Would you pick a big sword or a little slingshot? 1 Smauel 21-25

David is on the run. In this section Saul will hunt him like an animal through valleies and caves. David will hide amount priest, pastures and rocks. David is running for his life. In chapter 17 David was the victor. He killed Goliath with a little sling and a small stone. Well, actually, he knocked Goliath unconscious with the slingshot and killed him with Goliath's own sword. When offered Saul's sword to go into battle David refused, having never "tested" them. He trusted His sling because he trusted his God. Now, however, things were different. Saul was pursuing him like a hound dog. David was afraid for his life. When alone in the temple he asks the priest for a sword, any sword. The priest offers Goliath's sword to David and he is delighted. In fact in 21:9 he says, "... there is none like it. Give it to me!" Here we have a great example of fear and of faith. When David had faith in his God he needed no sword. When he had fear in his heart he replaced his sling with a sword. Here we see that David puts his trust in a a material form of defense.  Did he really think that the sword would save him?  He used a sling at one time to kill Goliath and now needed a sword to fight Saul. Really? What matters is not the weapon in our hand but the Faith in our heart. When we are weak we trust in the strength of God. When we are strong we trust in the strength of our pride. Let's make sure we do not attempt to conquer with today's "swords" but with the sling God put in our hand because He ultimately wants to use the faith in our hearts.