When 5 Smooth Stones of Strategies Aren't The Point

In the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17) little, untrained David reject Saul's armor and goes out to meet the giant with his slingshot and 5 smooth stones he finds along the way.  I've heard (and used) applications of this story 100 times.  Most of them involve identifying 5 actions to take in overcoming the giant of (fill in blank here...addictions, sins, relationships, etc).  I've heard (and taught) about putting off Saul's armor because God wants to use you and me just as we are, not wearing someone else's strengths and gifts.  I've even taught about how God used past experiences in David's life to prepare him for this moment.


These applications are not wrong, per ce, but what if we looked a little deeper to see how the narrative fits into the larger story of salvation?  How would that affect my reading of the narrative?

The larger narrative of Scripture and for that matter, Redemption History, is our representative in Christ defeating death and sin through His death and resurrection.  This would mean that in the David and Goliath story, the person I should identify with is not David.  It's not Goliath either.  If David represents a Christological figure and Goliath represents sin and death, then where do I fit in the story?

When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.  [1Sa 17:11 ESV]

I'm one of the scared Israelites hiding in the camp.  I'm not looking for strategic stones to overcome this evil.  I'm not getting out my sling to slay a giant of addiction.  I'm hiding in my tent hoping someone will come deal with this!

This is where it gets good!

Look what happens when David defeats the giant.

And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. [1Sa 17:52 ESV]

Once the battle was won, the scared Israelites came charging out of the camp full of confidence and strength!

This narrative took on new meaning for me as I reflected on my role as a pastor.  I'm constantly looking for 5 strategic stones to grow the church, have more effective ministry, and build a lasting impression on our community.  Maybe I need to quit looking for stones, and instead look up and see that Jesus already conquered the giant that mattered.  Maybe I need to find my confidence in the One who defeated death rather than a smoother stone.  Maybe I need to leave the camp and start doing what God called me to do - share the good news of freedom from sin and death!

What does this mean for you?  If you aren't David trying to conquer a "giant" in your life, but instead you were one of the scared men hiding in the camp, then how does it change your perspective on life if Jesus already won the battle that mattered?  How does this affect your confidence? How does this impact your willingness to talk about the battle Jesus won on our behalf as opposed to how you applied a 5 step process to overcome an addiction?

Confidence comes in the victory won by Jesus, not in better stones.

(note: thanks to Jared Wilson's book "The Pastor's Justification" for this idea and reading of the text)

Philippians 1:8-19

As I look at today's text I can't help but ask myself a couple of questions...

• Is my determination to share the Gospel anywhere near as focused as Paul's when he says that even his imprisonment is a chance for the advancing of the message?
• Do I see setbacks and obstacles as simply new opportunities or do they discourage me?

As you meditate on today's text, think about your commitment to the Gospel.  Paul was facing people who were trying to make him look bad, but as long as the Gospel was being proclaimed, he didn't care.  Maybe you don't have anyone trying to get you trouble by talking about God with others, but what is going on in your life that you might need to work on your attitude and focus in light of what God wants to do in and through you?

Let God's Word transform your mind today.

Jason

Some Suggested Resources:

Irony and Evangelism

I stopped to get gas at Kroger today. I looked up and beside me was a driver training car. The person got out of the car smoking a cigarette, left the car running and proceeded to put gas in the car. After she got the pump going, she got back in the car (it was still running) to wait for the pump to finish. When it finished, she proceeded to “top off” the tank.

The irony of the situation made me simply laugh. A driver training car breaking every rule at the gas station! The only thing left for her to do was to talk on her cell phone while smoking the cigarette dispensing the gas!

On top of all this, there is an oil change place just beyond the gas station and out of the vents on its roof black smoke was coming out and it smelled like burning oil.

The more I thought about this, the more I realized that the irony of this situation is nothing compared to the irony of a community of people who believe with all of their heart that they have been given the gift of eternal life and the command to share it with everyone, yet they don’t. How many of our friends and neighbors and family members have no hope in their lives - no meaning, no significance? We say that we love them (and we mean it!), but do we offer them the ultimate gift?

Join us this Sunday as we begin to explore what it means to share our faith without being jerks. Over the next couple of weeks we will learn what salvation really is and how to talk about it without coming off like an idiot or kook. It’s going to be fun! Bring your friends.

Under the Mercy,
Jason
jason@terranovacc.com