Five Smooth Stones
Where there is a valley, there is likely to be a stream. And where there is a stream, there is likely to be smooth stones. Five smooth stones was what he needed.
Flashback
“When you gather stones, be sure to pick out smooth ones. The kind that the constant movement of the stream has worn off all the impurities and left us with exactly what we need.”
The young boy heard what his older brother instructed and quickly fished out a stone. He lifted it up and brought it to be inspected. “How about this one?” the boy asked hopefully.
The older boy weighed it in his hand and then inspected the stone with his fingers to feel for the smoothness. He let out a small sigh. “Well, the size of this is fine but it is still too rough. Toss it back in. Let the stream keep working on it and it will be ready to be used some other day.”
The young boy took the stone and tossed it back roughly where he found it. He quickly set out to find another possible candidate.
Within a few minutes, the young boy had gotten three stones approved while the older brother had found his five and laid them out to dry in the sun.
“Why is it so important that they be smooth?” the younger boy asked curiously.
“When the stone gets thrown out of the sling, if it is even a little bit rough it may get caught in the sling and not go exactly where you want it to. And no shepherd wants to have to sling a second stone at a lion or bear or whatever threat they are facing. One is all you need,” the older boy explained.
The younger boy looked at his pile of three stones. “Then why do we need to find five of them? Surely one or three will be enough?”
“If you have five smooth stones in your pouch you not only have enough stones to take down the threat but also to redirect runaway sheep or unexpected secondary threats. You never know what will happen. So always have five smooth stones in your pouch.”
Flashforward
The young boy, now a teenager, was thankful for the lessons that his older brother had taught him. He probably should have thanked him. But being the youngest sometimes makes someone less thankful than they should be.
As he sifted through the stones in the stream, he spied a good candidate and lifted it with his fingers. He smiled to himself as he had certainly gotten better at finding stones after all those years of sifting through streams.
He weighed the stone in his hand, felt its smoothness, and prayed, “God, you are my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. You will deliver me from this threat like you have delivered me from the lion and the bear.” [a]
He grabbed a second stone. “You are the one in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation. I trust that you will protect me.” [b]
A third stone. “You are my stronghold, my refuge and my savior. You will save me from these violent people.” [c]
A fourth stone. “For the sake of your name, lead me and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me.” [d]
A fifth stone. “My soul finds rest in you alone. My hope comes from you.” [e]
As he placed the fifth stone in his pouch, he couldn’t help but smile to himself. He was once a rough stone that needed more time in the stream until he was ready to be used. But all those years of searching streams for stones, protecting sheep, and finding strength in God had prepared him for this.
Heading back toward the battlefield, he rested his hand on the pouch of smooth stones. He knew that with God’s help, he really only needed one smooth stone to knock down the giant. But gathering the five stones gave him a chance to find his hope and confidence in God again and now he was truly ready. A smooth stone to be used by God however He deemed best.
a. 2 Samuel 22:2
b. 2 Samuel 22:3
c. 2 Samuel 22:3
d. Psalm 31:3-4
e. Psalm 62:5