What a wonderful story is that of David in his contest with the Philistine giant, Goliath of Gath! How we always admired David's courage in facing the enemy, who was armed with the material weapons deemed necessary for warfare, while the shepherd boy had only a sling and a few stones; but he had something besides these far greater and more powerful, unseen by the material senses—even a wonderful trust in God. David's courage being sustained by this trust, God delivered him out of the paw of the lion and of the bear, when they came seeking to destroy his sheep. And he never doubted God's power to deliver him out of the hand of this vain boaster of material strength.

The story means much to the earnest student of Christian Science who looks deeper than the surface. He knows that there is in it some lesson for him, some truth needing earnest seeking, which when found will help him in his daily battle against error. Through the illuminating teaching of Christian Science we learn that "metaphysics resolves things into thoughts, and exchanges the objects of sense for the ideas of Soul" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 269). So, we see that the great champion of the Philistine army, the vain Goliath, boasting of his own power and strength, typifies the universal belief in evil as powerful and able to make men suffer; but thought clad in the "whole armour of God" is invincible. On page 380 of Science and Health we read, "Truth is always the victor."

Error, typified by Goliath, presents itself in many forms. To one, it may seem a hasty temper vaunting itself against the "armies of the living God," against thoughts of gentleness, kindness, and other spiritual qualities. Again, doctors may have decreed that one must be a lifelong sufferer because of a so-called incurable disease. Or yet again, Goliath may appear as a sense of despondency or depression, arguing that we have failed to work out our problem. Many and various are the dreams of mortal mind trying to implant fear, and so unfitting us for the battle against evil belief; but they can and will be routed if we face them fearlessly, as did David, realizing that we go to meet the enemy "in the name of the Lord."

Can any phase of error, however big it may seem, stand before this pure thought of man in the likeness of God, partaking of His nature, inheriting dominion over all the earth? We must see clearly that our battle is purely mental, always in our own consciousness, and never with persons. Paul declares, "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds." This thought held to dispels fear of failure; for is not our God omnipotent? David well knew that the shield of faith in protecting Love could turn aside and render powerless all the shafts of the enemy.

In like manner we must use this shield, never doubting that each stone of truth, each declaration that man is under the protection of the Most High, can overcome all the wiles of evil. In this way we shall prove to be true the words of a well-known hymn, "He always wins who sides with God."

Right here, however, we must be sure we are on God's side all the time. We cannot argue for the reality of error, thus fighting on the side of the enemy, and expect to win the victory for good. The error may seem very real to the material senses, even as big and fearsome to look at as was Goliath with his "six cubits and a span" and his spear as large as "a weaver's beam." These availed him nothing in his fight with David, who, we read, was a man after God's own heart.

When we can enter the combat against error conscious of the purity of our motive, humbly knowing that we can of ourselves do nothing, and giving all the glory to God, certain that every true statement we utter, every thought of Truth held to, has the power of God to enforce it, we shall go fearlessly to confront our Goliath; and if we are faithful in the truth we know, we too shall smite and conquer error as David did.