In 1 Samuel 17 The account of events that took place between David and Goliath are given to us. David, in previous chapters and verses was reported as working in his father’s fields keeping sheep. He was a shepherd. He gave account of his life and the times he had to protect his father’s flock against a lion and a bear. He also told of his weapons as being a sling shot and stones. He had years of practice with these tools that God had given him and had allowed him to become familiar with. He was skilled in the art of using these weapons. I am sure there were days that he practiced with them to ensure that he was very accurate and aware of just how to hold his hands and just when to release the stones from the sling. I am sure he tried different types of stones in his sling to find which ones worked best with his type of sling. He was skilled and experienced with HIS sling and stones. He knew how to use HIS weapons of warfare. He was comfortable with his weapons. So in the account given in 1 Samuel 17:17-54 when David’s father Jesse sent him to the line of battle, he took his sling with him as I am sure he did everywhere he went. When got to the battle field and witnessed the actions of Goliath it angered him, and David said in 17:26 “what shall be done to this man that killeth this philistine and taketh away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? When the men heard what David said they told it to Saul, the king. Saul called for David. In 17:33-36 Saul said to David, thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth. (How many know you have to be careful who you allow to speak into your life?) David understood this and he began to encourage himself with his own words back to Saul. He gave the account of the lion and the bear to Saul and ended his statement with “& this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them seeing he hat defiled the armies of the living God!” Then David gave glory unto God in his statements and said the Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion & out of the paw of the bear, HE will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. With this Saul told David go. He then put his armor on David to use in battle, but David said in vs. 39 “I cannot go with these for I have not proved them. And David put them off. He was not accustomed to these weapons so he went with what was in his bag. He went out with HIS weapons of warfare. His sling and he chose five smooth stones from the brook and went into battle armed with what he was familiar with. What are your weapons of warfare? Prayer? Outreach? Teaching? Preaching? Greeting new people to our church? Music ministry? What weapons are you familiar with to assist the kingdom move forward? David had his sling and stones in his bag… What’s in your bag? David went out against Goliath, and the scriptures go into detail about the armor and shield of Goliath. It describes the weapons of warfare that Goliath brought out to destroy David. The enemy always brings out weapons against us to destroy us, but how many know that no weapon formed against us shall prosper? David went out to meet Goliath and just like the enemy does us, Goliath began to try to intimidate David with his words. The word says that Goliath disdained David because of his appearance and his fair countenance. Never judge a book by it’s cover. Goliath began to yell at David saying… Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? Then he cursed David by his gods. NOT OUR GOD… then made threats to David saying come to me and I will give thy flesh to the fowls of the air and the beasts of the field. David was not moved by any of this, He was confident in what he brought with him. He told Goliath, you come to me with sword, shield and spear, but I come in then a me of the LORD of hosts, the GOD of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. Then David gave God the glory even before the battle began. He said, this day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hands and in vs. 49 when God did just that. David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone and slang it… He pulled out what he was familiar with. He slang the stone and smote the Philistine in the forehead. (The word smote here is the Hebrew word Nakah, with the root Hiphil which means to strike or hit.) however, in vs. 50 that David fan, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword and drew it out of the sheath thereof and slew him and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. The word “slew” here means to kill. It comes from the word “muwth” which means to die. David brought down Goliath with the weapons of warfare that he was familiar with. He declared by the Lord that Goliath would come down and in this He gave God the glory prior to the victory even came, even before he faced the enemy. He learned about the enemy and began to speak victory. (1 Sam 17:36-37). David brought down Goliath with the stone, but he killed him with Goliath’s own sword. He drew Goliath’s own sword and killed him with his own sword. So the very weapon that Goliath meant for David’s destruction, David then turned it around and used it to kill Goliath and in doing so defeated his whole army. In vs. 52 the word says that after Goliath was dead the Philistines fled and the men of Israel and of Judah arose & shouted, and pursued the Philistines. The word goes on to say they pursued the Philistines through three cities and they spoiled their tents. They not only killed the enemy but took back things that had been stolen from their land and also the belongings of the enemy. In vs. 54 it states that David took the armour of Goliath into his tent. He not only used in battle the weapons of the enemy that were meant to kill him but he was able to keep those weapons for his own. How many know that when you defeat the enemy you become familiar with his weapons. Now you are able to use those weapons as your own to defeat the enemy for others because you recognize his weapons. David was able in this situation to stand in the face of the enemy and not be afraid of what he was facing. He stood in the name of the Lord and not only defeated the enemy but used the weapons designed to kill him to defeat and kill the enemy. What the enemy meant for evil in David’s life, GOD turned around for David’s good.