Article April 27, 1929 Issue

"The weapons of our warfare"

HELEN FRIEND ROBINSON

In an age of oppression, when every strategy of the Philistines was brought to bear upon the rival army of the Israelites in order to cause their downfall, the victory which David, the shepherd boy, won over the Philistine army through his single-handed encounter with Goliath, as chronicled in the seventeenth chapter of I Samuel, stands out with unique design. By his simple but brave stand for the true and only God, David, armed with the simplest of material weapons, was able to demonstrate the supremacy of good over evil. Fortified with faith and confidence, his spiritual weapons could not fail to destroy the foe who presumed to defy the God of Israel. The faith and courage expressed by this youthful champion convey a helpful lesson, which should ever inspire the Christian Scientist to renewed courage in his stand for Truth.

Everyone is familiar with the story. The Israelites were seemingly overwhelmed with fear of this self-assertive Goliath of Gath, just as in this age many stand aghast before the onslaughts of evil, until happily they are educated out of their fears through the study and application of Christian Science. This boastful, fully armed giant presented a seemingly formidable foe to encounter single-handed; but David, though outwardly unarmed, was unafraid. So should the student of Christian Science deport himself before every attempted invasion of evil, until every foe of righteousness is vanquished and the final victory won. David must have realized the impotence of so-called material strength, as opposed to the weapons of right thinking, when he asked, "Who is this ... Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

Instead of seeking this encounter, David was humbly tending the sheep in Bethlehem. When the opportunity came for higher service, the faithful shepherd boy was found in the right place at the right time; and thus he won the great victory over the so-called forces of evil, as typified by the aggression of Goliath. Faithful and obedient at every point, he stood the test, and also reassured King Saul, saying, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine." This was no idle boast. The young shepherd knew that God alone had given him strength in his encounters with the lion and the bear, thus enabling him to save the lambs of his father's flock; and he was fully convinced that no obstacle or foe could withstand the power of the God of Israel, whom he faithfully served.

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