5 Stones
This is a strange intersecting point — trying to find my focus each day in the Lord’s Prayer and listening to the old story of David and Goliath, today. But it is an instructive intersection between the most prolific prayer warrior of the Old Testament and the simple prayer instruction of the Son of David, Jesus our Lord. One line especially begs to be prayed today. “Our Father in heaven … lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”
This prayer of deliverance can be used as an escape from harm’s way — I’m sure I’ve used it for that in the past. But for David, it was an invitation to rely on the power of God to deliver His people from evil by personally facing down “the evil one” face to face.
The young David, hearing the taunts of Goliath, becomes incensed and picks up five smooth stones as he goes off to silence the mocking voice of the giant who struck fear in the heart of Israel’s seasoned soldiers. He calmly asks:
Smooth Stone One:
“What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26)
After being ridiculed by his brother Eliab as just a conceited little shepherd boy, David speaks his mind, reassuring the King that he is willing to step up to moment and fight the giant that none of the King’s warriors would fight:
Smooth Stone Two:
“Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” (1 Samuel 17:32)
Most folks know the rest of the story. David goes off to face the giant warrior of Philistia with his shepherd’s staff and a sling shot. And although the armor of a warrior is uncomfortable and discarded, David goes with something much more important. Faith validated by experience:
Smooth Stone Three:
“The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37)
David goes knowing that the battle is not about the weapons of war, but about the power behind the weapons. As the giant mocks David as a mere boy coming against him with a stick, stones, and string, David replies:
Smooth Stone Four:
““You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Samuel 17:45)
As the story ends and David claims his reward, King Saul asks him who he is. David answers with the humble heart of a servant shepherd boy, one who knows the battle he has won should bring glory to father and his God:
Smooth Stone Five:
“I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.” (1 Samuel 17:58)
So today, as I pray this prayer that Jesus asked me to pray, I hear things in a little different way:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.For yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever. Amen.”
And Father, give me the courage to face my giants so that your deliverance is possible in my life and in the lives of your people. Amen.