AND DAVID REACHED INTO HIS BAG AND TOOK A STONE

I love the movie, “Hoosiers.”

As an unlikely Indiana high school basketball team prepares to compete for the state title, their chaplain invites them to kneel in the locker room, and selecting a verse from the Bible he indicates the nature of their impeding battle against a stronger foe.

“And David reached into his bag and took out a stone, and he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and Goliah fell face down on the ground.” (1^st Samuel 17:49)

Speaking of ‘unlikely,’ little David was, perhaps, the unlikeliest person in Israel to go up against Goliah, the hero of the Philistines, and a man who stood approximately 9’9” in height!

All that stood between David and Goliath was an emotion called ‘fear’ and the irrevocable decision to do something about the status quo.

My former co-counselor of ten years, Sherri N. is an associate pastor at a nearby church. I viewed a video recently in which she preached a sermon using the foregoing biblical passage, and the topic thereof. To say it was dynamic would be like saying Jesse Owens was a pretty good runner.

Pt. 2

During the course of her sermon, Sherri referred to the stone which David pulled from his bag, and made the comparison between that rock, and the spiritual rock which is Christ.

And while I cannot quote my former co-counselor word for word, allow me to paraphrase what I believe she said.

“My friends, what is keeping you from stepping out? Have you walked out onto the field of battle to face down your Goliath, or are you still standing in the bleachers with the rest of the crowd? Is your own personal Goliath roaring in your ear? Is he threatening to cut you into pieces with his massive sword? 

Have you reached into your bag, and found the stone meant just for him? Can you feel its texture in your hand? Have you tucked that rock into your slingshot? Are you preparing to whip it in circles around your head, and send that stone hurdling on a trajectory which will give Goliath the worst headache he has ever had? Are you prepared to slice that awful giant’s head from his shoulders?”

(and)

“And that stone? That stone is Jesus. The stone of mercy. The stone of grace. The stone of safety. The stone of victory.”

Jesus referred to Himself as a stone.

But Jesus looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written: 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER STONE?’” (Luke 20:17)

David only needed one stone. Jesus claimed to be the only stone in a proverbial bag full of stones when He said,

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father, except by me.” (John 14:6)

Allow me to continue to paraphrase my dear friend.

“Step out into the field of battle, my friends. Face up to your personal Goliath. Reach into that bag of stones. Pull out the only one which can do you any good. Tuck that rock into your spiritual sling. Send that stone on its way towards that nasty giant which has taunted you for far too long.”

And Sherri might well have ended her sermon with the words,

“But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1^st Cor. 15:17)

by William McDonald, PhD. Copyright pending

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