Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-06
WHEN GIANTS FALL.
The International sunday-school Les
son for August 9 is, "David and

son for August 9 is, david and
Goliath" | Sam. IL 1-1s:5.
By William T. Ellis.
This is bad year for giants. In
TACT, it looks as If the morality among
these sons of Anak would break rec
rods during the first generation Of the
twentieth century. Huge, Wanting,
and seemingly invulnerable evils OF
heroic size and ancient lineage have
gone tumbling before the onslaught of
despised adversaries. Even the giant
of monopolistic wealth seems topping
to his knees. The vested right of
mighty wrongs have been swept away
with annoying rapidity. The simple
minded David Of moral reform has
borne the head of more than one
Goliath of corruption tor the inspection
Of sovereign right.
This old and deathless tale of the
duel between the giant from Bethle-
hem has become one of the worlds
common figures of speech, to typify
the conflict between wrongs that seem
all-powerful, and justice that seems
feeble. While the story is true one,
and its characters real personages,
and SO to be studied, yet the contest
serves its best present-day purpose in
illustrating the principles which to an
especial degree need emphasis at the
present time.
The Battle of Champions.
The background of the incident is
simple and dramatic. The Philistines
had grown increasingly bold in their
raids upon Isreal. The madness that
was settling over the latter's monarch
had made the nations nerve weak.
The two armies had encamped on the
steep hillsides of valley, in plain
sight of each other. The attacked
party would have such an advantage,
because of the climb up the slope,
that the issue was not Joined through
several weeks. The short-range wea.
pons of the time required fighting at
close quarters.
In this state Of affairs the Phil
stines proposed a battle by champions
procedure common in ancient war
fare, and not unknown down to com
paratively modern times. Their repre-.
| sentative was a giant about nine feet
tall, and fully clad in the habiliments
of an expert warrior. For forty days
in succession this Goliath came down
into the valley, haunting the Isrealites
| to send forth a warrior to do battle
| with him. The sun flashing from his
brilliant armor, and from the head O.
his mighty spear, added weight to his
boastings, and helped increase the ter
ror of the Israelites, who had no maj
fit to face the champion. Saul once
would have dared the trial; but hi
royal spirit had been broken. Ever
courageous Jonathan seems not tt
have proffered himself.
All unnoticed, there came into the
Israelite camp, with the springint
| gait of the mountaineer, a countr.
youth bearing on his back a load o
| provisions. Had any one CHANGED t
observe the young man he would hav'
remarked his unusual loneliness, hi
animated eye, and his fresh interest II
| the military life about him. But t.
the soldiers he was only one NOR
messenger from back-country, bringing
supplies to his kindred. So it was
| The youngest son of old Jesse, David
had been called from the care of tn
sheep to bear his fathers solicitor
inquiries, and his gifts of love, to tn
j three eldest sons, who were enlisted
in Saul's army. Nobody paid an
particular attention to David, ea
cept his big brothers who welcome,
him only for the gifts he brought
they seem to have been as churlisl
toward their young brother as ha
been the way Of many older son
since Neither they, or anybody else
realized that the greatest event Q
that encampment was the entrance il
to it of that boy; If cities could bu
know when the real heroes enter thei
gates in the persons of ignored anc
often, ill-treated youths