Maybe he was too young to know better. He had no military training and was so underestimated by his own family that his father forgot him when a prophet came to visit. His brothers’ army was outmatched. The man taunting their army was a giant. He was just a young shepherd boy. Nevertheless, he was anointed by Samuel and chosen to become king of a nation. When he heard the taunts, he decided to take a stand.
First, they offered him armor that was too big and with which he was inexperienced. David refused the armor and the weapons supposedly necessary to defeat that awful giant. Instead, he chose five smooth rocks to use with his slingshot. These were the tools he was most comfortable using. Those around him must have thought he was nuts.
When his moment of courage came, David stood against the fierce giant, with only a slingshot and 5 stones, protected by the armor of the Lord.
One of those five stones killed Goliath.
One stone inspired the battle’s victory.
David’s real victory was not in vanquishing the giant. He won when he chose to follow God’s call. He followed that call even when it led him to an open field, standing alone against the giant, in front of two armies. Once David followed the call, God did the rest.
Sometimes we each have David moments. We feel ill-equipped and outmatched by those who oppose the Lord. We look at our problems through worldly eyes instead of Godly vision.
When the moment comes for you to take a stand against evil, do it. Rely upon the armor of God. Use whatever weapons He has prepared you to use, and use them well. When we obey, He takes care of the rest.
In the gospels, Jesus told us that the gates of hell will not prevail upon His church. In ancient times, a city’s gates were a first line of defense from attack. The gates of hell will not hold up to those who follow God’s call and attack those gates.
This is not a passive scenario. We must listen for God’s call and obey it. Once we do our part, God takes care of the rest. Maybe we occasionally lose a skirmish or a battle. We must neither lose focus nor forget that the battle against evil was already won 2,000 years ago.
Imagine giants threatening those you hold most dearly. Perhaps there are lions or bears, prowling around the edges of your flock, ready to pounce on the most vulnerable and divide those who scatter in fear. It could be a false shepherd hiding wolves beneath his cloak and misleading some of the flock.
Say a prayer, take heart, and make your stand. If you’re given nothing but a rock to throw, take a deep breathe and heave your hardest.
God will take care of the rest. One of five stones changed history.
