If he had gone in Saul's armour, he might have perished. He was no match
for the giant if it came to a sword fight. The long reach of the giant's
arm would have ended the conflict very soon. On the contrary, the sling
gave David an immense advantage. He could strike a blow, and be out of
Goliath's reach. Have we not known some men more mighty, and more often
victorious when they were plain and unlettered, than they were after
years of culture? How is it? Perhaps because they, knowing their
ignorance, were more earnest in prayer. We know that some of us feel,
when we have preached;--That was a good sermon, the arguments were
irresistible, the illustrations were beautiful, and so the people ought
to have yielded, but they did not! Did they?
If the pictures of this event we often see are to describe the future of
Christianity, we shall have to be as daring as though God did not fight
the battle, and as trustful as though we had never driven the alien army
back. When COURAGE is united to HUMILITY, the Philistine may get
measured for his coffin (leaving out the head), and the damsels of Israel
have their timbrels tuned, for there will be a procession goodly to look
upon!