Read an Excerpt

From Chapter To Slay a Giant

But thou hast saved us from our enemies,

and hast put them to shame that hated us.

In God we boast all the day long,

and praise thy name for ever."

The boy took careful aim and rushed toward the giant. He let the stone fly. Swoooooooh! It hit Goliath square in the middle of his forehead.

Goliath shook from head to toe, blinked his eyes, and keeled over like a rootless tree. Quickly, David rushed for a sword and chopped off the giant's head.

The Philistines scattered like snakes fleeing from fire when they saw that a mere boy had defeated the best among them.

Word spread quickly that David had killed the Philistine giant. The Israelites loved him and sang songs 'bout him. But David gave God the glory.

David the shepherd boy was a natural-born leader who would go on to become one of the greatest kings of Israel. During his long and glorious life, he had to slay many giants that loomed tall in the form of big, big troubles and great mistakes. How did he do it? Hear King David's voice, singing to us from the ages:

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the

counsel of the ungodly,

nor standeth in the way of sinners,

nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord;

and in his law doth he mediate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree, planted by

the river water,

that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;

his leaf also shall not wither

and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper...

the way of the ungodly shall perish."

Text copyright © 1998 by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack

Illustrations copyright © 1998 by James Ransome