Key Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:47 "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." (NKJV)
1 Samuel 17 The Story of David and Goliath (vs. 1-39)
The Brook of Elah
There is a brook in the
Almost every valley has a brook of fresh running water.
God has provided refreshing and provision in the valleys of life. It is in the valleys that we often find fresh, cool water, abundance of small game, fertile and fruitful fields and even our proverbial smooth stones that we can use to defeat the giant enemies in our life.
After refusing to wear King Saul’s armor verse 40 of 1 Samuel 17 says that David chose his own accompaniments that day.
1 Samuel 17: 40 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. (NKJV)
Victory is often the result of being secure in who you are and in knowing who you are not.
David’s Choice?
David decided to face Goliath as a shepherd and not as a soldier.
David cast off the armor of a King to put on the clothes of a Shepherd!
Sound familiar?
The same God who put it into David’s heart to fight this man of war also put it into David’s head how to fight him.
What did David take with him?
1. Staff - a familiar friend for support
2. 5 Smooth Stones - abundant supply just in case
3. Shepherd’s Bag - no doubt filled with all sorts of things from food to ointment, but with a special place for the things most quickly accessed.
Sling in his hand
4. And David Advanced and Engaged
It’s this Shepherd’s bag that peaked my interest this week as I studied for today’s message. This little bag is still used by shepherds in the
From my studies I found that there is usually a special place in each bag which is designed to hold things considered valuable or things which need definite and quick access. Each individual shepherd determines what things are special and valuable to him.
David decided to put his 5 smooth stones in this special place in his shepherd’s bag.
What is in the special place in your shepherd’s bag?
What are your 5 Smooth Stones of Choice?
Allow me to tell you mine …
Pastor Ron’s 5 Smooth Stones of Choice
1. Prayer - My covering and my strength (Mark 9:29)
2. The Word of God - This is my sword and my shield
Why should I wear the King’s armor when I can have the armor of God! (Ephesians 6:11ff)
3. Praise - The spirit of a Psalmist was upon David and I make purposeful attempts to keep that same spirit in my life. (Colossians 3:16 – Spiritual Songs)
4. The Anointing - Anointing comes from the fellowship we have with the Holy Spirit during our desert days. David had already been anointed as King over
1 Samuel 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. (NLKV)
… and the Spirit of the Lord was with him from that day forward.
5. Confidence – Where do we get confidence – boldness - security? From the words of prophecy which have gone out from heaven over us, setting our course and protecting our destiny. It is by these words that we have the confidence to fight well in the Lord’s battles.
1 Timothy 1:18 Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they give you the confidence to fight well in the Lord’s battles.
In light of what I have said this morning, here are some things to consider:
1. Most likely, there will be some giants in your life.
2. God is preparing you just like He was preparing David.
3. You are best when you are the you God made you to be.
4. It’s your choice what you keep in your shepherd’s bag.
5. You will never win if you don’t advance and engage the enemy.
I want to go back to our key scripture for a moment.
Key Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:47 "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." (NKJV)
The Holy Spirit moved upon David here to speak prophetically about his coming victory over Goliath but also David spoke heaven’s perspective concerning what was happening and who was witnessing this battle.
The Divinely inspired prophetic use of the Hebrew word translated herein as ‘assembly’ is very interesting. Notice David did not call them an army but rather an assembly.
In the 123 times this Hebrew word is used in the Old Testament, 86 times it is translated as congregation and specifically refers to the gathering of a congregation for religious observance.
The armies of
They were no longer fighting, they were having church!
That’s what happens when we advance and engage our enemies with God in our midst. We aren’t struggling or fighting with our enemies – we’re having church!
Our enemies better back up or we’ll start having church up in here.
“Get back now – I’m gonna start church on ya!”
