Focus: Spiritual Surplus (Pt.1)

Text: 1Sam.17:40

"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."

This Biblical story of David and Goliath is always spiritually illuminating. God speaks to our hearts through the Old Testament stories and the New Testament doctrines. God breathed out the Scriptures. Every word of it is lively and life-giving. By it God teaches us and transforms our lives.

David was an expert in the use of the katapult. He must have learned to use it early in his life as he kept his father's sheep in the fields of Bethlehem.

What is so interesting is that the Bible describes those of the tribe of Benjamin as experts in the use of the katapult. They had over time developed their natural talent into a great skill. The writer of the Judges says, "Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss" (Judg.20:16). The Benjamites were noted for this skill. If they target a single strand of hair on your head, they would not miss it. They never shoot amiss. King Saul was a Benjamite, remember? And David was from Judah, right? Why didn't Saul think of using his God-given and God-blessed talent to defeat Goliath? Remember when he wanted to pin David to the wall by a javelin? It was only by God that David could have dodged it. The Bible says that David "avoided" it twice and "slipped away out of Saul's presence" (1Sam.18:11; 19:9-10).

God was behind Saul missing David as a target because He had His eyes on him. David had God's oil upon his head, and so his life was spared. It is written, "Touch not the Lord's anointed…" Anointing saved David's life. Saul's javelin pierced the wall, which was a clear sign of what could have happened to David.

I believe it never crossed Saul's mind that a 'mere' sling and a stone could have enough power in it to bring Goliath down. He relied solely on conventional weapons and despised what probably from a tender age he was really good at. But David from Judah used what Saul, a Benjamite, undermined, and he achieve glory for Israel with it. With a sling and a stone he brought Goliath to his knees. Remember that David tried Saul's conventional armor, but he opted for what he was used to.

Value what God has given you. Appreciate grace however small it may seem. Virtue flows from the anointing you value. Your gift will make a way for you. Don't look down on that 'little thing' you have. That 'little thing' could be your mightiest asset. That giant of a Goliath in front of you is beatable.

If you take 'g' and 'i' out of giant, you have 'ant' left. Giant Goliath is only a gigantic ant, and ant is ant, regardless of how big its size. You can crush it. See life and situations from God's vantage point. With the lens of faith you will be able to see problems and challenges from God's perspective.

Look at a young man from Judah excelling with a skill which Saul a Benjamite could have been notable for! The difference was simply faith. David was able to spring up a surprise with what looked like nothing because he believed in his God. He believed that in God's hand little was enough to achieve the impossible. David was a man of Judah by tribe and a Benjamite by gifting and skill. It goes to show that no man has a monopoly on spiritual resources. 

The sling and stone can work for you as it did for David. His God is not different from yours. If you have David's faith and courage you can crush your giant and bring smiles to the faces of the people of God in your life.

We'll zero in on the subject of spiritual surplus by tomorrow. So prayerfully expect it.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter