David, a Slingshot, and a Mighty God

Sometimes we face challenges that can be overwhelming or worse  — terrifying. So, what do we do? We can run and hide. We can ignore the situation and hope it resolves itself. Or, we can do what the shepherd boy David did — believe that our victory comes from trusting the One who fights for us.

David and Goliath. What a great story! We learned it as little children in Bible classes how this shepherd boy used his slingshot and killed the mean old giant. It reminds me of those “warrior” games on television. We always cheer for the underdog, don’t we? But David really wasn’t an underdog at all!

Let’s look back at this story for a moment. It is found in 1 Samuel 17.

David, a young shepherd, was sent by his father to bring provisions to his three older brothers in the Israelite army who were facing the mighty Philistines.  When he arrived, the scene surprised him. Here were two armies standing on opposite mountaintops, yelling their battle cries at each other!

David — Braver than the Israelite Army?

David soon discovered that the Israelite army was too afraid to fight! The Philistines were led by their champion, Goliath. Now yes, Goliath was a strong giant of a man, standing nine and a half feet tall. And his reputation for killing and beheading men in battle was well known. He couldn’t be any more intimidating.

The Israelite soldiers had relied on their own strength in the past, (or so they thought), but now they knew they were outmatched. So, what did they do? They stood on their mountain top and yelled their battle cry every day but didn’t move. (“Nanny nanny boo boo!”) They listened to Goliath’s taunts for 40 days and just stood there. What did they think was going to happen? Would everybody just get tired and go home?

David couldn’t understand why the Israelite army was letting the Philistines mock them like that. He had heard the stories of how God rescued the Israelites from the wicked Pharaoh and the Egyptians. He knew why the Passover was celebrated every year.  So, he wondered, why was there no battle?

God Always Protected David

Even as a young shepherd, he saw the strength of God protecting him and his flock from wild lions and bears. His faith was born out of his experience of God’s grace and mercy in his life up to that point. David believed in a God who could handle any danger, including those egotistical Philistines. It was second nature to him. Of course, God would protect them. Of course, He would give them the victory! But why did the army not move?

So, David, too young and small to even fight in the army, spoke up. He did not doubt or hesitate. “I’ll go,” he said. I’m sure the soldiers were laughing and shaking their heads. But David wasn’t afraid. He knew he was not going into battle by himself.

David Is Ready to Fight!

David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” The Lord had delivered him out of dangerous situations in the past, proving His power and trustworthiness, and David relied on Him to deliver him from the Philistine. Whether it took one stone or five, David recognized that the power was not in his sling but in the Lord of hosts.

King Saul hesitated to let this boy fight against Goliath, but what other option did he have?  So, Saul told David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” (1 Samuel 17:37)

King Saul Prepares David for Battle

The next part of the story seems a bit comical to me. King Saul was probably feeling a bit guilty or embarrassed for sending this boy into battle with all his “brave’ warriors watching on. The King, who was very tall, like 6-foot-nine, wanted to give this boy at least a little help, so he put his own armor on David. I imagine David couldn’t even walk around or see anything. Instead, David took off the armor, tucked his slingshot in his belt, and grabbed five smooth stones from the riverbed.

Why Five Stones?

So many “scholars” try to analyze why David chose five stones instead of just one. Did he not fully trust in God’s victory? Honestly, David had great faith in God and never doubted Him. If he had, would he have even spoken up and volunteered to fight that evil giant who stood more than 9 feet tall? Of course not.

The challenge that David faced was right in front of him. There was no time to analyze any spiritual significance for how many stones he needed to pick up. I believe that David probably always carried five stones as they would fit comfortably in his pouch. It wasn’t a “spiritual” act or “better be safe than sorry” thinking on his part. It was just habit, something he was familiar with. But those five stones still do not in any way minimize his complete faith in God’s victory. His bravery was a testimony to his confidence in God’s protection long before he ever met Goliath! He knew God could do anything! And he was right!

David Trusted God for the Victory

Before he took even one step or aimed his slingshot, he made sure Goliath and all the rest of the Philistine army knew who they were up against! In 1 Samuel 17:46-47, David declares, “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand…the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s….”

Yes, David knew that no one could defy the living God. He confidently swung that slingshot while running toward Goliath. He didn’t wait for the giant to come to him. Running like that would make it more difficult to hit his target, but he knew that it was all in God’s hands anyway. Here is a contemporary song about David Trusting God. It’s called “My God Fights For Me.” https://youtu.be/JezG-ZNQXfE?si=R-E2LzfUD2XvU49i

God Fights For Us, Too!

Is there a lesson we can learn from this? Absolutely! Our God is always stronger than our enemies. He will protect us even when we feel afraid. If we have one small stone in our pocket or five, the battle is His. We can rest on that promise. We are never fighting the evil one by ourselves. We may feel overwhelmed or scared, but God is our loving protector who has already won the victory. With faith in God, we can overcome any giants in our own lives. Give your fears and worries to Him, then trust that He will do what is best for you. You are never alone.

Prayer:

Dear Father, Sometimes our battles seem to overwhelm us. Sometimes we just want to give up. But we know you love us and are right beside us in our struggles. Help us to rest in your promise to never leave us or forsake us! In Jesus’ name, AMEN.