For anyone battling giants (or hoping to encourage someone who is), today we’re going to revisit one of the most familiar stories in the Bible—the battle of David and Goliath. For, as well-known as this story is, I found myself both thrilled and comforted when I only recently noticed one previously-overlooked detail. Here it is:
“Then he [David] 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.” 1 Samuel 17:40 (NIV)
David took five stones into battle. And all this time I had only paid attention to the one he actually ended up using.
Of course, God is not one to mess around with minutia. He provides specific details when they are necessary for understanding, instruction, and follow-through. So, why would God have us know that David prepared with more stones than necessary? Why would God tell us that David seemingly headed into battle with a plan to fight longer than he ended up needing to? Does David’s “over-preparing” possibly suggest that he did not truly believe in God’s power and victory?
On the contrary.
I suggest that David bringing more than one stone to the battle says something important about his heart. And, it says something deep about his faith. And, for us, it speaks volumes about how God’s people might want to go about preparing themselves to face their giants.
David’s preparation did not reflect a lack of faith in God. In fact, it reflected the fullness of it.
David was prepared to fight the giant as long as God wanted.
While we know today that David would need only one stone, at the time David knew no such thing. Even with all his confidence in God, David had no way of knowing how many attempts it would take or how many times he may miss the mark along the way. David’s preparation to try and try again points to his trust in God’s timing and the understanding that a loving God does not always grant victory right away.
Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking if we are REALLY strong in our faith then our giants will fall more quickly. If I REALLY believed in God’s power then the battles in my life would be won in less time. In truth, our trust in God is most evident when we show up to face our giants, again and again, no matter how many stones it takes. As we grow in our faith we come to know that some giants just take longer to kill…and that God can love us and let us battle at the same time.
So be David. Humble swagger yourself right up to the battle line and fling that stone, and another, and another at that giant until it falls. And, when it does, listen for the rattle of those leftover stones in your pocket. That is the sound of God’s victory over your heart.
Originally published on April 24, 2019, updated for clarity and freshness.
Anne Rulo 