Bible Tuesday - David Part 3

Guess what happens next?

And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

And 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.
1Samuel 17:4 and 17:10-11

So Saul has gone to war against the Philistines. Every day Goliath comes out and asks for one of the Israelites to take him on. Saul even offers one of his daughters and tax free living for the family of the brave man who will accept Goliath's challenge. Nobody takes him up on his offer.

David is back home with the sheep. His father sends him to the battlefield to bring his brothers food. David arrives about the time Goliath is giving his daily challenge.

And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
1Samuel 17:26

The whole Israelite army is shaking in fear and David the teenage shepherd is all "Who does this big dork think he is?"

David won't shut up, despite the best attempts of his brothers, and eventually he is summoned by King Saul.

And David said to Saul, “Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”
1Samuel 17:32-37

At this point it's hard to tell if David is brave or stupid. Saul gives David his own armor. But David won't wear it. He gathers 5 smooth stones and heads out to meet Goliath. Goliath ain't happy about this turn of events.

And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 1 Samuel 17:43

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.” 1 Samuel 45-47

This is not teenage bravado folks. David was hardcore from jump street. Not arrogant. But completely confident in what God would and could do.

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David. ⁵¹ Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it.
1Samuel 17:50-51

He cut Goliath's head off people.  That kid wasn't playin...