A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO P/8

  

                               

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

                  ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO 

                                  PART VIII 

"I, David, the youngest son of Jesse, am here at the battle field of Elah... The Israeli army is in battle with the Philistine army... But the Israeli army has just run away in fear.... The reason they have run away is the intimidating shout of a Philistine giant named Goliath... But the Israeli army needs to remember that they are not just any army... They are the army of the living God...I believe my God has sent me here to show them....I have just told them that this giant is nothing more than an uncircumcised Philistine... And can easily be defeated.... The Lord has put it on my heart as well to put actions to my words... However, I am not a soldier... So I will not fight him with the weaponry used by soldiers....I will fight him with the weaponry I used as a shepherd...I will use a sling and a stone...And I believe my God will guide the stone that I will use to the exact location in the body of this uncircumcised giant....He is so big that it is impossible to miss him... He will be dead this very day... For my God will have the victory.... And the Israeli army will once again know that they are the army of the living God.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that David chooses very carefully his weaponry against the Philistine giant Goliath...

 

                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO 

                                                             PART VIII

It is time for David, the youngest son of Jesse, to put into practice what he had said so he goes to find the weaponry he can use as a shepherd to successfully deal with this uncircumcised Philistine giant once for all as you can read in 1 Samuel 17:40 

Then he took his staff in his hand, choose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in his shepherd's bag and with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

After David has found his unusual weaponry, he does not wait for Goliath to come to him but he readily approaches him, fully confident that his God will be with him as he approaches the enemy of the Israeli army. It is time for the Israeli army to remember who they really are: the army of the living God. 

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO P/7

 

                                 

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                 ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO

                                    PART VII

"I, David, the youngest son of Jesse,  heard the shout of the Philistine giant named Goliath.... I did not hear his shout because I am in the land of the Philistines... No, he made his shout right here in my country Israel... In the Valley of Elah... He was able to do so because he had come with the Philistine army to my country Israel.... They have gathered against the Israeli army in the Valley of Elah... No doubt, the Philistine army wants to overwhelm the Israeli army by using this giant against them....I have to say he is a giant...It looks to me that he is at least nine feet tall... Not only is he tall... He is obviously very strong...And I have just found out that he is very LOUD!!...And I can see that the tactics of the Philistine army have been successful so far... For they have made the Israeli army become so fearful that they have begun to run away... But that must be stopped...They have obviously forgotten who they are.... They have forgotten that they are not the army of Saul... But the army of the living God....Anyway, I know who they are... I may not be a soldier... For I am only a shepherd...But I know that the Israeli army is not just an ordinary army... They are an extra-ordinary army... Not because of who they are... But because of the God they serve... It is time for the Israeli army to once again find out who they really are... And it is time for the Philistine army to know that their giant is nothing more than an uncircumcised giant... He may be tall, strong and loud... But he is no match for our God!"... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that David declares who the Philistine giant really is...

 

                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                  ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO 

                                                                PART VII

David, the youngest son of Jesse, sees the Israeli army run from the Philistine army in fear of the intimidating words of the Philistine giant named Goliath when he shouts to them his usual morning defiant shout. However. David's response is not the same as that of the soldiers of the Israeli army as you can read in 1 Samuel 17:26b

"...... Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God."

When the Israeli army runs away from the Philistine army in fear of the Philistine giant Goliath, David does not move for David knows that this huge man is nothing more than an uncircumcised Philistine and can easily be defeated with the help of their God. 

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO P/6

 

                               

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

                   ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO

                                      PART VI                                                                                                   

"I, David, youngest son of Jesse, have just now arrived at the battle field of the Israeli army and the Philistine army... I have not come here to join the army... For I am a shepherd and not a soldier... But I have come here at the direction of my father Jesse... He asked me to visit my brothers who are soldiers in the Israeli army..... They are here in the Valley of Elah as part of the Israeli army... I managed to find my brothers... They were quite surprised to see me... So I told them I had come because our father wants to make sure they have enough food supplies to last them for the battle...I was still talking with them when I heard someone shouting... It came from the direction of the Philistine army....It was a shout unlike any other shout I have ever heard in my life.... To my shock and horror the Israeli army began to run in fear....What are they doing running away?"... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that David heard the shout of a loud Philistine when he is visiting his brothers....

 

                 ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                              ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO

                                                            PART VI 

While David, the youngest son of Jesse is talking with his brothers who are soldiers in the Israeli army that is fighting against the Philistine army in the Valley of Elah, a huge man appeared on the scene; the Philistine giant named Goliath as you can read in 1Samuel 17:23-24

As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in fear.

David hears Goliath for God has made certain that David does not appear too late or too early but arrives at the right time when Goliath steps forward to shout his usual defiance. The other Israelites hear Goliath as well and they run out of fear. But David is not one of the soldiers who runs away. He is a shepherd who knows his God and who has seen God do mighty things. 

 

                                                           

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO P/5

  

                               

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                  ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO

                                    PART V                                                  

"I, David, am the youngest son of my father Jesse... I usually take care of his flock of sheep... However, he has asked me to visit my brothers... They are soldiers in the Israeli army... My brothers are, therefore, now in the Valley of Elah where the armies are gathered.... My father has become concerned about my brothers' well being.... So he has asked me to see them to make sure they are safe and well despite the conflict that is raging... I am on my way to them... I wonder what scene I will see when I get there... I may well arrive at the time today's battle will begin... I am not a soldier so I am not entirely sure what takes place at the beginning of each battle... But I do believe that each site shouts the war cry before they take their position.... I hope to have the opportunity to greet my brothers... So I can pass on to them the supplies my father gave me for them.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Jesse's youngest son, David, sets out to meet his brothers who are in the Israeli army that is fighting against the Philistine army...                                          

 

                 ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                          ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO

                                                         PART V

At Jesse's direction, his youngest son David sets off for the camp where the Israeli army is stationed, to visit his brothers, who are soldiers as you can read in 1 Samuel 17:20-22

Early in the morning David left the flock with a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. David left his things with the keeper of the supplies, ran to the battle lines and greeted his brothers.

When David gets to the battle field, he already finds his brothers in position to fight so he quickly goes to them to greet them. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO P/4

 

                                 

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

                 ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO 

                                 PART IV 

"I, Jesse, am an Israelite.... God has blessed me with many sons... Some of my sons are in the army... Our army is fighting our enemy, the Philistine army....Our army has had battles with them in the past... God has given us the victory over them many times...However, I have heard that the Philistine army has a giant named Goliath in their midst.... I am not sure if our army knows how to deal with a giant...I am, therefore, quite concerned for the well being of my sons... So I will ask my youngest son, David, to check on them... I can send him because he is not in the army... For David is not a soldier... He is a shepherd... And he takes care of my flock of sheep.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Jesse's son David's visit to the Israeli army...

 

                    ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                              ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO

                                                           PART IV

The Israeli army may well have forgotten that they are the army of God but God has not forgotten. And He knows that something has to be done to remind His army who they really are. So God goes to work. And as God so often does, He uses natural circumstances for he uses the concerns of a man named Jesse for his sons to fulfill His plans. Let's read 1 Samuel 17:17-19

Now Jesse said to his son David, "Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. Take along these ten cheeses to the commander for their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some reassurance from them. They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines."

Jesse decides to send his son David, who takes care of his flock of sheep, to the battle field to find out how his brothers are doing.....

 

                       

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO P/3

 

                               

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                 ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO

                                 PART III 

"We, the Israeli army, have been at war these last days... We have had a season of peace... However, our enemy, the Philistines, attacked us once again.... We have had battles with them before.... God enabled us to win these battles... However, this time they have brought with them a giant named Goliath.... They have never before brought a giant with them to challenge us....Every morning he comes out of his tent and shouts at us.... He tells us that we are the servants of king Saul...Initially, we did not believe him....But we have begun to believe that he is right....That we are nothing more than the servants of king Saul....For we know that we cannot win this battle... We have good brave soldiers among us...King Saul included....But we know too that none of us can fight this giant Goliath.... We have all begun to feel terrified....In fact, we have begun to feel that we want to run away the moment he appears and gives his LOUD speech... Of course, his speech is so loud that we cannot outrun his voice... We do not know what to do....Even the king does not know what to do."....Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the Isreali army has become very afraid of Goliath.

 

              ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

                                             ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO

                                                             PART III 

The Israeli army feels very defeated in their battle against their enemy, the Philistine army. The reason is that that this army has brought with them a giant named Goliath. He is not only tall and strong; he is very loud. They have heard his shouts every morning since they have gathered for battle. His words have influenced them greatly as you can read in 1 Samuel 17:11

On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Isrealites were dismayed and terrified.

Has the Israeli army forgotten that they are God's army? It certainly seems so... 

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO P/2

 

                                 

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

               ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO

                                 PART II

"I, Goliath, the giant from Gath, am in Israel with my army... We are waging war against the Israeli army... And we believe we will win the war very soon... In fact, we will win this war without there to be any need for bloodshed.... The reason I can say this with such confidence is because of my tactics... Every morning I get up... I stretch myself to my full height of over nine feet... that already makes the Israeli army feel very threatened.... I then speak up... I am not only tall... I am very loud too... And every morning I give them the same message... Every morning I tell them that they are nothing more than the servants of Saul.... I know that they are the servants of their God.... But I want them to forget that they are the servants of their God... I want them to believe my words that they are nothing more than the servants of their king Saul....It seems they have begun to believe me... I then tell them to come out and fight me.... Knowing that they are too afraid to do so....I am convinced that there is not one among them who will fight me."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn how the Israeli army reacts to the words of Goliath...

 

                 ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                            ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO 

                                                             PART II 

The Philistine's choice of instrument in their war against Israel seems to have been a very good choice for all the giant Goliath needs to do is to stretch himself to his full height to make the Israeli army feel defeated. But it is not just his height that causes them to forget that they are the army of God; it is his voice as well as you can know from 1 Samuel 17:8-10

Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel: "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us." Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the ranks of Israel. Give me a man and let us fight each other."

The Israeli army has heard the shouts of the Philistine giant Goliath every morning since they have gathered for battle. Each morning the message has been the same: he calls them the servants of Saul and challenges them to a battle. Perhaps the first few days they may have questioned his remark for they know that they are not the servants of king Saul; they are the servants of their God. But then as time goes on doubt has begun to set in. They have begun to believe that he may be right after all and that they are just servants of king Saul. For they know of no one among them who can fight this man. He is just too tall and too strong and too loud.... 

 

            

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO PART 1

 

                               

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

                  ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO

                                    PART I 

"I, Goliath, am a Philistine from Gath... I am very proud to be a Philistine... Our enemy is the nation of Israel.... Their army is a very special army... Because of the God they serve.... Consequently, we lost battles against them.... And we, therefore, stopped going to war against them... However, we have now decided to go to was against them once again... I was asked to join them for I am a giant... I believe that just my height will cause the Israeli army to feel defeated... After all, I am over nine feet tall... Moreover, my outfit is very impressive... For the iron point of my spear weighs six hundred shekels... I am confident that I can make the Israeli army run from me... Very soon we will have victory over them."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the Philistines decided to use a giant named Goliath to attack the Israeli army....

 

               ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                              ONE SLING SHOT WILL DO

                                                          PART I

The Philistines, one of Isael's enemies, decided to attack Israel once again, as you can read in             1 Samuel 17:1-7

"Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sucoh in Judah. They pitched tent at Ephes Dammin, between Sucoh and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them. A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall. He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armour of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver's rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him." 

The Philistines decided that in order for them to win the war against the Isrealites, they must devise a method by which the army of Israel would not remember that they are the army of God and would, therefore, not rely on the power of God to help them have the victory. And it seemed the Philistines had found the perfect method, or instrument, to make the Israeli army forget they are God's army. That instrument is a giant named Goliath. And he truly is a giant of a man for he is over nine feet tall.....