Giants in the Earth
Part xvii
David the Dragon Slayer
  This article is the last of this series titled Giants in the Earth, or I should write, I believe that this may be the last of this series. As I have written many times previously that I never really know where I am going when I begin to write an article, but I always know when I get there.
  Chapter 17 of 1st Samuel is one of the most dramatic events described in Scripture by the Holy Spirit of God. This specific Chapter contains not only the visible, but the invisible Supernatural workings of God within the time frame of the history of mankind. If only mankind could see and understand that God is not passive, but He is actively enforcing His purposes in the lives of His creatures. This 17th Chapter is one of the wheels of God’s government vigorously moving His supreme Victor to overcome God’s arch rebellious antagonist from before the beginning. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (Isaiah 14:12) The battle described and documented in Chapter 17 of the book of 1st Samuel was much more than a factual event. It was also a Supernatural event. The earth players in this battle scene were merely men, however, they also symbolized the ongoing battle between the forces of good and evil. It was almost as if the dimensions of the spiritual and the physical met in one place in the valley of Elah in a moment in earth time within timelessness.
  Let us look further into this 17th Chapter to see it from another point of view. Did you know that this 17th Chapter mentions the name of David more times than in any other chapter in the Bible? Did you know that David is mentioned in thirty (30) verses in Chapter 17? Why thirty (30) verses? What connects this number of thirty to David? Christ was 30 when He began His ministry, David was 30 when he became King of Israel, Joseph was thirty when he began his rule as second to Pharaoh over Egypt, thirty was the age of the priest, and of all who served in the tabernacle. The number thirty (30) (3x 10) represents or symbolizes the perfection of the Divine Order of God; therefore, David’s name documented thirty times in the 17th Chapter teach us that David (Beloved) marked him for being set aside in God’s divine order. David was God’s marked man in service to God.
And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, (Luke 3:23)
From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. (Numbers 4:3)
From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. (Numbers 4:23)
From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Numbers 4:30)
From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation: (Numbers 4:35)
And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. (Numbers 41:46)
David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. (2nd Samuel 5:4)
Seventeen
  In the 17th Chapter of 1st Samuel we have two contrasting individuals; one is the manifestation of evil seen through the twisted mind, and corrupted soul of mankind represented by the monstrous form of sin out of control in its growth and influence, this is Goliath: man in his sinful state. The other is an individual anointed by God with the horn of oil to serve Him as His chosen king. (This is the two sides of the tree of good and evil.) These two and what and whom they represent is also seen in the written number of seventeen as revealed through Scripture. Let me explain: the number seventeen is written out in Scripture six (6) times. Always keep this is mind in this context that six, of course, is the number of man. As one sword has two sides, we will be considering this number (17) from two very different views: one, from the side of the written word (seventeen), and from the other side of the unseen as in the Chapter heading. Two views: the view of what sinful man is, and the view from the unseen. (Have I lost you yet?) (Don’t worry, I will.)
The View from the Written Seventeen
The first mention of seventeen:
  These [are] the generations of Jacob. Joseph, [being] seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad [was] with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. (Genesis 37:2) At the age of seventeen (17) Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, and before they could sell him to the slave traders, Joseph was taken out of the pit (that his brothers had placed him in while they were away planning how to sell him as they had been selling their father’s cattle) by slave traders who sold him off to another group of slave traders going into Egypt. Thus, in this number (seventeen) we have a seventeen-year old separated from his land, his home, and from his father through betrayal, deception, jealousy, and sold into slavery.
The second mention of seventeen:
And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years. (Genesis 47:28) Although Jacob was buried in the land of promise, he died in a land that was away from his God. Thus, in this number (seventeen) we have separation from the promised land of God.
The third and fifth mention of seventeen:
  And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam [was] forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother’s name [was] Naamah an Ammonitess. (1st Kings 14:21) So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam [was] one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother’s name [was] Naamah an Ammonitess. (2nd Chronicles 12:13) In 1st Kings we have the time of the actual event, and in 2nd Chronicles we have the historical setting of the event. Thus, in the number two we have the witness of God to this tragic event. It was under Rehoboam that the unified nation that David had brought together under Jehovah was rent asunder by Rehoboam’s pride and arrogance. Israel became two nations: the ten tribes under Jeroboam became known as Israel, and the two tribes that remained under Jeroboam was called Judah. Rehoboam was left with two tribes out of twelve tribes. The original nation of Israel would be forever torn and stripped from its premier position that it had under David and Solomon. (Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. Zechariah 11:14.) Thus, in this number (seventeen) we have a nation separated and no longer united in worship, and service to their Creator and God.
The fourth mention of seventeen:
  In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, [and reigned] seventeen years. (2nd Kings 13:1) The fourth mention is set in the nation of Israel (the ten tribes in the north) with its Capitol in Samaria. Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu (the man who killed Jezebel) ruled as a tyrant. He was a product of his father’s failure to faithfully serve God. Thus, in this number (seventeen) we have a nation separated from God.
The sixth and final mention of seventeen:
  And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle’s son, that [was] in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, [even] seventeen shekels of silver. (Jeremiah 32:9) The book of Jeremiah is where we have the sixth and final mention of the number seventeen. In order to set the stage especially for those who are not familiar with the book of Jeremiah, I have selected specific verses that will help in this stagecraft. Jeremiah, the faithful prophet of Jehovah, had spoken the message from God to Judah (the two tribes left from the severing of the nation under Rehoboam). His message to the nation of Judah was that they were about to be conquered and taken into captivity by Babylon, and for giving this message FROM God and for being faithful to God Jeremiah was placed in prison. While in prison, his cousin, Hanameel (whose name means ‘a place of God’s favor’) asked Jeremiah to purchase his field that was in Anathoth (affliction). The purchase price was seventeen shekels of silver. Of course, being a kinsman with redemption rights, Jeremiah purchased this field. Hanameel knew that when the Babylonians overran Judah, that his field would be a total loss, so therefore, why not try to recover some of his loss by selling a useless and worthless field (at least that is how Hanameel (a place of God’s favor) evaluated this dire situation). Although Hanameel (a place of God’s favor) didn’t want to accept that this captivity was his future, he also was going to make sure that just in case Jeremiah was correct he would at least have seventeen shekels of silver in his pocket, a double minded man trying to hedge against all the odds. The problem can be said in one word: unbelief! God had given a message of captivity, BUT He also gave Jeremiah the message of hope that God would once again move to return the people of Judah to their promised possession, the land of promise (a place of God’s favor). God had to remind them of His lovingkindness, and who their God was: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name. They had to experience the judgment of God against their sin, they had to know that sin and rebellion against God does not go unpunished. But, also that God’s promises and His great power can overcome even sin. Thus, in this number (seventeen) we have a nation totally removed and separated from God in unbelief.
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.(Jeremiah 32:15)
Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: (Jeremiah 32:17) Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, (Jeremiah 32:18)
Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:Â (Jeremiah 32:37)
Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul. (Jeremiah 32:41) For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them. (Jeremiah 32:42) And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans. (Jeremiah 32:43) Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal them, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 32:44)
Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:Â (Jeremiah 32:17)
Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27)
  In this number (seventeen) we see mankind caught (through sin) in an inescapable wheel that keeps man constantly running from God (as a gerbil running in a spinning wheel going nowhere). Seventeen is the unbelief of mankind. Through unbelief we have witnessed betrayal, deception, jealousy, and slavery; individuals, and nations separated from God. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12)
  The importance of the number seventeen does not end here, but it is interconnected with silver. And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle’s son, that [was] in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, [even] seventeen shekels of silver. (Jeremiah 32:9) God the Holy Spirit ties it all together in the final and SIXTH mention of the number seventeen. Unbelief takes us back to Genesis Chapter 3, when our parents turned from their Creator God. (It was Eve who acted on her unbelief; she believed not God and His Word; however, the difficult part is that Adam was not deceived.) (1st Timothy2:14) From this act of rebellion, God also acted in redemption. God provided Himself as the Redeemer. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (1st Peter 1:18) Silver has been the material used to symbolize redemption as in the thirty pieces of silver that Judas received when he betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ.
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; (Matthew 27:9)
And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. (Zechariah 11:12) And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD. (Zechariah 11:13)
  1st Samuel, Chapter 17, verses 1 – 58, is about unbelief and the consequences of unbelief. First, the Philistines and their champion, military general and a national spokesperson Goliath, did not believe Jehovah. (The reason for calling Goliath a military general and a national spokesperson is simply because no where in this battle scene do we read of any other leaders as an Abner, or a king as Saul.) Secondly, Saul and his general (Abner) did not believe that they could possibly overcome the enemy because of their unbelief in the power of God. Thirdly, the men of the armies of Israel also did not believe that God could or would act to fight for them in this battle. All that God had accomplished through Joshua, Caleb, Gideon, and other battles, was just empty historical legends as far as they were concerned. Chapter 17 is about the unbelief of sinful man and the consequences of that unbelief leads to separation from the Almighty God.
The View from the Other Side of Seventeen
  1st Samuel, Chapter 17, verses 1 – 58 is about God in His unseen spiritual power of perfection, the power of victory. The number 17 is a prime number. It is the sum of two (2) perfect numbers: 7 (spiritual perfection) and 10 (ordinal perfection in the placement of the beginning of double digits). The number seventeen cannot be divided equally. There is no dividing the Godhead. The number seventeen is also the seventh in the list of prime numbers. Let us look at this baby math of 7 and 10. Seven (7) symbolizes the goodness and perfection of God. The ultimate of perfection, nothing can be added to make it more perfect. The number ten (10) symbolizes God’s perfection in completion, it is His perfect divine order, nothing can be added to accomplish more, it is complete. His timing is perfect, His precision is perfect, His selection is perfect, His mode of operation is perfect. In 1st Samuel, Chapter 17, it was the perfect time for God to display His power over His enemy: Satan. It was God’s perfect time to display His power over Satan’s man, and it was the perfect time to remove Goliath from his head; it was also God’s perfect time to place his chosen anointed man into the spotlight of national awareness: the right man at the right time with the right weapon. Chapter 17 is about belief in God by God’s chosen servant David (Beloved).
The Servant of Strength Called to Slay the Dragon
  Let us move onto Israel’s dragon slayer: David. The first time that David’s name is mentioned in Scripture is in the book of the kinsman, the book of the redeemer, the book of the barley harvest and provision, the book of grace: the book of Ruth (satisfied), it is very easy reading with only four chapters, and 85 verses, but what depth in typology, symbolism, and prophecy. In the words ‘kinsman,’ ‘redeemer,’ and ‘barley harvest’ we have the Holy Spirit of God building on these words to reveal the One who will come as the Kinsman Redeemer, and the Provider. The name of Obed means ‘service,’ not only as a worker or servant, but primarily as ‘a husbandman,’ and also there is an element of ‘worshiping’ in service, and I like this added root, ‘to bring to pass.’ While we are on the meaning of names, the meaning of the name of Boaz is ‘in him is strength.’ Let’s follow David’s genealogy through the meaning in the names: ‘In him is strength’ (Boaz) was the father of ‘service,’ (Obed), who was the father of ‘of him who is,’ (Jesse) who was the father of ‘beloved’ (David). This all took place in the town of Bethlehem, ‘the house of bread,’ the place of provision, and of course we have the Provider. This is no time to get antsy, stay with me, and try to focus. The first mention of the name of David is found in Ruth 4:17.
So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. (Ruth 4:13)
And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. (Ruth 4:14)
And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. (Ruth 4:15)
And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. (Ruth 4:16)
And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. (Ruth 4:17)
  Did you see it? In Ruth 4:17 there is a very unusual occurrence, And the women her neighbours gave it a name. Have you ever seen this before in Scripture, or even in our natural realm when neighbor women named a child that was not theirs? David’s genealogy began with ‘In him is strength,’ connecting David to the strength not of his ancestors, but to Jehovah’s strength.
And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear:Â for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands. (1st Samuel 17:47)
For with God nothing shall be impossible. (Luke 1:37)
Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: (Jeremiah 32:17) Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, (Jeremiah 32:18)
  It wasn’t ‘In him is strength,’ (Obed’s father Boaz) nor ‘satisfied,’ (Obed’s mother Ruth), nor even Naomi ‘my pleasantness’ (Obed’s grandmother) who named Obed, but it was Naomi’s neighbor women who named the child. (The naming of Obed by women neighbors just had to be a supernatural event because have you ever known of more than two women agreeing on anything?) 
 Amazing, indeed. Another memory connection is in the first mention of David that comes in Ruth 4:17 and connects to 1st Samuel Chapter 17 where the name of David occurs more than in any other chapter in Scripture. (I will again repeat for those who have not read any previous articles that I use these number connections as memory tools. However, keep this in mind, do you think that before Scripture was penned that the Holy Spirit of God did not know what would occur in the future, such as verse numbering?) ALL is used to show the knowledge and the foreknowledge of our God.
  This child of service, Obed, was named by those he would grow up to serve. As also the Lord Jesus Christ served Him who named Him before he was conceived in the womb. In Obed, his service began after his birth; however, with the Lord Jesus Christ His service began before His conception in earth time.
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:23)
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. (Luke 1:30)
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:21)
  This can only be described as a supernatural moving over hearts to agree (as a united voice) to call this child ‘Service.’ Within David’s heritage was the strength of Jehovah, the humble heart of a servant, the actions of a true worshiper of Jehovah, and an unwavering trust in God that He will bring it all to pass.
David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. (1st Samuel 17:37)
<<A Psalm of David. >>
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)
When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. (Psalm 27:2)
Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. (Psalm 27:3)
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)
<<Michtam of David.>>
Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. (Psalm 16:1)
<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>>
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. (Psalm 31:1)
  God had prepared the way for His servant, David, to slay the dragon, as He prepared the way for His servant (the Lord Jesus Christ) to slay the dragon. David (although a great warrior, and a leader who unified a fractured nation) was just a man, but he typified a Leader (yet to come) who would through His sacrifice unite a people to serve and follow the Almighty God. Rarely is a king seen as a servant, and yet, David was a servant. He served God, and although he failed many times in his service to Israel (the people of God) his concern was for the people of Israel to remember whom they served.
 The beloved of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, born to be King, sent to serve, ordained before the foundation of the world, in a specific body prepared for Him to take on the sins of the world, to die and to rise in resurrection power of an endless life, the Lord Jesus Christ was truly the Servant King.
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. (Hebrews 10:7)
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (Hebrews 10:9)
 First and foremost, it is to KNOW God, and then to serve Him, sadly but understandably, too many newborn desire to serve without the knowledge of the holy. No one can slay dragons until they are first conquered by the Light and love of God. (Of course, a newborn babe in Christ can serve God, but will be limited, and therefore, should proceed knowing these limitations and not run ahead beyond God’s direction.)
  David just didn’t suddenly come into the action until he had been proven by God, and had been approved of God. Read a bit of his resume prior to Chapter 17 of 1st Samuel. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. (1st Samuel 16:13) First, David was approved by God. Although this event was witnessed in the midst of David’s family, God’s approval is just that GOD’S approval, not man’s approval; for no one is qualified to select, or to set aside anyone for God’s special use (this statement is in total opposition to the current acceptance philosophy by Church leaders that THEY are the ones and the ONLY ones who have the authority to approve service for God). This is just another means to control the people of God. (If I believed that trash philosophy, then I would not be posting this article, but waiting for the non coming approval from my betters.) When God sets apart anyone, they KNOW it!
  The following verse in 1st Samuel 16:18 tells us much about the witness of David to those around him. David didn’t need to send out resumes, or job applications, he was a witness to others just by being himself: the traits and talents that God had blessed David with. Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him. (1st Samuel 16:18)
  The key to being victorious over the forces of evil is to first be approved of God and proven by God to serve (without any reservations) the Almighty God. The Lord Jesus Christ said, If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will [my] Father honour. (John 12:26) And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; (Luke 1:69) As David turned over the kingdom of Israel to his son Solomon, we read his advice to Solomon in 1st Chronicles 28:9, And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
The Shepherd Prepared and Sent to Slay the Dragon
  David just didn’t happen to be sent by his father Jesse to the battlefield. David just didn’t happen to accidentally hear Goliath’s tirade against Jehovah. David just didn’t happen to be taken to appear before Saul. David just didn’t happen to refuse the armor of Saul and didn’t just happen to have the following items on him when he drew near to the Philistine. David didn’t just happen to be a shepherd-in-training.
  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. (1st Samuel 17:40) Were not these items (a staff, a shepherd’s bag, a scrip, and a sling) what all the youth of Israel were carrying in that day? It is a good thing that David wasn’t living in our age, or he probably would have had an i-phone in one hand and a credit card in the other, or least that is how many think what service for God entails: a communication devise and a bottomless debt tool.
  In one hand David held a staff, and in his other hand he held a sling, and on his shoulders, he carried a shepherd’s bag with five smooth stones. Can you picture the scene, a young man carrying shepherd’s bag over his shoulder with a staff in one hand and a sling in the other? He had to put the staff down in order to reach into his bag to retrieve one of the five smooth stones, but he didn’t remove the bag hanging around his body. The staff served many purposes of protection, direction, and correction for the sheep. The sling was a weapon against the enemies of the sheep. And a good shepherd never released his hold on either staff or sling, except during actual combat, and it appears that this shepherd also held onto his shepherd’s bag.
  In that bag were things of grace: maybe medicinal items to care for the injured sheep, maybe where David kept his musical instrument to comfort himself alone in the wilderness, but within this bag were items to help, heal, correct and to comfort and all for the wellbeing and survival of his sheep. The shepherd’s shoulder (probably the right shoulder) bore the weight of whatever was contained in the shepherd’s bag. All that was unseen, hidden from view, was borne by the shepherd in that bag, can this not also apply to OUR Shepherd? The shoulder was the place of power and strength.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:7)
The Shepherd’s Stone — The Shepherd Stone
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. (1st Samuel 17:40)
  David took five smooth stones when he went face to face against this giant Goliath. David had to be aware that Goliath had four brothers. Five stones, not four, not six, but five stones. Think on this: the confidence that David had in his God, Jehovah; the deep-rooted belief and faith that God could and would deliver him out of all his troubles. Five stones. Five giants. The spiritual teaching impresses on us that we should be prepared at all times to engage with more adversaries than we actually see. Be prepared.
  Five is also the number of grace, and God’s blessing. The first mention of blessing is in the fifth day in Genesis Chapter 1. Twice we have the phrase, ‘God blessed them.’ Grace, blessing, and favor is all wrapped up in the very first mention of the number five. There is, however, another ‘five’ that we overlook, and that is the number of the first five books that set the foundation of all the books that follow. The Pentateuch means ‘the five books,’ also known as the Torah. These five books written by Moses are not only for Israel (as it is their national history) but it also presents biblical principles that all should be aware of.
  The five stones that David took out of the brook symbolized much more than Israel’s history, it represented their national existence, and that one stone, the judgment stone, that killed the giant Goliath represented the Stone of Israel, the Shepherd of Israel. But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty [God] of Jacob; (from thence [is] the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) (Genesis 49:24) When David picked up the five smooth stones, it was God directing David’s hand and mind to select just the perfect stones that could cut sharply through the air as a missile of judgment. It symbolized the piercing stone in the judgment against the denial and rebellion of all that was of God in His Pentateuch. The five smooth stones were selected in retaliation of the rejection of the five books of God’s grace, but it only took one stone, the Shepherd Stone, to accomplish the deed.
Side Note: Grace in the Pentateuch. The Gospel of Grace is written in Genesis through God’s mercy to Adam and Eve, to Noah, and to Abraham through His covenants. The Gospel of Grace is revealed to Israel in their redemption and through God’s blood covenant with His people in the book of Exodus. Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. (Jeremiah 3:2) The Gospel of Grace is shown in action in Leviticus through His holiness by giving Israel a means to approach Him. The Gospel of Grace is displayed in the book of Numbers during their testing and trials in the wilderness and throughout their testing and trials He supplied and carried them through the land of adversity. The Gospel of Grace is summed up in His wisdom in the book of Deuteronomy accomplished by His divine government in His promises to Israel in grace they entered into His promised land. From grace to grace, from Genesis to Deuteronomy God was faithful to an unfaithful people . . . was this not grace? From five to five, from grace to grace, the Servant Shepherd Stone once again fought for His people and overcame their enemy, the dragon Goliath, and the Dragon Satan.
Side Note of a Side Note: Grace Before the Pentateuch. Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2nd Timothy 1:9) Christians have tied grace only to what is called ‘the dispensation of grace.’ However, everything is built on the holiness and righteousness of God in His grace and goodness. Time did not remove or disannul the grace of God, but only how His grace was displayed. His longsuffering is grace to the utmost. His salvation is grace to those who deserve death. Grace did not begin at the age or dispensation of grace, nor will it end at the age of the dispensation of grace. His grace is not conditioned on time, neither on mankind. ♦ End of Side Note of a Side Note: Grace Before the Pentateuch.
David (through the Spirit of God) described the goodness and greatness of our God in Psalm 103. The following psalm is one among many of David’s psalms praising God’s goodness and grace. ♦ End of Side Note: The Gospel of Grace.
<<A Psalm of David.>>
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. (Psalm 103:1)
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:Â (Psalm 103:2)
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;Â (Psalm 103:3)
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;Â (Psalm 103:4)
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:5)
The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. (Psalm 103:6)
He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. (Psalm 103:7)
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. (Psalm 103:8)
He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. (Psalm 103:9)
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. (Psalm 103:10)
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. (Psalm 103:11)
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12)
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. (Psalm 103:13)
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. (Psalm 103:14)
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. (Psalm 103:15)
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. (Psalm 103:16)
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;Â (Psalm 103:17)
To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. (Psalm 103:18)
The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. (Psalm 103:19) 　
Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. (Psalm 103:20)
Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. (Psalm 103:21)
Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul. (Psalm 103:22)
 Never ever forget that the last words in the Bible to all are . . . the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.(Revelation 22:21) But there is something else that we should never forget, when the grace of God is vehemently denied, the stone (His polished Stone) will judge. When the grace of God is mocked and ridiculed then the stone of Israel will act. But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty [God] of Jacob; (from thence [is] the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) (Genesis 49:24) When the grace of God is rejected then the Head of the corner stone will destroy all those who reject His grace. And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? (Luke 20:17) Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. (Luke 20:18)
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. (Isaiah 28:16)
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (1st Peter 2:6) Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, (1st Peter 2:7) And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. (1st Peter 2:8)
© Copyright 2020, Mary Haigh
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All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)