In The Name (David vs Goliath)
“David replied to the Philistine: "You are coming against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I am coming against you in the name of Jehovah of armies, the God of the battle line of Israel, whom you have taunted."”
About this song
A trap-style retelling of 1 Samuel 17 — the shepherd boy David facing the Philistine giant Goliath in the Valley of Elah. The chorus pulls straight from David's own answer: "I come in the name of Jehovah of armies" (1 Samuel 17:45). Verses walk through the scene faithfully — the eight sons of Jesse, the giant's nine-foot frame and copper armor, the lion and the bear, the five smooth stones from the wadi, the sling — and land on David's confession that the battle belongs to Jehovah, not the sword (verse 47). Closes by drawing the line for today: whatever giant stands in front of you, the same God of David is working for you.
Read more on jw.orgLyrics
Intro
whispered, dark 808s
Jehovah's name on my tongue
Shepherd boy with a sling
Valley of Elah, forty days
Let's get it on
Verse 1
Eight sons of Jesse, I'm the youngest one
Watching sheep 'til my daddy said run
Bread and cheese for my brothers on the front
Leaving with the giant's head when it's done
Nine feet tall, copper scales on his chest
Six hundred shekels on the spear that he pressed
Forty days taunting, got the army depressed
Saul in his tent, the whole camp a mess
Heard him — uncircumcised clown
Talking down on the armies of the Most High now?
Somebody gotta put this blasphemer down
Make Jehovah's name ring out loud
Chorus
I come in the name, the name
I come in the name of Jehovah
Five smooth stones, one sling, it's over
Giant fall down, the war getting closer
I come in the name, the name
I come in the name of Jehovah
Not by the sword, not by the soldier
The battle's His, I'm just the chosen
Verse 2
Saul put his armor on me, too heavy
Shrugged it off, grabbed my staff, already ready
Walked to the stream, picked five stones, steady
Sling in my hand, heart calm, pulse steady
Lion came for my flock, I broke its jaw
Bear came next, same result, same law
Same God that saved me then gon' save y'all
Giant cursing? Watch him take the fall
He said, am I a dog, you bring sticks to me?
Cursed me by his gods so wickedly
You come with sword and spear and weaponry
I'm coming with the God of eternity
Chorus
I come in the name, the name
I come in the name of Jehovah
Five smooth stones, one sling, it's over
Giant fall down, the war getting closer
I come in the name, the name
I come in the name of Jehovah
Not by the sword, not by the soldier
The battle's His, I'm just the chosen
Bridge
beat drop, whispered
Reach in the bag, pull one stone
Wind up the sling, let it go
Forehead, thud, facedown in the dirt
The whole earth gon' know what His name is worth
Verse 3
Took his own sword, separated his dome
Philistines running, never made it home
Israel shouting, Ekron to the throne
All the earth know there's a God of His own
Ain't the sword and it ain't the spear
Battle belongs to Jehovah, make it clear
Shepherd boy testify, lend me your ear
His name on your lips, there's nothing to fear
Whatever giant standing in front of you
Paycheck, sickness, the doubt coming through
Remember the valley, remember what's true
Same God of David, He working for you
Outro
choir, fading
In the name, in the name
Jehovah of armies, forever the same
Five smooth stones, one God, one aim
Glory to Jehovah, all glory, all fame
Go deeper at jw.org
These articles from Jehovah's organization explain the teachings behind this song.
