STICKS AND STONES

Imagine for a moment that you’re in ancient Israel, a nation being led by its first King. His army is strong, but his forces are at a stalemate, stuck in a face-off with an aggressive Philistine army. You hear the enemy has a warrior estimated to be over nine feet tall. He boasts of victory even before an arrow has been fired, calling for a challenger in combat to end the stand-off.

Your heart sinks to observe the fear on the faces of the soldiers fighting for your nation. Yet strategically, it’s all to play for. The two opposing armies hold similar positions, camped on hillsides facing each other, with a flat valley the size of a few football pitches separating the two sides. Neither wants to give up their advantage. To launch the first attack could risk exposing their ranks to a fight with an army which has the high ground.

Then the boy David steps up. A shepherd from Bethlehem and the rest is history. Where was the secret to this lad's courage? He later writes “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me” Psalm 24:4. A nine foot man would certainly cast a large shadow! From the perspective of onlookers, David was walking into a place of deep darkness and certain death.

When David went to face Goliath in the ultimate duel, what did David take with him? We know that rejecting the king’s armour, David had five stones and a sling. Did you know that he also took with him a rod and staff? This is why Goliath asks “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” (1 Samuel 17:43). The rod, a type of wooden club would have been attached to his belt. It was a useful defence to keep wild animals away from the sheep under his watch. His staff, a long wooden crook, was used to guide his sheep to stay on track. A handy implement for hooking out any that got into bother.

How is it that David could fear no evil in this moment with Goliath? The right path that he refers to in Psalm 24:3, is one where David is led into a face off with deep darkness. There’s no going around this one. Yet David is comforted, because he carries with him God’s tools.

Faith can be something that accepts the challenge presented by dark times certain of the goodness of God. Goliath’s words about David's rod and staff were designed to belittle and intimidate. Make David lose hope. Instead, the opposite effect was true. They stood as a reminder that God had taken the role of his own shepherd, being protected and guided. David was familiar with the shepherd's mindset. He could proceed, fully assured that he was where he was meant to be. Now David had all that he needed to make it through.

Surely God will protect and guide David in this perilous moment. With this in mind, fear has no basis for power over David. Instead, David is expectant of what God will do. His approach to the situation is confidence, where he can look his giant square in the eye.

If you were inspired by this blog, Paul has written some books that delve deeply into the Psalms. Originally written for young people, these are enjoyed by young and old alike. Each devotion is about a 4 minute read, and is followed by a journalling page or specially designed prayer space to enable the reader further connect with God. Paul studied at Moorlands College for his BA in Applied Theology, and more recently has earned an MA in The Bible and Ministry in the Contemporary world at Belfast Bible College. Paul has served as a Youth Pastor for over 20 years.

________________ Photo of sheep by Joe Green on Unsplash