Slings And Stones

David spoke to Saul: "Let your majesty not lose courage. I am at your service to go and fight this Philistine." But Saul answered David, "You cannot go up against this Philistine and fight with him, for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth."

David continued: "The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will also keep me safe from the clutches of this Philistine." Saul answered David, "Go! the LORD will be with you."

Then, staff in hand, David selected five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pocket of his shepherd's bag. With his sling also ready to hand, he approached the Philistine.

With his shield bearer marching before him, the Philistine also advanced closer and closer to David. When he had sized David up, and seen that he was youthful, and ruddy, and handsome in appearance, the Philistine held David in contempt. The Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog that you come against me with a staff?" Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods and said to him, "Come here to me, and I will leave your flesh for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field."

David answered him: "You come against me with sword and spear and scimitar, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel that you have insulted. Today the LORD shall deliver you into my hand; I will strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will leave your corpse and the corpses of the Philistine army for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field; thus the whole land shall learn that Israel has a God.

All this multitude, too, shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves. For the battle is the LORD's and he shall deliver you into our hands."

The Philistine then moved to meet David at close quarters, while David ran quickly toward the battle line in the direction of the Philistine. David put his hand into the bag and took out a stone, hurled it with the sling, and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone embedded itself in his brow, and he fell prostrate on the ground. Thus, David overcame the Philistine with sling and stone; he struck the Philistine mortally and did it without a sword. Then David ran and stood over him; with the Philistine's own sword which he drew from its sheath he dispatched him and cut off his head. (1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51)

This is the well-known story of David and Goliath.  The mighty is felled by the weaker.  Oh, if it were true.  This story from Samuel was a way for David’s followers to glorify him and to give them hope that their weaker nation could overcome the might and strength of conquering nations.  Believe in the LORD, and we will be delivered from the claws of the lion and the bear, and we will be kept safe from the clutches of the “Philistines.”  This is our prayer and hope.

We cannot overcome the “Philistines” with slings and stones.  However, we can strike our antagonistic “Philistines” mortally without a sword.  We do so with the Word of God and the courage of our convictions to confront the bullies and self-serving liars with the truth. 

What is the truth?  It is the “staff and shield” of justice and righteousness we use to upend those who would use their swords, spears, and scimitars against us.  We do not cut off their heads; we work to silence the tongues of truth deniers and spreaders of lies in the interest of evil intentions.  We “Davids” know many “Goliaths.”  We must not lose courage to bring them down.  Our votes serve as our slings and stones.

Deacon David Pierce