"A SLING AND A STONE!"

1 Samuel 17:48-51                   (ESV)
"48 When the Philistine (Goliath) arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.
49 And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with "A SLING AND A STONE", and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David.
51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled."



There are many times in our lives when it seems that EVERYTHING is working against us.  Our health is less than we desire, our finances we don't feel are adequate, it doesn't feel as though we have enough time to accomplish the things we would like to?  It seems we are not adequate to do anything?

David was very young and feared little when his father, Jesse, instructed him to carry some food to his brothers in battle with the Philistines.  King Saul and ALL Israel were "dismayed and GREATLY afraid" (1 Samuel 17:11) because of the size of the Philistines and Goliath.  Goliath was a reported NINE FEET NINE INCHES tall!  For a young teenage shepherd boy, Goliath should have struck fear and intimidation into his heart?  But David had a secret weapon on his side.  His GOD!

Goliath had many intimidating features.  He was almost 10 feet tall.  His helmet weighed over 20 pounds.  His breastplate weighed nearly 180 pounds!  He APPARENTLY presented a formidable challenge to the Jewish people.  He "mocked" the Israelites.........and their GOD!   But David told Goliath "For the battle is the LORD's, and HE will give you into our hand."

In 1 Samuel 17:50 it is recorded "So David prevailed over the Philistine with "A SLING AND A STONE", and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David."  David faced an overwhelming enemy, yet David emerged victorious by trusting in his GOD.  We should avoid the pitfalls of being "dismayed and GREATLY afraid" and remember WHO is fighting the battle for us.  When GOD is on your side, "A SLING AND A STONE" might be all that is needed to defeat your enemies!  But we must busy ourselves with making certain we are on GOD's side!!