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The eyes of all the rest of Israel were upon themselves but the eyes of David were upon God. This was the one secret of David’s courage, assurance and victory. It is the \ secret of all true courage and all real vic tory. Saul himself had been at one time a man of dauntless courage, but the Spirit of God had now departed from him and he was as big a coward as any'in Israel (v. 11). David, relying upon Jehovah, pro posed to go and fight the mighty giant sin gle-handed.- To cool common sense his proposition seems the height of absurdity. There was much about Goliath to fill David with fear (vs. 4-8). David had taken all these things into account, and still he was not afraid for Jehovah was his salvation and his strength (cf. Ps. 27 :l-3. There is indication that this Psalm was written by David in connection with his experience with Goliath). If we truly trust in the LORD, we will never be afraid, no matter though the odds against us seem to be over whelming (Is. 12:2; Rom. 8:31). Even Saul sought to dissuade David from his ap parently rash enterprise (v. 33) ; when God calls any one of us to fight some Goliath, some kindly-intentioned soul is sure to say, “Thou art not able.” But faith can always * say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me” (Phil. 4:13). David brought forward a conclusive an swer in reply to all the arguments of unbe lief (vs. 34-37). We may all wisely trust the God who has delivered us in the past to also deliver us in the present and the future (Rom. 8:32). David furthermore was confident that Goliath was doomed to defeat because he had defied the living God (vs. 26, 36). Any man who attempts to defy God is doomed. When Saul saw that David could not be dissuaded, he sought to help him with his own apparel and armor. The intended help proved a real hindrance. It is impossible to fight the battles and win the victories of faith with Saul’s armor (2 Cor. 10:4). v. 39. "And David said unto Saul,'! can not go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him." When
the church tries the world’s- weapons, it is sure to find out that it “cannot go with these.” But the church is-not always as ' wise as David and does not put off the world’s armor that is tried and found im possible. Oh, if the church today would only put off -Saul’s armor and helmet and coat of mail and take the instruments with which God has provided •fcfr it. They may seem insignificant, but they are weapons that always have availed and always will avail, but no other weapons will. v. 40. “And he took his staff in his hand, and chose, him live smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a wallet; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine." David now takes the weapons with which he was familiar. When God calls a man, he is very likely to use the weapons he finds in the man’s hand (Ex. 4:2). Many a man whom God has called and who has gone forth with the simple weapon of the Word of God which he un derstands and with which he conquers as long as he depends upon that, is afterwards" foolishly led to take up weapons which are more likely to'win the confidence and ad miration of the world, but with which he is utterly unfamiliar and with which he courts certain defeat. David’s preparation seemed utterly insufficient to meet the giant with, only “five smooth stones out of the brook,” but in reality David had four stones more than he needed. God ever chooses the weak things of the world to confound the mighty (1 Cor. 1:27). Saul’s armor seemed a much better preparation for such a fight than David’s sling, but David’s sling proved to be .a ,better ¡oreparation than Saul’s arnjor. A few well-chosen stones from God’s Word are a much better preparation to cope with the modern Goliaths of infidelity than Saul’s armor and sword of learning and wit and eloquence. Saul’s armor is spoiling many a David in these days. v. 42. "And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him’ for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and .of a fair countenance." The way in which Go-
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