Hey Everyone! I’m Roger Hamilton and I oversee the training and development of our Eagle Lake staff. I have been with the Navigators for 33 years! I love helping our staff grow in their knowledge and love of God and the Bible. One thing I don’t like are blogs. So, I prefer to call it a B-Log, as in Bible log. I’ll be back as your trusty Eagle Lake B-logger every other week, at least until you get sick of me. Did you miss the last post? Read it here!
-Roger that!
5 Smooth Stones
“Then David took his shepherd’s staff, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s pack, and with his sling in his hand approached Goliath.”
– 1 Samuel 17:40
My favorite part of the David and Goliath story in 1 Samuel 17 has little to do with slaying a giant. And no, I’m not intrigued by the mention of stones because I have a Geology degree! I love the fact that young David knew what he needed to get the job done. As a shepherd he spent long, lonely hours watching over the sheep with only a few basic tools to help him: his staff, his sling and some stones. They were the RIGHT TOOLS for the RIGHT PERSON at the RIGHT TIME.
Isn’t it funny (or pathetic) that King Saul tried to give his armor to David? Saul was unfit to be king on many levels, and here we see that he wasn’t willing to use his own armor to challenge Goliath. Yet he thought it was a good idea to give his gear to a scrawny, impetuous kid instead. Certainly in later years King David went into battle with his own version of “Saul’s armor,” but in this instance, he went with what he was used to.
It’s also important to point out that there is nothing magical or mystical about FIVE smooth stones. After all, David only needed ONE to kill Goliath. This story is way more about the glory of God and the courage of David than anything else. In verses 45-47, David confidently confronts the giant with what God is about to do. And in verse 48 we see, “David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.”
As our Eagle Lake team prepares for an amazing summer in 2022, we’re exploring what it means to focus on five smooth stones rather than Saul’s armor. We want to encourage our staff to think about the right tools for the right person at the right time. What does that mean for our personal relationship with God, our Bible study leadership and our Discipleship relationships with others? Let’s find out together in the days ahead!
Read questions and Journal!
- What work does God have you doing right now? Growing as a student? Growing young minds as a stay at home mind? Think about where God has you, what work he wants you to do there, and then consider: are you trying to do it with ill-fitting armor or are you leaning into your five smooth stones (how God has equipped YOU for the work you’re doing!)?
- David could have viewed guarding the sheep as unimportant and never practiced his sling-skills, yet it was his faithfulness to develop his skills in those small areas that allowed him to do big things later! What small things could you practice faithfulness in today?
- Study 1 Samuel 17. What stands out to you in this passage?