Article February 24, 1945 Issue

Age No Obstacle

[Of Special interest to Youth]

KATHARINE WARREN KING

Overnight, those who are accustomed to being regarded as boys and girls find themselves assuming adult responsibilities in new occupations and environment. This challenge of today is being met with eagerness, good will, and courage, but sometimes its acceptance is accompanied by the fear that the new tasks may prove too difficult and dangerous. Such fear was proved groundless centuries ago, and it is being proved again today that youth can meet a formidable challenge with fearlessness and success.

In the Bible there is an account of a youth who attacked single-handed a most fearsome-appearing enemy, with an outstanding victory as the result. It is related in the first book of Samuel that the armies of Israel were defied by a mighty warrior, the giant Goliath. His size and boasting so frightened the Israelites that no one was bold enough to go out to fight him. David, who was but a youth, and described as "ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to" (I Sam. 16:12), came from tending his father's sheep and offered to Saul his services to go out and fight Goliath. Saul met his offer with distrust, and said to him (I Sam. 17:33), "Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."

This doubt of his ability did not daunt David. His trust was not in his prowess as a warrior, but in God who had recently delivered him from attacks by a lion and a bear, so he replied, "The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." Then David went forth with his sling and stones from the brook and slew the Philistine.

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