I.  GOLIATH AND DAVID       “And the Philistine said to David, ‘Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks?'” (I Sam. 17:43)          The Philistines and Israelites were struggling for a place for life, peace and security in the world. The land over which they fought belonged to neither of them. The Philistines are described in this story as extremely powerful. According to the story (which may have been altered after many tellings around the campfires of the Israelites) the Philistines had ‘thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and troops like sand on the seashore...’ (I Sam. 13:5) The Philistines were clearly the overwhelming military presence in that part of the world. The battle against the Philistines continued all the days of Saul.        There are lots of things going on in this epic story, not the least of which is a report (with two versions) of how David rose to leadership in Israel after Saul. The underlying message is about God’s particular favoritism toward the Israelites, even though they test His patience and draw His anger when they are unfaithful. It is from God that they receive marching orders such as those spoken against Amalek to “utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.” (I Sam. 15:3)        The story for this day has the Philistine, Goliath, with the ultimate missile defense system of a bronze helmet, a coat of mail, and bronze leggings. It was the ultimate in military security. He had the world’s best weapons, a javelin of bronze slung on his shoulders, a spear with an iron spearhead on a shaft as thick as a weavers beam. He was a giant in the world, and arrogant. "I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” (I Sam. 17:10)        It is no wonder that the Israelites, like all others, were dismayed and greatly afraid of this huge and powerful military presence. No one dared stand in the way of such a force.        Then we hear of David. Young and without military training. He was keeper of the baggage. He heard the challenge and was not cowed. In fact, the arrogance of Goliath stirred a defiant spirit within David. So David offered himself to Saul to go against the giant. Saul said, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth.” (I Sam. 17:33)        David persisted and Saul arranged to equip David. But David refused the traditional battle equipment of the day. The armor and helmet and sword were not his choice. He chose unexpected weapons, namely a sling and 5 smooth stones from the brook.        The Philistine’s had no appreciation for what one unarmed individual could possibly do against their defense system. To attack Goliath would be both impossible and suicidal. David said, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin; but come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts...This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down, and cut off your head; 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 the Lord saves not with sword and spear for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hand.” (I Sam. 17:45-47)        The rest is history. One stone from David’s sling found the failure in Goliath’s defense system, sinking the stone deep into the towering giant, who crumbled to the earth where David cut off Goliath’s head with his own sword.        For all my life I have cheered the underdog and used this story of David as a metaphor for the possibility of victory in impossible situations. Now I ask, what was so bad about the Philistine’s? What kind of God favors one people over another? What made the Israelites so angry? What passion was so great that David would be willing to give up his life to bring the giant down? How true it is that masses of people make heroes out of those who dare strike a blow against wealth, power and arrogance toward those who are weaker.        All I know is that on this day the metaphorical use of this story has been greatly altered. It forces me to understand David, but no longer applaud his actions. It forces me to appreciate the devotion of faith, but to doubt the existence of a God by whatever name that orders acts of horror as acts of faithfulness. Giants, even those who claim trust in a God who blesses them, are not safe in a world of passionate David’s. Art Morgan 9/11/01