedy and easy victory; in true heathen spirit
the while cursing and blaspheming the God in Whose Name David was about to
(^)