David and Goliath: Five Smooth Stones

‍ David and Goliath:  Five Smooth Stones     

1 Samuel 17:1-51  (selected verses)

July 5, 2026  

Rev. Cynthia Cochran-Carney, First Presbyterian Church, San Rafael, CA

  PDF OF SERMON LINKED BELOW

Context - Conflict in the Valley of Elah between the Israelites and the Philistines. Goliath, heavily armed Philistine champion, taunted King Saul’s fearful army for 40 days. The two armies were positioned on opposite ridges separated by the valley. This geographical divide presented a severe tactical stalemate, leading to the ancient custom of single combat to decide the war.

 Summary of the story   1 Samuel 17:1-51 

The Philistines were attacking the Israelites so they could control the land. Every morning a giant Philistine named Goliath challenged any Israelite to fight him. Goliath was bigger and taller than anyone else, and he was fierce. He wore heavy armor and carried a sword, spear, and large shield.

 David was a young shepherd boy who had faith in God. His older brothers were soldiers in Israel’s army. One day, David took his brothers some food. When he arrived at the army’s camp, he heard Goliath’s challenge.  David asked the soldiers why no one defended Israel against the Philistines.  His brothers were angry and told him to go take care of the sheep. But he felt called to fight Goliath and protect the land.

 King Saul knew of David’s faith, so he asked to see David. David told Saul he was not afraid to fight Goliath. David explained that once when he was looking after his sheep, he killed a lion and a bear. God protected him then, and David knew God would protect him. Saul gave David his armor.

  Verses 39-40  Then David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these; for I am not used to them." So David removed them.  Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd's bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine.

 When Goliath saw David, he shouted and made fun of him. He said a shepherd boy could not beat him. David shouted back that he trusted God to protect him.

 David ran toward Goliath. He quickly threw a stone with his sling. The stone hit Goliath in the forehead, and the giant man fell to the ground. When the Philistines saw that Goliath was dead, they ran away in fear. The Israelites won the battle.

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Almost all of us know this story of David and Goliath, because it’s in the Jewish, Christian and Muslim scriptures, all three. And it’s made its way to the heart of our contemporary cultural imagination. Goliath the Philistine is big, beefy and belligerent. David the shepherd boy from Bethlehem steps out of obscurity, rejects the heavy armor Saul offers, and, taking five smooth stones and a slingshot, leaves Goliath dead in the dust.

 My experience is that most people who read this story identify with David. In movies, athletics, business and politics, we all feel the pull of that righteous cultural conviction: Stand up for the little guy.

 We might name who we think acts like Goliath in government and business and leaders of nations.  And we go to battle against them.

 So why do we still say we like the little guy? We think it’s quaint and clever that David got by with five smooth stones and a sling, but we may spend our energy stockpiling symbolic swords and spears and javelins. We admire the fact that David did not use the armor Saul offered, but often we as individuals and countries take on types of armor so we can look like and be like Goliath.

 In the story, David, full of confidence, full of faith, full of hope, tells Saul he doesn’t need the heavy armor. Then David defeated Goliath.

 And what happened next?  The people put all their support behind David. David became king. Gradually a terrible irony began to take shape. Here is the part of story we don’t teach children. David became Goliath. David became a bully. David became a merciless military powerbroker. David focused on acquiring means for pleasure & personal power.

 David was fully human – a hero, a musician, a leader, a king and one with ego & greed.  As we focus on this early story of David, let’s think where power comes from. David’s power lies in his five smooth stones. And this story shows us five sources and kinds of power. Those stones hold the secret of where true power is to be found.

 Stone No. 1 for David is, he has made his peace with ordinary time. He knows how to put his own needs and desires to one side for an extended period to do hard, unglamorous work. That’s what David does in the first part of this story. He looks after his father’s sheep, and takes provisions to commanders of the army.  He lived life day by day doing tasks that are unrewarding, unregarded and unattractive.

 David finds a way to make the ordinary into a source of pride, the everyday into a form of training, the mundane into a way to build relationships. That’s where he gets his power. Relationships, responsibility,

 Stone No. 2 for David is, he is at home in nature, the natural world. David doesn’t rely on armor or physical advantage. He has spent his life outside. He knows how to keep sheep. He knows where to find smooth stones. He knows how to craft a sling. Goliath has no idea about these things. David learns from his outdoor life the wisdom of the owl, the cunning of the fox, the sharp eye of the eagle. Being open to the beauty and truth of the natural world gives him another kind of strength.

 Stone No. 3 for David is, he knows himself. Saul assumes David should be as much like Goliath as possible. So he gets out the full set of armor -- bronze helmet, coat of linked chains, hefty sword. But David knows who he is. He knows he’s not Goliath. And he knows he’s not Saul. David knows there’s no point putting on Saul’s armor or trying to be Saul. David knows his own weaknesses. And he knows his own strengths. That’s where he gets his power.

 Stone No. 4 for David is, he knows who God is. David knows Goliath is not God. Goliath is the reality in front of him right now, and that reality is big, ugly and intimidating. But David knows what’s in front of him isn’t ultimate reality.

 Something strange has happened in the United States with this aspect of the story. Some Christians have turned Jesus into Goliath. And that’s a tragedy. Jesus is not a cosmic or political or cultural bully. Jesus is not Goliath. Goliath is not God. David knows that. David knows where the secret of the universe lies, and it’s not with Goliath. Power of being rooted in Divine mystery and power and presence.

David’s 4 stones - Know ordinary time. Know the natural world. Know yourself. Know God.

Finally, stone No. 5. David knows what true power fundamentally is and is not.  Not in Goliath’s bravado but in David’s skill. Not in Goliath’s muscle but in David’s faith. Not in Goliath’s declarations but in David’s truth. Not in Goliath’s armor but in David’s wisdom.

 We experience this and are empowered by being part of a faith community, a church and committing to deepening our spiritual practices and serving our neighbors and experiences Divine Mystery, love and grace – This gives you power, a power nothing and no one can take away from you.

 How might we be open to a deeper awareness of the power of God’s love and grace and compassion and justice?

 May we learn new lessons about what ordinary time, the natural world, yourself, God, and true power really are. Cherish those five stones. Use them wisely. Hold them close to you.  Know you have them when you face giants that seem too large to defeat.  Amen.

 Resource

Sam Wells, “Five Smooth Stones,”  Faith and Leadership  June 7, 2010 https://faithandleadership.com/five-smooth-stones