Five Stones For Victory

By any earthy standard, the outcome of this battle would be "sure thing." However, when God enters the picture the entire outcome becomes quite different because of faith. It is interesting that David chose five smooth stones from the brook when only one was needed. Why did David do this? There is no reason given in Scripture. Consequently, whatever answer would be given would be purely conjecture.

The important aspect is that when it came time to fight Goliath, David took but one stone from his shepherd’s bag (1 Samuel 17:49). There in lies the true test of faith. When it came time to act according to faith, David took but one stone rather than having several in his hand to re-load if he missed. As you read the story, this remarkable event becomes an extraordinary expression of faith because David attacked Goliath. He hurled the stone while at a full run! Judges 20:16 tells us that Israel slingers were extremely accurate. Think of the logistics of aiming and throwing a stone while both parties are rapidly approaching each other. By faith, David knew one stone was all he needed for Goliath. James tells that "faith without works is dead, being alone" (2:17-18). David showed his faith by using but one stone when he had a bag full of stones. Why the other four stones? David told Goliath,

1 Sam. 17:46-47

46* "This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47* and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD’S and He will give you into our hands."

David took four extra stones to either attack or defend himself while the Israelite army joined the battle. This seems more reasonable, but please understand that even this is conjecture. Thanks to David L. Baker for this material,

We have probably all grown up hearing the story of David and Goliath and how David’s faith allowed him to slay the Philistine giant but there is more to this story than meets the eye and one minor detail is often overlooked... We read in 1 Samuel 17:40 that David picked up and hand chose five smooth stones for his sling to use as ammunition to kill the giant.

Why did David need five stones? Why not just one? One cannot help but wonder, what was going through his mind as he selected those five stones. How much faith did David really have? David knew that God was going to deliver Goliath into his hand.... or, did he? Was he thinking that he might miss with his sling shot and have to try again? He only had one chance, David knew this. We all know the outcome of the story, David killed Goliath with one stone and one throw of his sling shot but there is a reason for the other four stones and why David picked five stones specifically.

Take a look at the old testament book of 2nd Samuel Chapter 21, verses 16 - 22. Here we find the armies of Israel, now under King David’s command, battling the Philistines yet again and that there are other giants involved, one of which had six fingers and six toes! In verse 19, we read that Jaareoregim slew the brother of Goliath. There are four giants mentioned in this passage and the bible lists them by name; Isbibenob (found in verse 16), Saph (in verse 18), the brother of Goliath the Gittite (verse 19), and a giant with six fingers and six toes! (verse 20). Verse 22 concludes with "these four were born to the giant in Gath and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants."

Goliath was not the only giant living in the land of the Philistines. He had four brothers. David knew that families stick together and that Goliath’s brothers would either come to Goliath’s aid to avenge him or he knew that he would have to face them in other battles, which he eventually did. Those five stones each had a name of one of those giants on it. David was ready to defeat his enemy and his whole monstrous family if need be and he had both the faith and the skill to do so.

Looking at the story of David and Goliath, let me ask you the reader to reflect upon this question..."what are the giants in your life?" What is the one problem or problems facing you that challenges you each day that may seem too big and too much for you to conguer that comes and picks a fight with you like Goliath when he challenged the Israelite army? Whatever that problem is, rest and stand still, knowing that the battle is not yours, but God’s. The victory is won already. David said it best when he told Goliath, "the battle is the Lord’s".