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Main Characters
Saul; The Prophet Samuel; Jesse and his sons including David; the Israelites; the Philistines; Goliath
Scriptural References
I Samuel 15:1-35; I Samuel 16:1-23; I Samuel 17:2-49; I Samuel 18:1
Overall Theme
God works in mysterious ways. When the proud and powerful King Saul disobeys Gods commands, God gives a shepherds young son, David, the power to slay the Philistine giant, Goliath. David will be the successor to the mighty Saul.
Summary
Saul, king of Israel, struggles to do as the Lord commands. Through the Prophet Samuel, the Lord commands Saul destroy the Amalekites and kill all their animals. Saul refuses to kill their animals, saying they will be offered as a sacrifice. Samuel tells the arrogant Saul that obedience is more important than sacrifice and tells Saul that for disobeying Godss command, Saul will lose his Kingdom.
Samuel visits Jesse, a shepherd with eight sons. He tells Jesse that the Lord has a need for one of them. Jesse introduces his sons including David, the youngest. God tells Samuel to anoint David as King of Israel. All are amazed at Gods choice, for Saul is still the formidable king. Neither Samuel nor anyone else knows how God will work His will.
The Philistines attack Israel with a new weapon a giant named Goliath. Jesses sons prepare for battle. Since he is too young for the battlefield, David is kept behind to tend the flocks.
The Philistines offer the Israelites a challenge: single combat between each sides strongest man. For 40 days Goliath taunts Saul. When David hears Goliath defy the armies of the Living God, indeed defying God Himself, David knows he must accept the challenge.
When Saul offers his armor to David, David replies that my faith is enough. With one stone from his sling, David slays the mighty Goliath. Even though the Israelites have beaten back the Philistines, Saul knows that he, too, has been defeated.
Background
When David became the chosen one of God, he seemed the most unlikely candidate. A mere boy and the son of a shepherd, David hardly seemed the proper person to vindicate the Israelites on the battlefield against Goliath. Yet God gave David wisdom, strength and courage.
When God instructed Samuel to anoint David as the next king, He said, God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. We see in Davids life that the Lord changes the world through the lives of the humble and faithful who have a heart for God.
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