One Well-Aimed Stone
You can turn the tide of a battle, even bring down an enemy, with one well-aimed stone.
1 Samuel 17 tells the story of an unlikely hero who turned a battle and brought a victory with one well-aimed stone. Israel and Philistines stood face to face on a battlefield. Battle plans were being draw up, strategies for victory were discussed and drawn up. The Philistines had a champion, Goliath. He was massive and quite intimidating. He threw out a challenge to fight Israel’s champion, and fear took over the hearts and minds of the Israel army.
David, a young shepherd, was sent by his father to bring snacks to his brothers. He heard the taunt of the Philistine, too. But his response was not one of fear, it was one of confidence.
“What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
The Israelites mocked him. Saul, the king, doubted him. The king then tried to make him fit into someone he wasn’t by wearing ill-fitting army. Goliath was insulted by the youth of one who came against him.
But David knew His God and knew his strength.
So, David picked up five smooth stones, put them in his shepherd’s bag, had his sling in his hand and began to move towards Goliath. After another mocking from Goliath, David said these words:
“You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with 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. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
Then, David RAN TOWARDS Goliath, took out a stone, slung it and struck Goliath in the forehead.
One well-aimed stone brought down a giant.
David’s stone found its target because, 1) it was for the glory of God; 2) it was the Will of God; 3) it was backed by the authority of God; and 4) David did not try to be anyone other than who God made him to be.
What giant are you facing today?
One well-aimed praise declaration to the Lord. One well-aimed prayer. One well-aimed act of kindness. One well-aimed gentle word. One well-aimed act of forgiveness…can make a giant fall.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”