“What is Saul doing now?”
“He must be mad.”
“Who is that, anyway?”
Such mutterings were heard from the ranks of the Israelite army as the young man wound his way down the side of the mountain. He carried no weapon to speak of - just his staff and sling. When he reached the bottom, he could be seen walking along and picking stones out of the brook on the valley floor.
There was another pair of eyes carefully watching the young man. The Philistine giant had challenged the Israelites to send a champion to fight for them. It was to be winner take all. As the youth came closer, and the giant became aware that this was to be his challenger, he became insulted.
“Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” The curses flew hot and heavy. But from the other champion came praise. “I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel...the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.”
The giant rose and moved toward the young man, and the young Israelite began running toward the Philistine. Thousands of eyes were watching from both hill tops. The tension was tangible.
The young man pulled a stone from his bag, loaded his sling and let it fly. It found its mark in the Philistine’s forehead and sank in. The giant collapsed face forward. The son of Jesse took the giant’s sword and cut off his head with it. The Philistines fled. Israel pursued and gained a great victory.
The stone had overcome the bronze.
The shepherd had beaten the warrior.
The man of God had toppled the man of the gods of the world.
The Lord had defeat the forces of evil.
The battle belonged to the Lord. It always does.