Remember how I told you I went to Israel a couple of weeks ago? Well now I want to show you some pictures from the trip! You are only going to get a few at a time so keep checking in to see more!
Today I want to show you the valley where David defeated Goliath! Y'all, it was absolutely beautiful! It was a cloudy day but it didn't take away from the awesomeness of this valley! I could completely imagine two armies on separate ends facing each other preparing for battle. Have you heard the story of David and Goliath? If not here is a summary of it. You can find the story in the Bible too (1 Samuel 17)!
The Philistine army had gathered for war against Israel. The two armies faced each other, camped for battle on opposite sides of a steep valley. A Philistine giant measuring over nine feet tall and wearing full armor came out each day for forty days, mocking and challenging the Israelites to fight. His name was Goliath. Saul, the King of Israel, and the whole army were terrified of Goliath.
One day David, the youngest son of Jesse, was sent to the battle lines by his father to bring back news of his brothers. David was probably just a young teenager at the time. While there, David heard Goliath shouting his daily defiance and he saw the great fear stirred within the men of Israel. David responded, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of God?"
So David volunteered to fight Goliath. It took some persuasion, but King Saul finally agreed to let David fight against the giant. Dressed in his simple tunic, carrying his shepherd's staff, slingshot and a pouch full of stones he had plucked from a stream, David approached Goliath. The giant cursed at him, hurling threats and insults.
David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied ... today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air ... and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel ... it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
As Goliath moved in for the kill, David reached into his bag and slung one of his stones at Goliath's head. Finding a hole in the armor, the stone sank into the giant's forehead and he fell face down on the ground. David had defeated him!
Can you imagine the amount of courage it took for David to do this?! Keep in mind that at the time he wasn't much older than you girls! He trusted God and knew that the Lord would deliver him. WOW! We all have "giants" in our lives. I pray that when I am faced with a "giant" in life that I can do the brave thing and stand up for God! I pray that for you girls as well! I hope you enjoyed the pictures but more than that I hope you learned from God's Word today!
Love you!
Logan
