Whose Kid is This?
Saul’s question
A shepherd boy, probably an adolescent, had been the only one of thousands who had stood up to say, “I’ll slay Goliath!” The Israelite army cowered before this giant who threatened to destroy them on behalf of the Philistines.
David was just a messenger boy on that occasion; he had gone to take food for his soldier brothers. But he was appalled, not just at the predicament his people were in, but above all at the giant’s taunts: “Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26, NLT). He didn’t even care that King Saul had offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to whoever dared to defeat Goliath.
Upon hearing David’s offer to face the giant, the king is astonished. “Don’t be ridiculous!” … “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth” (v. 33).
As we all know, those words didn’t faze David. Offered Saul’s helmet, sword, and coat of mail, he tried them on and then flung them off, declaring, “I’m not used to them” (v. 39). In the end, only a humble slingshot and pebbles, plus a huge dose of faith, helped David to down the giant.
Even before David’s feat was accomplished, Saul insisted on knowing who that kid was! He asked his commander, “Abner…
