12 Jan Accept All of God’s Gifts

It’s one of the great biblical mysteries. And it’s a sneaky one; so much so, a lot of people miss it. It’s in 1 Samuel 17 when the humble shepherd David is about to take on the 9-foot-tall Philistine soldier Goliath:

38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.   1 Samuel 17:38-41 (NIV)

Most of us know the rest of the story. David, with a single shot from his slingshot, fells Goliath with a single stone. So…why did he choose five smooth stones? Theories abound:

• One is that David had doubt that one stone would be effective, so he brought extras. It’s a logical theory. But there is no biblical evidence to support it.
• Goliath had four brothers. There is flimsy evidence for this in 2 Samuel 21, but I don’t find it convincing.
• David was simply preparing for the possibility that other Philistine soldiers would launch a counterattack after he defeated Goliath.

The third one, in my opinion, is the most plausible. I also think it slightly misses the mark. My theory is rooted in the way the Hebrew word “bahar,” which is translated into “chose” (other translations present it as “picked up). Let’s take a closer look at “bahar,” and some of its other meanings: best, prefer, select, desirable.

I believe David picked up five smooth stones because God provided them! If God had provided 20 perfect smooth stones, I believe David would have picked up 20. If God had provided one, David would have picked up that one. Think of it this way.

Suppose you desperately needed ten dollars for something, and you prayed to God to provide it. You’re walking along, and there are five ten-dollar bills on the sidewalk. Would you pick just one (answer honestly)? If God provides $50 instead of $10, the Davidian response is to assume God knows you’ll need it for something.

David didn’t need to know why God provided five perfectly smooth stones. He just knew that God did. What about us? When God provides a blessing, do we assume it’s for our purposes or His purposes? The Bible doesn’t tell us, but it’s entirely possible God later showed David the purpose for the remaining four stones. Don’t leave God’s blessings on the table: mercy, grace, forgiveness, redemption, salvation. He knows you need all five. Remember they are in your spiritual pocket. I guarantee He’ll show you when and how to use them!

Pastor Jerry Bader