DAVID AND GOLIATH- DAVID'S 5 SMOOTH STONES

Inspired by a sermon preached by my pastor, Howard Bass:  http://pastorhowardbass.podomatic.com/

Goliath was a giant of the Philistine army. He is the same giant that defied and mocked God and the armies of God’s people. Although this happened centuries ago, we are instructed in the New Testament to apply certain principles learned in the Old Testament as examples for our own lives.  

The Philistine armies came with their camp and threatened the armies of Israel. All of Israel was paralyzed and in fear of what this Philistine army would do to them.  David came to the camp site where the Philistines were on one side and the Israeli army on the other, from his home, simply to bring food to his brothers for their refreshment and having heard the threats of the enemy, 

David of all the strong men of Israel was the only one with boldness to confront the giant.  He didn’t care about the size of the camp or the size of the giant.  The ones in the Philistine camp would always be a part of that camp and the camps would not change size. He wasn’t concerned with the threats of the giant because until the actual confrontation, the giants threats were mere words. 

What he did do was say, “Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. (1Sam 17:32)” 

Then he said,

“³⁴ “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, ³⁵ I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. ³⁶ Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” ³⁷ Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine (1Sam 17:34-37.)”

He proceeded to choose 5 small stones. Based on his prior experience in using his slingshot and stones, he knew just which ones he needed to create the trajectory that would be required to take down this giant.  

When he slung his carefully chosen stones, the giant came tumbling down and Israel was once again delivered from an enemy- not by the current king but by the future king.  He then proclaimed,

“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. ⁴⁶ 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. ⁴⁷ 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.” (1 Sam 17:45-57)

When you’re faced with a giant, you too can take what you’ve learned in the prayer closet and your experiences in life & apply it in the valley where you face giants that threaten you. You too will see your giants fall and they’ll fall by your hand with God’s help, all in the name of the Lord! Amen!

(Things I’ve learned in my time with the Lord and from inspiration from a sermon preached by my pastor, Howard Bass.)

SERMON: THE SPIRIT OF A BREAKER

http://pastorhowardbass.podomatic.com/