Biddulph Children 20 May 07 Five Smooth Stones.
Place: Biddulph AOG. Date: PM Sunday, 20th May 2007.
Text: 1 Samuel 17:40. Theme: Five Smooth Stones.
Object: A small bag containing five smooth stones.
Introduction: Reading: 1 Samuel 17:45-47.
“Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.”
In this text, we met a young ordinary youth who had a “giant of a problem standing between him,” and what God intended for him to do. Up to this point, he was just a shepherd boy, not even his family expected too much out of him, he was the youngest of eight boys. His job was to take care of the sheep and to be a delivery boy, he also wrote choruses and songs part time.
On this occasion, David was bringing supplies to his three oldest brothers at the battlefront; he heard the shouts of a giant and saw the fear on the faces of the Hebrew soldiers. For 40 days this giant, this 9 foot killer shouted for a fight.
Goliath was a nine-foot-nine inches-tall soldier from Gath. He bragged that he could beat any Israelite soldier who would fight him. But all the Israelite soldiers were afraid to fight him. When King Saul saw David, he had doubts about David’s ability to fight any man, more less a giant.
But David had known the power of God working through him when he defended his flock against a lion and a bear. He had proved God in private; now he could rely on God in public. David had courage and determination; he went forth armed with a sling, a sling was the typical equipment of a shepherd. It was a hollow pocket of leather attached to two cords. Putting a stone in the pouch, the slinger would whirl it around his head to build up momentum. Releasing one of the cords would hurl the stone at its target. And five smooth stones, and the power of the living God!
Because David was willing to face up to this giant by the name of Goliath, his name and his life has been remembered in the word of God. This year will bring in some giants into our lives that will shape us, mould us, make us OR break us. Right now, what is your biggest problem?
What giant is standing in your path threatening to hurt you? God has already determined that we can defeat and take out a number of giants, if we are willing to trust Him when we go into the battle and go in the name of Jesus.
Victory becomes ours: when we have a vision from Jesus Christ as to the direction that we must go. When we look at the giants before us, the object is not to focus on all the ways the giant might overcome us, but to concentrate on how we are going to slay this giant.
Note also, King Saul promised riches, exemption from taxes, and his daughter’s hand in marriage to the one who would defeat Goliath. David was offered armour, but said no (I would have used a tank against Goliath).
David instead picked him up FIVE SMOOTH STONES and headed in the giant’s direction. One other thing he came with was a WORD from the Lord. He said in 1 Samuel 17:45-47 to the giant Goliath, “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.
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. 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.”
David's weapon was a sling and his five smooth stones which he picked up from a nearby stream. And yet, David was able to defeat a giant that all of the soldiers of the Israelite army were afraid to face. You and I may never face a giant such as Goliath, but we face giants of another kind in our daily life.
Some people believe that David chose five smooth stones so that if he missed his first shot, he could use one or all of the others. David did not intend to miss. Then why did he select five stones? The answer is found in 2 Samuel 21:22: “These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.” Goliath had four sons, and David was sure they would come out when he killed their father. This is why David picked up five stones. That was the number he needed.
These five smooth stones can help us to remember the story of how David defeated the giant he faced. They can also help us to know how we can defeat the giants which we face.
1. STONE ONE, COURAGE.
The first stone represents COURAGE - David was not afraid to face the enemy. “Do not worry about a thing,” David told Saul. “I will go and fight this Philistine!” 1 Samuel 17:32.
It also takes courage to fight the giants you will face in your life.
2. STONE TWO, CONFIDENCE.
The second stone represents CONFIDENCE - As a shepherd, David often had to protect the sheep from wild animals. This gave him the confidence he needed to face the giant. “The LORD who saved me from the claws of the lion and the bear will save me from this Philistine!” 1 Samuel 17:37.
Like David, you can have confidence that God will help you overcome the problems you face each day.
3. STONE THREE, PREPARATION.
The third stone represents PREPARATION - David did not go to face the giant unprepared. He went down to the stream and picked out five smooth stones and put them in his shepherd's bag. Then, armed with his shepherd's staff and sling, he started out to fight Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:40).
It is important for you to do everything possible to be certain you are prepared to face the challenges which you will meet in your daily life.
4. STONE FOUR, TRUST.
The fourth stone represents TRUST - David did not trust in his own ability to slay the giant.
When Goliath shouted at David, cursed him, and was ready to kill him, David said, “You come to me with a sword and spear, but I come to you in the name of the LORD God Almighty” 1 Samuel 17:45.
When you face problems, put your trust in God, not in your own ability.
5. STONE FIVE, VICTORY.
The fifth stone represents VICTORY – “It is God's battle, not ours,” David said. That is why David was able to win the victory over the giant with only a stone and sling. (1 Samuel 17:50).
When you turn your battles over to God, you will have the victory over the giants in your life.
CONCLUSION:
So, the next time you are facing a giant in your life, remember the story of David and Goliath, and his five smooth stones.