Image from folioart.com
I Samuel 17: 40-50 (Today's NIV) courtesy of Biblestudytools.com
40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. 41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!" 45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands." 48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
I was deep in thought today, and the LORD brought this to my spirit. When David was in the field, confronting Goliath, he took the time to look deliberately for five smooth stones. This brings me to my first conclusion:
1. I Must Take My Time To Choose My Tools And Plans.
David didn’t just choose any old stone, but FIVE smooth ones out of the brook, not from dry land. I don’t know. Maybe if David chose just any old stones, the same result might have happened, but the Bible deliberately mentions five smooth stones chosen out of the brook. Selection and implementation, maybe? Then I thought David had to protect his sheep many times. This may have been another way that he killed hungry predators. He would had to have previous experience with wet smooth stones as a weapon of choice. A hard stone would break the skull. A stone that was carved smooth by the constant flow of water would then easily slip into the brain. This leads me to my second conclusion:
2. Be Selective and Choose The Best Tools And Plans To Get The Job Done.
The thought occurred to me that I should be just as selective when I select my tools and plans to slay the Goliaths in my life. David knew the seriousness of the situation, but he did not approach the Goliath until he had just the right tools and a plan of action. David had his stick, five smooth stones, a bag to hold the other four, a sling, and the POWER OF GOD. Even in the urgency of the matter, David took his time...for GOD was with him. Our tools or plans may not look like what we’re supposed to have in the eyes of men to slay our Goliaths, and we will surely be belittled and insult our enemy with the tools we choose.
The tools were not really the stones, but the magnificent and powerful Name of the LORD. In HIS Name we slay giants and move mountains, but we still have our part. GOD will utilize our tools and plans to the max when we slow down take our time to choose the tool for the situation, no matter what it is, and regardless of the impending urgency! AND, David only needed one stone out of five to get the job done, which leads me to my third conclusion:
3. Always Have Four Comparable and Accessible Backup Plans! It’s The LORD’s CHOICE To Use The One He Wants!
David knew the awesome power of GOD but he was also humble enough to know that the LORD could have chosen to use any of stones two through five. The LORD decided to allow victory with the first stone. So should we also have the same faith and hope in the LORD to use our first tool/plan. Should the LORD decide to use one of the other tools, they must be just as excellent and able to get the job done as the first one!
So...I will now have a look at my own Giant Killing plans and back up plans. Care to join me?
