“He [David] took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.” (1 Sam 17:40)
Why FIVE stones? If you read the rest of the account of David’s battle against Goliath, he only used one stone. So, why bring five?
David picked up five stones for the same reason he brought his shepherd’s staff – he brought every weapon he was familiar with because he didn’t know how the battle would go. David didn’t know it would only take one stone to fell the giant. He didn’t know the exact details of the outcome – how long he would fight, how close up and scary it might get, or how injured he would be. David just knew he had to stand up for what was right.
We do what’s right because it’s right, not because it’s easy.
Almost five hundred years later, three other men would say something similar when their consciences pricked them to defy Nebuchadnezzar.
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.'” (Dan. 3:16-18)
Matt. 4:4 #Biblebites