December 7

I Samuel xvii. — 38. And Saul armed David with his armor; and he put a helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

39. And David girded his sword upon his armor, and he essayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. 40. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. 41. And the Philistine came on, and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. 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. 43. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? and the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. 45. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine

Notwithstanding the forrays of Samson into their territory, the Philistines had held their own; and their line of cities along the coast remained a barrier between Judah and the Mediterranean. On being chosen king, Saul gave battle to the Philistines, and, by a stratagem of his son Jonathan, put them to rout with great slaughter. Now, after twenty years, hostilities were renewed, the Philistines invading the territory of Judah. According to a custom of ancient warfare, of which there are examples in Homer, it was proposed to decide the contest by champions from each side, in lieu of a pitched battle. Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, was a giant of such strength and renown, that no Israelite would venture to

head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands. 48. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sank into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. 51. Therefore David ran and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And, when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. 52. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines until thou come to the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath and unto Ekron.

fight him, even for the large bounties offered by Saul. At this crisis, David came to the camp on an errand from his father to his older brothers in the army. David's shepherd- life had made him familiar with danger, and had called out feats of strength and courage. He had killed, single- handed, a lion and a bear. Like the mountain-shepherds of Palestine to-day, he was expert in the use of the sling. This striping, going forth alone and unarmed, trusting only in God and his good arm, to meet the haughty champion of Philistia, has become the type of single-hearted faith, con- fronting the powers of the world, and overcoming the great Adversary.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 121, 129, 136.

O Lord God! our fathers trusted in thee, and were not ashamed; and in thy love we would con- fide for ever and ever. In health and in sickness, in hope and in sorrow, we would look up to the hills, whence cometh our help; and we pray that we may have the perfect peace of those whose minds are stayed upon the Lord.

We thank thee for the mercies of another night, and for the goodness thou hast provided with the opening day. The sun has spread its light over the world; the earth is bringing forth renewed supplies of good. We bless thee, O Lord! for all

thy gifts, and pray thee be merciful to us in our renewed wants, and visit us with thy salvation. Continue to us, we entreat thee, the gifts of thy providence; and pour upon us the blessings of thy grace. Go forth with us, O Lord! to the en- gagements, the trials, the duties, and the pleasures which await us to-day. Oh! keep us from evil and sin. Bless all who are dear to us by any tie; all who are in any want, trouble, or sorrow. De- liver thy Church in her conflicts, and hasten the final triumph of thy kingdom, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.