1 Samuel 17:40
And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
David laid aside the king's heavy armor because it was untried and unusable to him, and went to meet the giant with only the shepherd's tools he knew — staff in hand, sling ready, and five smooth stones he had picked from the stream bed carried in his bag. He drew near to the Philistine on a mission given by God to rescue Israel and vindicate the honor of the living God against defiance. His confidence rested not in weapons, strength, or appearance, but in the Lord who had proved faithful in past deliverances and would give the victory. The heavy armor stands for reliance on human arguments and self-display, while the sling and stones stand for humble faith that hides self in God, so those who defend truth must not provoke boastful dispute but present truth in meekness under the Holy Spirit. No one can succeed by sinking his individuality in another or copying another's character and methods, but each must serve in the place God designed, using his own God-given ability and judgment.
David Faces Goliath
David laid aside Saul's heavy armor because he had not proved it and could not wear it. He refused to go in untried armor rather than in what he knew. He went out to meet Goliath with the gear he had chosen and understood, his staff in his hand, his shepherd's bag, even a scrip, his sling in his hand, and five smooth stones he had chosen out of the brook. With these he drew near to the Philistine.
This meeting belonged to his divinely directed mission to save Israel. When he came to the army, Goliath's repeated challenge stirred him to defend the honor of the living God and His people. He defeated Goliath through faith in God, and that victory afterward made him known to the Philistines as the man who had slain their champion.
Faith Over Human Strength
David laid aside Saul's armor and went to meet Goliath with only his staff, his sling, and five smooth stones chosen out of the brook, because his confidence was not in impressive weapons, human strength, or outward appearance but in the Lord to give Israel the victory. He had not tested the armor and refused to wear it, lest any should credit it for the victory, for his trust was in God whom he had proved through earlier victories. He went forth not in armor and human strength but in the name of the God of Israel.
Saul's armor stands for prepared human arguments, while David's simple staff, sling, and stones stand for humble faith that makes God its strength and hides behind Jesus. Ministers are therefore not to defy and provoke discussion after the manner of Goliath, going forth confident and boastful and magnifying themselves, for defying belongs on the side of opposers of truth. Those who trust their arguments instead of humbling their hearts in faith become elated, lose their balance, fail in discussion, and injure their own souls and the souls of others.
No person can sink his individuality in that of another or succeed by patterning after another man's character, but each must work with his own God-given ability in the place God designed for him, as David with the familiar sling and stone slew the Philistine who defied Israel. A life consecrated to God is developed and beautified in its own individuality, with each person grafted into one stock in unity in diversity to act the part God assigns. All characters are to be fashioned after the Lord's ideal under the molding of the Holy Spirit and not after man's pattern, striving for the fragrance of Christ's character. No one is at liberty to demerit and belittle God's workmanship because a fellow worker does not bear his likeness, nor to impose another person's methods upon a fellow worker, but each should use the abilities and judgment God has given.
No intelligent human being is to lean upon man and make flesh his arm by refusing to impart instruction unless he first learns another's mind, by becoming the transcript of another man's mind, or by voicing another man's sentiments. Each person is to lean upon God, breathe out his soul to God, and act in his own capacity according to the ability God has given him, trading with conscientious fidelity upon his own talents. The man who seeks to pattern after any man's character will make an utter failure.
David's small pebbles are the truth used against a proud and boastful opponent like Goliath who defies God's people with falsehood and misrepresenting assertions, and such humble truth brings the opponent's defeat and makes his weakness apparent. Victory in defense of Sabbath truth comes not by sharpness and severity but by presenting the truth with dignity under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, with special prayer and without loss of temper. Such a course leaves a right impression that causes many to favor the truth.