As a teen I had wondered: Why did David pick up five stones when he went to face Goliath? Being the inquisitive type, I sought an answer. There was practical significance of choosing smooth stones, as the slinger would need smooth projectiles for the most aerodynamic and accurate missile to fire against his enemy. Rough stones with edges would not exit the sling in a reliable manner and wouldn’t be predictable in their flight toward a target. Stones taken from a brook would be well worn by the passing water, making them ideal for this situation. Why five of them? I could understand having a backup or two in case of a miss – but five?
As I read through 1 & 2 Samuel I came across information that put everything in perspective. I found that there were four other giants that were in Philistia and fighting the Israelites during the time of Saul and David. In reading the passage below keep in mind that a Gittite was a person from the Philistine city of Gath:
2 Sam 21:15-22
15 When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint. 16 Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose bronze spear was three hundred shekels, who was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.”
18 Now it happened afterward that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the sons of the giant. 19 Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
20 Yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21 So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.
22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
NKJV
Five stones for five giants. Whether David was aware of the other giants or he picked up the five stones without knowing of them, it is an encouraging story with a practical application for us today. When we face situations that seem daunting, ones that taunt us and attempt to convince us that there is no hope, we can be just like David and trust God to not only deliver us from the threat but deliver the threat into our hands. We are not only to escape, but be victorious.
When David faced Goliath, God had him prepared for what would lie ahead as well. David gathered those stones into a pouch and kept them with him until the time that they were needed. He didn’t merely grab the first five stones he found. He took time to study the stones he would be using to insure that he had held them, tested them with his fingers, and became acquainted with their feel. In a sense he came to know those stones.
We can do the same with God’s word, taking His promises and placing them in our hearts and minds. It’s only when they have been taken into ourselves and handled that we gain the familiarity with them that will allow us to use them properly. We are then prepared to draw them out as needed and use them effectively.
Take the time today to stop and pick up a new stone to add to your arsenal. Study it, become acquainted with it, and be ready to use it to answer the enemy’s taunts and accusations.
