An example of how Red solves their problems:
As the sun crested over the jagged hill tops, the stale smell of nearly spent fires muddies the pungent musk of the Israelite army that had been camped in the Valley of Elah. This morning was notably different than the past forty days. It was almost as if there was electric zapping from soldier to soldier as they whispered or jeered about the small shepherd boy about to challenge the Champion of Gath.
As the boy was ushered into the royal tent to prepare for combat, two soldiers were discussing the morning affair, “I heard the runt say, ‘Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?’ Who does he think he is to speak so boldly?”
“I don’t know,” Replied the other soldier, as he gazed at the tent that now symbolized the only hope of a victory, “but if God should favor the lad, the king will give great wealth to the man who kills that disgrace…”
A loud crash from inside the tent caused the entire camp to fall silent. Moments later, the king emerged from the tent; his face flushed red as he was visibly shaking. Some thought it was cowardice, and others thought it was anger; but in any regard, the boy emerged from the royal quarters as if nothing in the world was wrong, as if the weight of an entire nation did not rest on his small frame, and as if this was as normal of a morning as damming a pool for his sheep.
Facing the king with confidence, David passed a piece of armor back as he explained, “I cannot go in these, because I am not used to them.” So, he picked up his staff leaning against a wrack outside of the tent and headed to meet Goliath. As he reached the bottom of the hill outside of camp, he reached down and filled his shepherd’s bag with five stones from the river bed.
Crossing the river, David saw the Philistine’s shield bearer getting closer and closer, which David knew meant that God’s time of triumph to be nearer and nearer. The seasoned champion sized up David, realizing that he was just a boy, Goliath’s disdainful shout was heard by the entire Israelite army, “AM I A DOG, THAT YOU COME AT ME WITH STICKS?” Goliath continued to bellow every profane word and curse by his false gods that he could think of before finally telling David, “COME HERE! And I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”
Without a second thought, without an ounce of fear, the song leader of sheep said the first thing that came to his mind, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, BUT I come against you IN THE NAME OF THE LORD ALMIGHTY, THE GOD OF THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands! Today, I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!”
With that final word, Goliath moved to an attack position. David responded with a quick dash toward the battle line to meet his adversary head on! As David reached into his bag to find a stone, he remembered how God had given him the power to defend his father’s helpless sheep from a Lion and a bear. The shepherd felt that this was another example of God using a servant to defend the helpless people of Israel.
With sling and stone finally in hand, the boy stopped his gate to take aim. While the leather from the sling buzzed over his head, David shouted, “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands!” After that final declaration, the projectile was sent screaming across the battlefield to find the forehead of the enemy.
1 Sam 17:51 “So, David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him…When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.”
(all Bible quotes were taken from the NIV)
