WHEN David, the modest shepherd boy, went forth to challenge the arrogant Goliath, his sturdy reliance on the one infinite God beamed forth in the innocence of his countenance and the calmness with which he met the giant foe. With his understanding of love as the law of God, he encountered and overcame the towering, warlike Philistine, recorded as possessing that which mortal mind holds dear—awe-inspiring physicality, bravado, and a sense of might which is but an erroneous material belief.
This materiality, which Goliath deemed to be overpowering, utterly failed to disturb or deceive the young David, who declared, "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied."
The intrusion of Goliath upon the Israelites is symbolical of the suggestions that are constantly presenting themselves to the Christian Scientist. What are we doing with these suggestions? What disposal do we make of each suggestion of error as it knocks at the door of our consciousness? Are we accepting or rejecting erroneous beliefs? The combat is an impersonal one, between Truth and error. David, who stood unalterably for Truth, answered in the name of his God and prevailed. He won the day, laying low an aggravated form of carnality so formidable as to terrify a whole army.
