David was a shepherd boy, the youngest in his family with seven older brothers, but David was very special to God.

David’s father sent him to take supplies to his brothers, who were away preparing to fight for Israel against the Philistine army. When he arrived he found that everybody was watching the Philistine champion, a giant of a man called Goliath. He was challenging King Saul’s army to choose someone to fight him. Whoever won that fight would win the war for their country. But all King Saul’s men were afraid, all except for David! They took him to the king, who wanted to give David his armour, but David said he would fight Goliath with just his sling shot and some smooth pebbles.

When David went on to the battlefield Goliath laughed to see a young boy coming to fight a giant like him. He shouted insults and swore at David, but David prayed to God and told Goliath that it was God’s battle. He would win! Taking a stone he fired it with his sling shot at Goliath. The stone hit him on the forehead. Goliath fell face down – dead! God helped David (and Israel) win the battle.

Read the whole story in 1 Samuel 17:1-51

Now here is a question for you…

Why would a shepherd want to be a good shot?