David readied his pack as fully as he could for the journey to the battlefield. He knew his brothers would be 'thrilled' to see him as always.. But he wouldn't let anything stop him. He'd been left behind too many times while his brothers went off to do the fighting. He was eager to fight for his nation and his God. He also had a feeling he should be at this battle for some reason, and had heard it wasn't looking good for Israel so maybe it was an opportunity for him to make a difference. He hoped to at least be able to show his family he belonged with the rest. Lost in his thoughts he threw his pack over his shoulder and started to head out of his tent. Then he almost ran directly into someone where no one was before..
Elijah knew he was in the right place as it started appearing before him. For one thing, God had never sent him to the wrong place and this youngster materializing before him must be David. Seemingly too small and insignificant for what was before him yet he held a burning in his eyes that spoke of his desire to do great things for God and his nation. "Son of Jesse," Elijah began, "I know where you are headed and that you have a heart after God's own.. But there's something you should know.."
At first David was startled and resisted both the ideas of believing and going along with the self proclaimed prophet from the future. But Elijah demonstrated that he knew all about David, his family, and his situation seemingly stuck with the herds. He seemed to understand David wasn't resentful of his position but just felt like he was destined for more. He wasn't sure what to think of Elijah's claim that his destiny was exactly why he had appeared from the future but was intrigued at Elijah showing him a vision of his brothers at the battlefield and what they were saying - sounding exactly like they would. He asked Elijah, "How exactly is my destiny to be altered? and why? and by whom?"
Elijah responded, "Well, I can't tell you anything that would give away what your future should be, but I can tell you that you have the opportunity to be one of the instruments that God uses to build up an Israel for me to come back here from." Elijah didn't want to go into too much detail about what that Israel had become by his own time. "But there are forces trying to destroy both your and our nation's destiny, and I am trying to assemble a force to counter that if you'll join us."
David's curiosity was rising to what he knew were dangerous levels for himself, but they'd been talking for some time already and he'd be late getting to the battlefield anyway, so he decided he wanted to find out if there was any truth to what Elijah was saying. He agreed to go with Elijah and join whatever force he may have assembled to rectify his destined path. Elijah with a knowing grimace prayed that God would send them to the assembly point where the others were waiting, and also for god's providence through the group's journey and struggles. David saw a portal opening from out of nowhere, saw Elijah immediately go through it and raced to follow him.
As they came out of the other side of the portal a group was gathered that David surmised must be the others assembled. One was of extremely muscular build and long hair which made David think of the Judge Sampson. Another was particularly slender but seemed he might be built for speed. The first female that caught his eye was of unbelieveably astounding beauty. Another somewhat older male was in desert warrior garb from Israel's past and armed with a trumpet. A second female while not as comely as the first had a look of feminine nuture and mature loyalty about her. Elijah introduced them, "It seems you recognize our strong champion, yes that is indeed Sampson! The one next to him may be more difficult to recognize but you will come to know him if we can get your future back on course - Asahel, a very fast runner of your own guard. The beauty is Esther who is from both our future, a much darker time for Israel but one where God is still using the faithful like her to save our people. One hero of ours you understandably did not recognize is our own legendary Joshua who will be commanding this group. The other female Ruth is your own legendary ancester through Obed."
Now addressing them all, Elijah continued, "Each of us has special extraordinary abilities given to us when prayed for and used in faith for God's will. Sampson has unimaginable strength the extent of which no one knows for sure. Asahel can approach apparently whatever speed is needed to further His cause. Esther has merely to ask and anyone she asks is moved to do as she requests in God's service. Joshua has naturally developed qualities of leadership and can also do amazing things with his trumpet when God wishes. Ruth has special healing effects as well as generally encouraging the spirits of those around her. David here has been able to defeat any other being with his sling and simple stones just by faith. Myself, well, God has always allowed me a variety of special abilities.."
Elijah went on, "We will need all of these abilities and to pray God helps us use these together to overcome the challenge ahead. The problem really to all of our futures came about when ungodly forces discovered time travel is possible by certain of the portals like David and I just came through. Since they've discovered this, they've been planning to organize what they hope will be overwhelming forces at certain points in the timeline that will be able to alter them. A particular evil entity we've yet been able to precisely identify is leading these efforts. Presently he's in the form of Doeg the Edomite who will be a future problem to David." Elijah noted the confusion in the group's faces but continued, "We think this entity may take different forms, but for now it's this character. At any rate as some of you know our young David here is scheduled for a battle with a particular giant. This Doeg has gone back in time to the Jericho of Joshua's time and organized a group of seven Gibborim giants for David to face in hopes of altering the legendary battle in the Philistines' favor."
David was awestruck at hearing all of this. He had faced and defeated the strongest beasts of the field before. He imagined with enough righteous anger he could face any foe of God and nation including a giant, but... seven giants? Elijah finished his explanation of the situation, "Doeg has assembled his team of giants and is getting them prepared to ambush David as he's about to face the lone giant Goliath. We have to intercept them now before they can get there by portal." Joshua took it from there gathering the team in a tight circle to pray and consecrate themselves for the battle ahead. After this Elijah prayed for their transport at the right moment to catch Doeg's Gibborim. A portal opened to Jericho where apparently Doeg was just getting ready to send the Gibborim to ambush David.
The shock on Doeg's face was evident - he had never seen anyone else teleport. He also recognized David there among the newly arrived group. "Attack them!", he screamed desparately at tthe Gibborim giants with a vain hope killing David here might effect his plans just the same. The seven Gibborim charged the heroes, but Sampson jumped in placing himself between the charging giants and his team. He was able to slow the two giants in the front although the rest were still coming. The Gibborim giants mostly wielded spears which were like gigantic beams to the heroes. So Asahel raced past the giants in the front to the giant that was approaching last with spear still pointed downward. He gathered speed to push that beam at an angle that planted the sharp end into the ground and caused the blunt end to be rammed firmly into the giant's stomach. As the giant fell to the ground stunned Asahel was able to speedily grab a nearby log and swing it with great speed to connect with enough force to the giant's head to knock him out.
Asahel's moment of glory seemed short-lived though when two other of the Gibborim in the rear turned to approach him as he was catching his breath from having performed the bursts of speed. Fortunately Esther was in a position to see the danger Asahel was in and cried out, "Don't let the other one steal the glory by harming one of God's own!" Suddenly the two Gibborim turned from Asahel and in righteous anger they couldn't even recognize in themselves attacked each other. While the battle heated up Elijah finally got face to face with the entity in the form of Doeg. He hoped to learn more about who or what was behind this all. Back at the front end of the giants' charge Sampson was initially doing well holding back a couple of giants at a time, even downing one of the first Gibborim with a single punch. But as the other giants poured on he began slowly to lose ground to them.
Ruth came in behind Sampson and was able to reinvigorate his strength with just a touch, but he was still struggling to wrestle the remaining three Gibborim at once. Then suddenly one of the giants dropped as David had finally gotten his first shot in. Elijah noticed Doeg muttering something and waving his hands in the direction of the battle. Elijah said a quick prayer to counter whatever Doeg may have been crafting. The two giants Esther had fighting each other started to come out of their stupor to redirect their attack on the heroes again, and the two remaining giants in front facing Sampson seemed to grow stronger suddenly. Then before the Gibborim could take advantage of their second chances, a sound rang out, with vibrations shaking the giants to their core.
The sound coming from Joshua's trumpet had multiplied and compounded into veritable shockwaves that disrupted all the giants at once. The heroes remained unaffected by the sound, and with Ruth bringing herself in a range that could affect all the heroes with encouragement, they sprang to action with new vigor making surprisingly short work of the Gibborim still standing. Doeg was astonished anew at seeing his team of giants splattered at his feet. He turned to Elijah in disgust, "This is not over - in fact it's only the beginning of horrors for you and what might have been Israel. You will never know where or more importantly when I'll be coming for you with even greater forces than you can imagine." Elijah started to stiffen up. He had been surprisingly easily discouraged and even frightened in the past - well, his past - even after having won a great victory. But he decided this time to stay of good courage resting in faith in God's continuing provision, and responded, "Well, you'll never know when we'll be either."
Doeg, as if he thought he knew Elijah's weakness, was surprised by this, but had already had a portal stirred up and quickly made a hasty retreat. Elijah rejoiced and thanked God for both the team's victory and his own victory trusting God. Joshua gathered the rest of the team together and they all thanked and praised God. They spent time getting to know each other and fellowshipping for a good while after that. David was especially thankful - for the first time he felt truly useful to God and for a greater purpose. Then Elijah while thanking all the team members again, remembered turning to David specifically, "and we need to get you back to your own time and place to fight this battle of yours.."