PEBBLE IN THE SLING

I remember few years ago two great chess players were placed one against the other to play World Chess Championship. One was a proud, rude, rough and manner less while the other was humble and yielding. Every day before the play started the rude guy behaved in a very insulting manner against the humble one. Of course, this is usual in Chess game, where one who plays better normally has a heavy head and behaves rough against the other. The humble one yielded to all the railings of his opponent. The competition started and game after game, the proud man increased his mockery against the humble one. Ultimately the result proved that the humble one earned love from those who watched the game even though proud one did won the game.

This is not new in this world. In the Bible there is true record of fight between a proud warrior and a shepherd boy. The proud warrior was Goliath and the shepherd boy was David, who was of ruddy and fair countenance. The fight between David and Goliath was a different one from that of the story of proud chess player and the humble player.  The humble David not only won the hearts of his people, but also won the battle.

The proud warrior, Goliath depended on his height, might, and strength, while David depended on the mightiest of mighty.  "Is there any one to challenge me?" shouted the Philistine giant, Goliath, for forty days at the children of God, Israelites. None of the children of Jesse, who were present in the battle field, nor any one of the Israelites camp dared to go out and face, the nine feet tall giant, who wore protective dress weighing 150 shekels.   Goliath boasted and hurled insults at God’s children saying, I am a Philistine, and you are servants to Saul.   Goliath shouted, “Give me a man that we may fight together”. Saul was tall too, and mighty and yet his army and he were greatly afraid, v. 11.   In fact Saul was the tallest of all the men of Israel. The people observed that Saul’s courage failed him. What happened to Jonathan, son of Saul. He too was afraid of Goliath and doubtless he did not feel himself stirred up of God to it and so stayed back.

Forty days the two armies lay encamped facing one another. Both the armies were advantageously posted, but neither went forward to fight. Philistine hero was waiting for an equivalent opponent. Saul thought there was none on his side to fight against this mighty proud warrior.  David the youngest son of Jesse, looking after his father's sheep, went to watch as to what was happening in the battlefield. To his surprise, he found that none from the Israelites' camp went forward to fight against Goliath. Deeply distressed over the attitude of his brothers and also that of others in the camp, he agreed to fight with Goliath. He retorted saying, "Who is this uncircumcised fellow to mock at God's children?"

David was shepherd and he came that morning from keeping sheep. He had more courage than all the mighty men of Israel. He encouraged them.   God’s providence brought him to the camp at an apt time, when both sides had set the battle. That is how God often sends His help at right moment through the weak and foolish things of the world to every one who believes in Him, and does great things for them.  David pleaded with his eldest brother to allow him to fight against the mighty Goliath, the enemy of God's Children. As is rightly said, pride goes before fall; the doom's day of Goliath was ahead. Goliath insulted David, who was a shepherd boy, short in stature and did not attire himself in good dress. Saul was worried about the intervention of this shepherd boy, David. "Alas!’’ says Saul, "you have a good heart to it, but are by no means an equal match for this Philistine. You are but a youth, rash and inconsiderate, weak and inexperienced in arms: he is a man of war, trained up to it from his youth” Yet after some time Saul conceded to David. David was not sure which way to attack his enemy, girded on his sword, but felt uncomfortable in that armor. He did not like to be burdened with this kind of defense, and therefore he said to Saul to put them off; “I cannot go with these, for I have not proved them.” David picked up five pebbles and his sling and went into the battlefield.

Goliath looked upon David with scorn. His proud utterances could be seen in v. 42. He looked about, expecting to meet some tall strong man, but, when he saw what a mean figure, he shouted, "Am I a dog that thou comest to me with staves? Come to me, and I will give thy flesh to the fowls of the air.”  Nevertheless David said, "I come to thee by warrant and commission from heaven, in the name of the Lord, the Lord of hosts; He has power to do what he pleases, and, by the special grace of his covenant, He is the God of the armies of Israel.”  "This day will the Lord deliver thee into my hand, and not only your carcass, but the carcasses of the host of the Philistines, shall be given to the birds and beasts of prey.’’

Look at the faith and confidence the child of God had. He has his hope in the everlasting God; the mightiest of all; the Lord of hosts.

Goliath arose, went to meet David in the battlefield, and drew close, like a stalking mountain, overlaid with brass and iron. David advanced with greater strength in God and cheerfulness, as one that aimed more execute God’s command rather than to make a figure: He hasted, and ran, was being lightly clad, to meet the Philistine. Before honor is humility.  David put one of the pebbles in the sling and hurled at Goliath. There it was! The pebble struck straight at Goliath's forehead and in the twinkling of an eye, it fetched him to the ground. Goliath fell with his face down on the ground.

See how frail and uncertain the life is. Even when we think it is best fortified how quickly, how easily, and with how small a matter, there would be a passage that opens the door for life to exit and death to enter. The pride goeth before fall while Before honor is humility. Did David need his sword to kill his enemy? No! His enemy’s sword served his purpose. God is greatly glorified when his proud enemies are cut off with their own sword and he makes their own tongues to fall upon them David rushed forward pulled out the sword of Goliath and killed him. David used Goliath's own weapon to kill him. God was with David. Goliath's strength and power were of no avail before God's.

The same God, the living Lord, who has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into this world for the remission of your sins and mine, calls you now, as "my son/daughter, Depend on me. I am your Savior. I want to be your rock of refuge and bless you."

Ecclesiastes 8:8. Let not the strong man glory in his strength.

God bless you