In the Valley of Elah, an unknown shepherd boy named David used his personal sling and a single stone to kill the giant known as Goliath. David’s courage and skill with the sling saved King Saul’s entire army from certain defeat at the hands of Goliath and his Philistine army.
It was a miracle that David was near the battlefield.
For 40 days, twice a day, the giant Goliath challenged King Saul’s army to send out its champion to decide the outcome in one glorious battle. But Saul and his entire army were too afraid.
Thankfully, David was sent to the battlefield by his father with instructions to deliver food. But when he heard the Giant disparage God and the Israelites, he accepted the enemy’s challenge. Saul reluctantly agreed. David entered the battlefield with his staff, a sling, and five stones that he gathered from a brook.
Javelin in hand, Goliath defiantly stood tall in his armor, hurling curses at David, his fellow Israelites and his God.
David replied to Goliath's taunts with one of his own: "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down, and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a god in Israel and that all this assembly may know that God saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is God's, and he will give you into our hand."
Without a concealed carry permit, David retrieved his sling, selected the best of the five stones, spun it with his arm and wrist, releasing the stone at the perfect instant that sailed directly to its mark, the center of the giant’s forehead. Goliath immediately dropped to the ground. David quickly cut the giant’s head off and carried it home.
Seeing their champion fall so easily to a shepherd boy, the Philistine army fled.
Prior to David’s decisive win, many of King Saul’s cabinet ministers wanted slings outlawed for commoners. Slings were too dangerous to be carried to and fro about the kingdom.
Fittingly, one day prior to David’s heroics, Prince Chuck the Shumer failed to persuade King Saul to write an Executive Order banning slings for personal carry. Fortunately for Prince Chuck, he left the country on holiday before the big battle and isn’t expected to return soon. Or ever.
Special Thanks to Canva and Pixabay for Artwork