1 Samuel 17: A Coming Of Age Story

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In 1 Samuel 17 is one of the most popular Bible stories told throughout all ages. Most heard the story either through Sunday School or the Veggietales version. This story is one of overcoming adversity when it presents itself. it can also be seen as a coming of age story as the hero, David, comes from being just a boy to a leader of an entire nation. The story focuses on God’s ultimate plan for Israel and the future of the entire nation through the rising of a Godly leader.
There are three main characters that the story focuses on: David, Goliath, and Saul. David, a little shepherd boy, is the youngest of eight brothers, three of whom had followed Saul into battle. Saul is the king of Israel but is losing his political status and popularity …show more content…

They also had their ferocious warrior Goliath leading them, defeating anyone that stood in his way. David was sent to the army to bring grains to his older brothers who were in the army. When the Israelites were contemplating surrendering to the giant, David stood up and defied the soldiers from surrendering themselves to the Philistines. When Saul heres of David riling up the troops he sends for him. When they meet David tells Saul that he will fight Goliath so that no other man has to die facing him. Saul does not agree at first saying David is just a youth going up against a man of war since his youth. David convinces Saul to let him battle by comparing fighting Goliath to when he defeated a bear and a lion when they each tried to take his sheep. He tells Saul that God was with him then and that God will be with him when he fights Goliath. Saul does give David armor but David was far too small to wear armor. So David a staff, five smooth stones in a shepherd’s bag, and his sling to fight the Philistine. When Goliath saw David he disdained him, telling him he was merely a youth. David told Goliath he was there in the name of the Lord and that God would lead him to victory. When Goliath advanced on David, David took out a stone from his bag and slung it at Goliath’s forehead. When the stone struck, it sank into his head, making him fall to the ground on his face and killing him. When the

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