Five Smooth Stones--An Introduction

For forty days in the Valley of Elah Israel trembled at the taunting of Goliath of Gath. The man was a giant. He was trained as a warrior from his youth and confident in his strength; his size and his skill.
“And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array?  am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul?  choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”

The champion who walked out of Israel’s camp didn’t look like a warrior. The was little more than a boy. He had no armor; no sword. He had only a shepherd's sling and, on his way to meet Goliath, he stopped to gather five smooth stones from a brook that ran through the valley.

As a trained warrior Goliath knew the accuracy and power of a sling. But, he was supremely confident in his armor and his size. He advanced on David. The first stone pierced Goliath’s helmet and shattered the bone beneath. The giant stumbled and fell.

Whether it’s made of hardened metal or pseudo-intellectual egotism, God is able to pierce man’s strongest armor. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

With God on his side David needed only one stone to defeat Goliath. Why did he pick up five? David might never pass that brook again so he used the opportunity to gather all the resources he could hold. Christians are to gather all of the word of God they can carry. One verse may be enough to defeat our giants, but isn’t it comforting to be holding five?

Before going into battle it’s good to know where you stand and the resources at your disposal. Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing Five Smooth Stones from the third chapter of John’s gospel. If you happen upon one or two that prove useful against your giants, feel free to scoop them up and load your sling.