The Shepherd's Bag
For forty days and nights, the giant roared his curses. For forty days and nights, a nation shook in paralyzing fear. The challenged had been issued and nobody dared to take a chance that could result in the enslavement of a nation. Nobody, that is, except a young boy. Sent to the field to bring a sack lunch to his three brothers, David hears the challenge and the proclamation of the king promising great rewards to the one who overcomes this terrorizing behemoth. The lowly shepherd boy dares to accept the challenge of a seasoned champion warrior.
Rejecting the armor and weapons fit for a king, he picks up his simple sling and his shepherd’s bag. Making a pit stop at a small brook, he picks up the weapons of his warfare – five smooth stones. Seemingly insignificant, but powerfully influential stones that would change the course of history, changing a shepherd boy into a king.
1. The Stone of Youth – “When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance.” (1 Samuel 17:42) Sometimes in life, we tend to think that the young have nothing of value to contribute. Paul even had words of encouragement to a young minister named Timothy with his own “five stones”: “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity show yourself an example of those who believe.” (1 Timothy 4:12) Incidentally, I’ve somehow always misread this verse as “an example to those who believe.” What a difference two letters can make…
2. The Stone of Faith – “And David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, a spear, and 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 taunted.’” (1 Samuel 17:45) Even in the face of certain death, David held tight to his faith in His God. Examples of faith in the midst of trial range throughout the scriptures. The promise of life in the midst of that humble faith rings through every time. “Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not with within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4)
3. The Stone of Deliverance – “This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I sill strike you down and remove your head from you.” (1 Samuel 17:46a, emphasis mine) It wasn’t David that delivered Goliath to the Israelites; it was God who delivered Goliath into David’s hands. And David rightfully gave honor and credit to Him and Him alone, as he did through all of His victories. “When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before Thee. For Thou hast maintained my just cause; Thou dost sit on the throne judging righteously.” (Psalm 9:2-4, emphasis mine)
4. The Stone of Testimony – “…that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” (1 Samuel 17:46b) What is the purpose of deliverance? To draw all men unto God. To turn the hearts of men back to obedience to His word. To declare His glory and His power. “Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God.” (1 Timothy 1:8)
5. The Stone of Revival – “and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by the sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.” It only takes a spark to start a blazing inferno. The faith of one man can turn a nation on its head. George Whitfield, Edward Taylor, and Martin Luther are just of few such mavericks. Their fires still burn in the hearts of millions even today. “Restore unto me the joy of my salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” (Psalm 51:12)
As the stone flew through the air, the taunting continued until it struck deep into the temple of this raging giant. And the giant fell and lost his head. His comrades scattered in confusion and bewilderment. And a nation rose up and defeated its enemy. All because of one man who had the courage to pick up the stones that would become the building blocks of a new kingdom.
God still uses stones today to bring down the scourge of our enemies. Jesus is the chief cornerstone, he built the church on the rock of the proclamation of the truth of his deity, and the stone that held him in the tomb was rolled away to show us that not even death can destroy the hope we have in Him.
- Scripture passages excerpted from “The Greek-Hebrew Key Study Bible – New American Standard Version” © 1984, 1990 Chattanooga, TN
Rejecting the armor and weapons fit for a king, he picks up his simple sling and his shepherd’s bag. Making a pit stop at a small brook, he picks up the weapons of his warfare – five smooth stones. Seemingly insignificant, but powerfully influential stones that would change the course of history, changing a shepherd boy into a king.
1. The Stone of Youth – “When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance.” (1 Samuel 17:42) Sometimes in life, we tend to think that the young have nothing of value to contribute. Paul even had words of encouragement to a young minister named Timothy with his own “five stones”: “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity show yourself an example of those who believe.” (1 Timothy 4:12) Incidentally, I’ve somehow always misread this verse as “an example to those who believe.” What a difference two letters can make…
2. The Stone of Faith – “And David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, a spear, and 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 taunted.’” (1 Samuel 17:45) Even in the face of certain death, David held tight to his faith in His God. Examples of faith in the midst of trial range throughout the scriptures. The promise of life in the midst of that humble faith rings through every time. “Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not with within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4)
3. The Stone of Deliverance – “This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I sill strike you down and remove your head from you.” (1 Samuel 17:46a, emphasis mine) It wasn’t David that delivered Goliath to the Israelites; it was God who delivered Goliath into David’s hands. And David rightfully gave honor and credit to Him and Him alone, as he did through all of His victories. “When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before Thee. For Thou hast maintained my just cause; Thou dost sit on the throne judging righteously.” (Psalm 9:2-4, emphasis mine)
4. The Stone of Testimony – “…that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” (1 Samuel 17:46b) What is the purpose of deliverance? To draw all men unto God. To turn the hearts of men back to obedience to His word. To declare His glory and His power. “Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God.” (1 Timothy 1:8)
5. The Stone of Revival – “and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by the sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.” It only takes a spark to start a blazing inferno. The faith of one man can turn a nation on its head. George Whitfield, Edward Taylor, and Martin Luther are just of few such mavericks. Their fires still burn in the hearts of millions even today. “Restore unto me the joy of my salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” (Psalm 51:12)
As the stone flew through the air, the taunting continued until it struck deep into the temple of this raging giant. And the giant fell and lost his head. His comrades scattered in confusion and bewilderment. And a nation rose up and defeated its enemy. All because of one man who had the courage to pick up the stones that would become the building blocks of a new kingdom.
God still uses stones today to bring down the scourge of our enemies. Jesus is the chief cornerstone, he built the church on the rock of the proclamation of the truth of his deity, and the stone that held him in the tomb was rolled away to show us that not even death can destroy the hope we have in Him.
- Scripture passages excerpted from “The Greek-Hebrew Key Study Bible – New American Standard Version” © 1984, 1990 Chattanooga, TN
posted by David Noland | 2:50 PM
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