Day 13 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Amshir, may God make it always received, year after year, with reassurance and tranquility, while our sins after forgiven by the tender mercies of our God my fathers and brothers.
Amen.

The Thirteenth Day of the Blessed Month of Amshir

Martyrdom of St.Sergius of Atripe and His Father, Mother, Sister, and Many Others with Them

      On this day, St. Sergius, his father, his mother, his sister and many others with them, were martyred. This saint was born in the city of Atripe to a righteous father whose name was Theodore, and a faithful mother whose name was Mary. When he was 20 years old, St. Sergius desired to die for the Name of the Lord Christ. He presented himself to Cyprianus (Cyprian), the governor, and confessed his faith in the Lord Christ. The governor commanded him to be tortured with different kinds of tortures and to cast him in prison. At night he saw in a vision as if he was in heaven, and he saw the mansions of the saints. His soul was greatly comforted, and the Lord Christ healed him from his afflictions. A priest by the name of Mansoon heard about the labors of St. Sergius. Fr. Mansoon came with two deacons to Atripe and confessed the Name of the Lord Christ before the governor. The governor beat them with great cruelty. A multitude of people watched the tortures, and moved with compassion toward the priest, who could not do anything but to look at them, preach and command them to be steadfast in their faith in the Lord Christ. He prayed and blessed them and they all confessed the Orthodox faith. After they had been tortured, they were all beheaded, and received the crown of life. However, the Governor tortured the priest with fire, but the Lord saved him. The Governor sent him to Alexandria where he received his crown of martyrdom.

      As for St. Sergius, Governor Cyprianus brought him and tortured him with excruciating tortures but the Lord healed, strengthened and comforted him. They brought an idol and ordered him to worship it. He kicked the idol with his foot and it fell and broke. Cyprianus believed instantly and said, "The god that cannot save itself, cannot save others." The captain of the soldiers "Ohios" continued to torture St. Sergius, and ordered to skin him and to rub his wounds with salt and vinegar, but the Lord gave him strength and grace. His mother and his sister came to visit him and saw him in this condition, they wept bitterly, until his sister died from her extreme grief, but God raised her up by the prayers of the saint. St. Julius of Agfahs came, wrote the biography of St. Sergius, and promised him that he would take care of his body and his burial. The captain "Ohios" ordered that St. Sergius be tortured by pressing his body through the pressing wheel (Hinbazeen), that his nails be pulled out, that he be placed over an iron bed, with a fire under it, and that torches of fire be placed in his ears. The Lord strengthened him through all of this and healed him. When "Ohios" the captain was tired of torturing him, he decided to behead him.

      St. Sergius called his mother and sister to bid them farewell. They came with the rest of his family and when they saw him tied up with the bridle of a horse that was dragging him to the place of his martyrdom, they protested to the Governor for his extreme cruelty. He ordered to behead them all and they all received the crown of life and the eternal bliss. There was a young boy among the crowd whose eyes were opened by the Lord and he saw the souls of the saints who were martyred carried by the angels, ascending to heaven. He cried with a loud voice saying, "O My Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon me." His parents were afraid that the governor would hear him and destroy them because of him. When they could not calm him down, they put their hands upon his mouth to prevent him from screaming, asking the help of the Lord Christ, until he gave up his pure soul at the hand of the Lord.

May Their prayers be with us all. Amen.

Departure of St.Timothy the Third, the Thirty-Second Pope of Alexandria

      On this day also of the year 528 A.D., the holy father Abba Timothy III, 32nd Pope of Alexandria, departed. His enthronement on the apostolic throne was in 511 A.D. He suffered many hardships because he was steadfast in the Orthodox faith. In his days, St. Severus, Patriarch of Antioch, came to Egypt escaping persecution. The two saints traveled together to Egyptian cities and monasteries confirming the people in the Orthodox faith. Because he did not agree with Emperor Marcion with regard to the canons of the Council of Chalcedon, he was exiled. On the day of his exile, the faithful opposed the enforcement of the order of his exile, and many of them were killed, about two hundred thousand, by the order of the Emperor. The saint departed in exile together with St. Severus of Antioch, after he had been on the apostolic throne for 17 years.

May His prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.

Vespers

Vespers Psalm

From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.

Psalms 17 : 15,3

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen. 

Vespers Gospel

Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint John the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.

John 5 : 39 - 47

And Glory be to God forever. 

Matins

Matins Psalm

From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.

Psalms 89 : 52,49

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen. 

Matins Gospel

Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint John the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.

John 12 : 44 - 50

And Glory be to God forever. 

Liturgy Gospel

Paulines Epistle

Paul, the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed to the Gospel of God.
A reading from the Epistle of our teacher Paul to the Hebrews .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.

Hebrews 3 : 1 - 4 : 2

The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen. 

Catholic Epistle

A Reading from Epistle of St. Jude .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.

Jude 1 : 14 - 25

Do not love the world or the things in the world.
The world passes away, and its desires; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Amen. 

Acts of the Apostles

The Acts of our fathers the apostles, may their blessings be with us.

Acts 20 : 7 - 16

The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God.
Amen. 

Divine Psalm

Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint John the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet, and the Good King.
May his blessings be with us all.

Psalms 89 : 1,6

Hallelujah. 

Divine Gospel

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.

John 6 : 27 - 46

And Glory be to God forever. 

قال‏ ‏السيد‏ ‏الرب‏ ‏في‏ ‏العظة‏ ‏علي‏ ‏الجبل‏ ‏كونوا‏ ‏أنتم‏ ‏أيضا‏ ‏كاملين‏, ‏كما‏ ‏أن‏ ‏أباكم‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏في‏ ‏السموات‏ ‏هو‏ ‏كامل‏ (‏مت‏ 5: 48).‏
إذن‏ ‏الشخصية‏ ‏من‏ ‏المفروض‏ ‏أن‏ ‏تكون‏ ‏كاملة‏ ‏في‏ ‏كل‏ ‏شيء‏, ‏لتحتفظ‏ ‏بصورة‏ ‏الله‏ ‏التي‏ ‏خلقت‏ ‏بها‏ ‏منذ‏ ‏البدء‏ ‏تك‏1.‏
غير‏ ‏أن‏ ‏الأنسان‏ ‏ـ‏ ‏وهو‏ ‏سائر‏ ‏في‏ ‏طريق‏ ‏الحياة‏ ‏ـ‏ ‏كثيرا‏ ‏ما‏ ‏يصطدم‏ ‏بمشكلة‏ ‏في‏ ‏حياة‏ ‏البر‏, ‏وهو‏ ‏أن‏ ‏فضيلة‏ ‏تبدو‏ ‏أمامه‏ ‏كما‏ ‏لو‏ ‏كانت‏ ‏تصطدم‏ ‏بفضيلة‏ ‏أخري‏ ‏أو‏ ‏تتناقض‏ ‏معها‏!! ‏فلا‏ ‏يدري‏ ‏في‏ ‏أيهما‏ ‏يسلك‏, ‏وبأيهما‏ ‏يضحي‏..!‏
فهو‏ ‏قد‏ ‏يجد‏ ‏أن‏ ‏فضيلة‏ ‏الوداعة‏ ‏ضد‏ ‏فضيلة‏ ‏الشجاعة‏! ‏ويري‏ ‏أن‏ ‏الطيبة‏ ‏ضد‏ ‏الحزم‏, ‏وأن‏ ‏التواضع‏ ‏ضد‏ ‏قوة‏ ‏الشخصية‏, ‏وأن‏ ‏البساطة‏ ‏ضد‏ ‏الحكمة‏, ‏وأن‏ ‏حياة‏ ‏الخدمة‏ ‏لا‏ ‏تساعد‏ ‏علي‏ ‏حياة‏ ‏التأمل‏..!!‏
وهكذا‏ ‏يرتبك‏ ‏في‏ ‏أي‏ ‏الطرق‏ ‏يسلك‏! ‏وإن‏ ‏سلك‏ ‏في‏ ‏فضيلة‏ ‏علي‏ ‏حساب‏ ‏فضيلة‏ ‏أخري‏, ‏فإنه‏ ‏يضيع‏ ‏واحدة‏ ‏منهما‏! ‏ونحن‏ ‏ندعو‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏تكامل‏ ‏الفضائل‏ ‏لا‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏تناقضها‏..‏
ونري‏ ‏أنه‏ ‏يجب‏ ‏علي‏ ‏الإنسان‏ ‏الروحي‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يتصرف‏ ‏بحكمة‏, ‏ويعرف‏ ‏الوقت‏ ‏المناسب‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏يتصرف‏ ‏فيه‏ ‏حسب‏ ‏فضيلة‏ ‏معينة‏.‏
فالصمت‏ ‏مثلا‏ ‏حين‏ ‏يحسن‏ ‏الصمت‏. ‏والكلام‏ ‏حين‏ ‏يحسن‏ ‏الكلام‏.‏
وكذلك‏ ‏الطيبة‏ ‏في‏ ‏الوقت‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏تصلح‏ ‏له‏. ‏وأما‏ ‏الحزم‏ ‏فحين‏ ‏يلزم‏ ‏الحزم‏. ‏وهكذا‏ ‏مع‏ ‏باقي‏ ‏الفضائل‏.‏
فلا‏ ‏يسلك‏ ‏في‏ ‏فضيلة‏ ‏واحدة‏ ‏بغير‏ ‏حكمة‏, ‏مهما‏ ‏كانت‏ ‏الظروف‏ ‏والأسباب‏ ‏وإنما‏ ‏يكون‏ ‏سلوكه‏ ‏بإفراز‏, ‏مراعيا‏ ‏ما‏ ‏يناسب‏ ‏الحال‏, ‏وما‏ ‏تدعو‏ ‏إليه‏ ‏الحاجة‏.‏
ولنتناول‏ ‏مثلا‏ ‏موضوع‏ ‏الطيبة‏ ‏وقوة‏ ‏الشخصية‏, ‏ولنأخذ‏ ‏السيد‏ ‏المسيح‏ ‏له‏ ‏المجد‏ ‏كمثال‏ ‏لنا‏..‏
لقد‏ ‏كان‏ ‏السيد‏ ‏المسيح‏ ‏طيب‏ ‏القلب‏, ‏وما‏ ‏في‏ ‏ذلك‏ ‏شك‏, ‏هذا‏ ‏الذي‏ ‏إنه‏ ‏كان‏ ‏لا‏ ‏يخاصم‏ ‏ولا‏ ‏يصيح‏ ‏ولا‏ ‏يسمع‏ ‏أحد‏ ‏في‏ ‏الشوارع‏ ‏صوته‏ ‏قصبة‏ ‏مرضوضة‏ ‏لا‏ ‏يقصف‏, ‏وفتيلة‏ ‏مدخنة‏ ‏لا‏ ‏يطفئ‏ (‏مت‏ 12: 19‏ـ‏ 20) ‏وكأن‏ ‏ايضا‏ ‏طيب‏ ‏القلب‏, ‏يحب‏ ‏الأطفال‏ ‏ويحتضنهم‏ ‏مر‏ 10: 16 ‏وقد‏ ‏سامح‏ ‏المرأة‏ ‏الخاطئة‏ ‏ودافع‏ ‏عنها‏ ‏يو‏8: 3 ‏ـ‏ 11. ‏بل‏ ‏وصل‏ ‏الأمر‏ ‏به‏ ‏أن‏ ‏سمح‏ ‏للشيطان‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يجربه‏, ‏وأن‏ ‏يختار‏ ‏مكان‏ ‏ونوع‏ ‏التجربة‏ (‏مت‏ 4).‏
ومع‏ ‏كل‏ ‏ذلك‏, ‏فإن‏ ‏طيبة‏ ‏المسيح‏ ‏لم‏ ‏تمنع‏ ‏قوته‏ ‏وهيبته‏ ‏سمح‏ ‏للشيطان‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يجربه‏, ‏ولكن‏ ‏لما‏ ‏خرج‏ ‏ذاك‏ ‏عن‏ ‏حده‏ ‏انتهره‏ ‏وطرده‏ ‏من‏ ‏حضرته‏ ‏وقال‏ ‏له‏ ‏أذهب‏ ‏يا‏ ‏شيطان‏ ‏فذهب‏ (‏مت‏ 4:10‏ـ‏ 11), ‏كان‏ ‏السيد‏ ‏المسيح‏ ‏طيبا‏, ‏وكان‏ ‏قويا‏ ‏أيضا‏, ‏قويا‏ ‏في‏ ‏كلامه‏ ‏وفي‏ ‏تأثيره‏ ‏وفي‏ ‏اقناعه‏, ‏قويا‏ ‏في‏ ‏تصرفه‏, ‏كما‏ ‏يظهر‏ ‏ذلك‏ ‏في‏ ‏تطهيره‏ ‏للهيكل‏ ‏إذ‏ ‏طرد‏ ‏الباعة‏ ‏وقلب‏ ‏موائد‏ ‏الصيارفة‏ ‏وقال‏ ‏لهم‏: ‏مكتوب‏ ‏بيتي‏ ‏بيت‏ ‏الصلاة‏ ‏يدعي‏, ‏وأنتم‏ ‏جعلتموه‏ ‏مغارة‏ ‏لصوص‏ (‏مت‏ 21: 12‏ـ‏ 13).‏
في‏ ‏بعض‏ ‏الأوقات‏ ‏كان‏ ‏يحاور‏ ‏الكتبة‏ ‏والفريسيين‏, ‏ويقنعهم‏ ‏في‏ ‏هدوء‏ ‏وفي‏ ‏وقت‏ ‏آخر‏ ‏وبخهم‏ ‏بشدة‏, ‏وقال‏ ‏لهم‏ ‏ويل‏ ‏لكم‏ ‏أيها‏ ‏الكتبة‏ ‏والفريسيون‏ ‏المراءون‏.. 23. ‏كما‏ ‏وبخ‏ ‏الكهنة‏ ‏وقال‏ ‏لهم‏ ‏ملكوت‏ ‏الله‏ ‏ينزع‏ ‏منكم‏, ‏ويعطي‏ ‏لأمة‏ ‏تصنع‏ ‏ثماره‏ (‏مت‏ 21: 43).‏
كان‏ ‏متواضعا‏, ‏وحازما‏, ‏وفي‏ ‏حزمه‏ ‏كان‏ ‏محبا‏ ‏أيضا‏, ‏إنه‏ ‏متواضع‏ ‏ووديع‏, ‏كما‏ ‏قال‏ ‏لتلاميذه‏ ‏تعلموا‏ ‏مني‏ ‏فإني‏ ‏وديع‏ ‏ومتواضع‏ ‏القلب‏ (‏مت‏ 11: 29). ‏ومع‏ ‏ذلك‏ ‏كان‏ ‏في‏ ‏منتهي‏ ‏الحزم‏ ‏في‏ ‏مواقف‏ ‏متعددة‏ ‏صفة‏ ‏الحب‏ ‏مع‏ ‏الحزم‏, ‏تتضح‏ ‏في‏ ‏ذلك‏ ‏البيت‏ ‏من‏ ‏الشعر‏:‏
يا‏ ‏قويا‏ ‏ممسكا‏ ‏بالسوط‏ ‏في‏ ‏
كفه‏ ‏والحب‏ ‏يدمي‏ ‏مدمعك
كان‏ ‏يحب‏ ‏تلاميذه‏, ‏وكان‏ ‏ينتهرهم‏ ‏أيضا‏ ‏متي‏ ‏استدعي‏ ‏الأمر‏, ‏وهكذا‏ ‏قيل‏ ‏إنه‏ ‏أحب‏ ‏خاصته‏ ‏الذين‏ ‏في‏ ‏العالم‏, ‏أحبهم‏ ‏حتي‏ ‏المنتهي‏ (‏يو‏ 13: 1). ‏وفي‏ ‏حبه‏ ‏لهم‏ ‏تواضع‏ ‏وغسل‏ ‏أرجلهم‏ ‏يو‏ 13:5 ‏ومع‏ ‏ذلك‏ ‏لما‏ ‏أراد‏ ‏بطرس‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يمنعه‏ ‏عن‏ ‏الصليب‏, ‏قال‏ ‏له‏ ‏اذهب‏ ‏عني‏ ‏يا‏ ‏شيطان‏ ‏أنت‏ ‏معثرة‏ ‏لي‏ (‏مت‏ 16:23).‏
وبنفس‏ ‏الحزم‏ ‏وبخ‏ ‏تلميذيه‏ ‏لما‏ ‏قالا‏ ‏له‏ ‏أتشاء‏ ‏أن‏ ‏تنزل‏ ‏نار‏ ‏من‏ ‏السماء‏ ‏وتحرق‏ ‏هذه‏ ‏المدينة‏ (‏لو‏ 9: 55).‏
إن‏ ‏الحب‏ ‏والحزم‏ ‏يمكن‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يجتمعا‏ ‏معا‏. ‏ولكن‏ ‏من‏ ‏الأشياء‏ ‏الغريبة‏ ‏في‏ ‏محيط‏ ‏الأسرة‏ ‏أن‏ ‏الوالدين‏ ‏قد‏ ‏يوزعان‏ ‏الحب‏ ‏والحزم‏ ‏فيما‏ ‏بينهما‏..!‏
فيكون‏ ‏للأم‏ ‏الحب‏, ‏وللأب‏ ‏الحزم‏, ‏بينما‏ ‏ينبغي‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يكون‏ ‏الحب‏ ‏والحزم‏ ‏لكل‏ ‏منهما‏. ‏ولكن‏ ‏يحدث‏ ‏إن‏ ‏أخطأ‏ ‏الابن‏ ‏أو‏ ‏حاول‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يخطئ‏ ‏تقول‏ ‏له‏ ‏الأم‏ ‏لا‏ ‏تفعل‏ ‏هكذا‏ ‏لئلا‏ ‏يغضب‏ ‏أبوك‏ ‏ويعاقبك‏ ‏دون‏ ‏أن‏ ‏تقول‏ ‏له‏ ‏إنها‏ ‏أيضا‏ ‏لا‏ ‏ترضي‏ ‏عن‏ ‏ذلك‏ ‏الأمر‏! ‏ويختلط‏ ‏الأمر‏ ‏علي‏ ‏الابن‏, ‏ولا‏ ‏يعرف‏ ‏أين‏ ‏الحق‏. ‏كل‏ ‏ما‏ ‏في‏ ‏الأمر‏ ‏أمامه‏ ‏أنه‏ ‏يتقي‏ ‏غضب‏ ‏الأب‏!.‏
مثال‏ ‏آخر‏ ‏للحب‏ ‏والحزم‏, ‏في‏ ‏معاملة‏ ‏يوسف‏ ‏الصديق‏ ‏لإخوته‏, ‏كانوا‏ ‏إخوته‏ ‏أكبر‏ ‏منه‏ ‏سنا‏. ‏وكانت‏ ‏لهم‏ ‏أخطاؤهم‏. ‏أولئك‏ ‏لم‏ ‏يربهم‏ ‏أبوهم‏ ‏يعقوب‏, ‏فتولي‏ ‏يوسف‏ ‏تربيتهم‏. ‏سواهم‏ ‏علي‏ ‏نار‏ ‏هادئة‏, ‏وبحكمة‏ ‏وبحزم‏ ‏شديدين‏, ‏حتي‏ ‏تذكروا‏ ‏خطاياهم‏ ‏وبكوا‏ ‏أمامه‏. ‏وحتي‏ ‏قال‏ ‏بعضهم‏ ‏لبعض‏ ‏حقا‏ ‏أننا‏ ‏مذنبون‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏أخينا‏, ‏الذي‏ ‏رأينا‏ ‏ضيقة‏ ‏نفسه‏ ‏لما‏ ‏استرحمنا‏ ‏ولم‏ ‏نسمع‏ ‏له‏. ‏لذلك‏ ‏جاءت‏ ‏علينا‏ ‏هذه‏ ‏الضيقة‏ (‏تك‏ 42:21).‏
ومع‏ ‏حزم‏ ‏يوسف‏, ‏نري‏ ‏محبته‏ ‏لإخوته‏ ‏واضحة‏, ‏إذ‏ ‏يقول‏ ‏الكتاب‏ ‏إنه‏ ‏لما‏ ‏رأي‏ ‏مذلتهم‏ ‏أمامه‏ ‏تحول‏ ‏عنهم‏ ‏وبكي‏ ‏ثم‏ ‏رجع‏ ‏اليهم‏ ‏وكلمهم‏ ‏وأخذ‏ ‏منهم‏ ‏شمعون‏ ‏وقيده‏ ‏أمامهم‏ (‏تك‏ 42: 4) ‏وأخيرا‏ ‏لما‏ ‏أدرك‏ ‏النتيجة‏ ‏التي‏ ‏وصل‏ ‏إليها‏ ‏بحزمه‏, ‏يقول‏ ‏الكتاب‏ ‏إن‏ ‏يوسف‏ ‏لم‏ ‏يستطع‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يضبط‏ ‏نفسه‏.. ‏وأنه‏ ‏أطلق‏ ‏صوته‏ ‏بالبكاء‏.. ‏وقال‏ ‏لأخوته‏: ‏أنا‏ ‏يوسف‏. ‏أحي‏ ‏أبي‏ ‏بعد؟‏ (‏تك‏ 45: 1‏ـ‏ 3).‏
وعلي‏ ‏الرغم‏ ‏من‏ ‏حزمه‏ ‏الشديد‏ ‏في‏ ‏معاملة‏ ‏أخوته‏, ‏وخوفهم‏ ‏منه‏ ‏لأنهم‏ ‏سبقوا‏ ‏أن‏ ‏باعوه‏, ‏نراه‏ ‏يطمئنهم‏ ‏علي‏ ‏مستقبلهم‏ ‏وبخاصة‏ ‏بعد‏ ‏موت‏ ‏أبيهم‏ ‏لما‏ ‏سجدوا‏ ‏أمامه‏ ‏وطلبوا‏ ‏صفحه‏ ‏عنهم‏. ‏يقول‏ ‏الكتاب‏ ‏فبكي‏ ‏يوسف‏ ‏حين‏ ‏كلموه‏.. ‏وقال‏ ‏لهم‏ ‏لا‏ ‏تخافوا‏ ‏أنتم‏ ‏قصدتم‏ ‏لي‏ ‏شرا‏, ‏أما‏ ‏الله‏ ‏فقصد‏ ‏بي‏ ‏خيرا‏.. ‏وقال‏ ‏لهم‏ ‏لا‏ ‏تخافوا‏ ‏أنا‏ ‏أعولكم‏ ‏وأولادكم‏, ‏فعزاهم‏ ‏وطيب‏ ‏قلوبهم‏ (‏تك‏ 50: 16, 21).‏
ننتقل‏ ‏إلي‏ ‏نقطة‏ ‏أخري‏, ‏وهي‏ ‏الوداعة‏ ‏والشجاعة‏:‏
ليست‏ ‏الوادعة‏ ‏ضد‏ ‏الشجاعة‏, ‏ولا‏ ‏الشجاعة‏ ‏ضد‏ ‏الوداعة‏, ‏ويمكن‏ ‏للإنسان‏ ‏الروحي‏ ‏أن‏ ‏يجمع‏ ‏بينهما‏, ‏كما‏ ‏نري‏ ‏في‏ ‏قصص‏ ‏الآباء‏ ‏والأنبياء‏.. ‏كان‏ ‏داود‏ ‏شجاعا‏ ‏جدا‏, ‏إذ‏ ‏وقف‏ ‏ضد‏ ‏جليات‏ ‏الجبار‏ ‏وهزمه‏, ‏في‏ ‏وقت‏ ‏كان‏ ‏فيه‏ ‏كل‏ ‏الجيش‏ ‏خائفا‏ ‏منه‏, ‏وكان‏ ‏وديعا‏ ‏إذ‏ ‏يقال‏ ‏عنه‏ ‏في‏ ‏المزمور‏: ‏اذكر‏ ‏يا‏ ‏رب‏ ‏داود‏ ‏وكل‏ ‏دعته‏ (‏مز‏ 131:1) ‏ومع‏ ‏أنه‏ ‏كان‏ ‏قائدا‏ ‏في‏ ‏الجيش‏, ‏كان‏ ‏كل‏ ‏الشعب‏ ‏يحبه‏ ‏لأنه‏ ‏كان‏ ‏يخرج‏ ‏ويدخل‏ ‏أمامهم‏ (‏اصم‏ 18: 16). ‏ولما‏ ‏كلموه‏ ‏عن‏ ‏مصاهرة‏ ‏الملك‏ ‏شاول‏, ‏أجابهم‏ ‏هل‏ ‏هو‏ ‏مستخف‏ ‏في‏ ‏أعينكم‏ ‏مصاهرة‏ ‏الملك‏, ‏وأنا‏ ‏رجل‏ ‏مسكين‏ ‏وحقير‏ (‏اصم‏ 18: 23).‏