The Way
Five Smooth Stones
Not with a sword, but in the name of the Lord
Story
David came before Saul and said, “Your servant will go and fight this Philistine.” Saul tried to stop him: “You are only a boy, and he has been a warrior since his youth.” David answered, “The Lord who rescued me from the lion and the bear will rescue me again.” Saul dressed him in his own tunic and put a bronze helmet on his head. David took a few steps and said, “I can't go in these. I'm not used to them.”
David took off the armor, went down to the stream, chose five smooth stones and put them in his shepherd's bag. In his hand, a single sling. The giant looked at the ruddy boy and despised him. Goliath shouted, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” David shouted back, “You come with a sword, a spear and a javelin, but I come in the name of the Lord of hosts. The battle belongs to the Lord.”
As the giant came closer, David ran toward him. He took a stone from his bag and slung it. The stone sank into his forehead, and the giant fell face down on the ground. There was no sword in David's hand. He ran over, drew the giant's sword from its sheath, and with it cut off Goliath's head. The Philistine army fled, and Israel chased them with a great shout to the gates of Gath and Ekron.
Walk this scene on the map →Words of God and David
You come to me with a sword, a spear and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
The Lord does not save by sword or spear. This battle belongs to the Lord, and he will give you into our hands.
Go, and may the Lord be with you.
You come at me with sticks? Am I a dog?
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: 1 Sam 17:31–54
Background
A sling was a leather pouch with two cords. The slinger whirled it around and let go of one cord to send the stone flying. Judges 20:16 tells of Benjamite slingers who could hit a hair without missing. It was no shepherd's toy but a weapon of war.
Pause and Reflect
Envying the way others do things, do I make light of what God has given me?