86 /HL LORD IS THY KEEPER."

 David's words were soon repeated to King Saul, and
he sent for David. David said calmly to the king, Thy
servant will go and fight with this Philistine." Saul an-
swered, You are only a boy, and he is a man of war from
his youth." David told him how a lion and a bear had
come among his father's sheep, and he had killed them.
He was not boasting of his own strength, for he said, "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."
 Saul wanted David to wear his coat of armor: he put
his brass helmet on his head, and a coat-of-mail, and gave
him his sword. Saul was a tall, large man, his coat and
helmet did not fit David; he could not fight nor run in
them, and he took them off. How did David expect to fight?
The giant was large and strong; he looked as if he could
take David in one hand. He wore a helmet of brass on
his head, a heavy coat of brass, brass coverings on his
great legs, and a plate of brass between his shoulders.
His spear was long and sharp and heavy, and a servant
carrying a shield marched along before him. Could Da-
vid meet all that ?
 In sight of the men on the bank David went down to
the brook; he had his shepherd's staff in his hand; he
stooped and picked up five smooth stones out of the brook,
and put them in the shepherd's bag hanging from his neck,
on one side; he held his sling in his hand. He went on,