Day 22 1 Samuel 16-28

1 Samuel 17 ^41-42 As the Philistine paced back and forth, his shield bearer in front of him, he noticed David. He took one look down on him and sneered—a mere youngster, apple-cheeked and peach-fuzzed.
 ⁴³ The Philistine ridiculed David. "Am I a dog that you come after me with a stick?" And he cursed him by his gods.
 ⁴⁴ "Come on," said the Philistine. "I'll make roadkill of you for the buzzards. I'll turn you into a tasty morsel for the field mice."
 ^45-47 David answered, "You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel's troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day God is handing you over to me. I'm about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there's an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that God doesn't save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to God—he's handing you to us on a platter!"
 ^48-49 That roused the Philistine, and he started toward David. David took off from the front line, running toward the Philistine. David reached into his pocket for a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine hard in the forehead, embedding the stone deeply. The Philistine crashed, facedown in the dirt.
 ⁵⁰ That's how David beat the Philistine—with a sling and a stone. He hit him and killed him. No sword for David!

David - a child in the eyes of all around him, defeated the greatest enemy that his people had ever seen. And he did it with a slingshot!  

I've heard many sermons about this particular passage of scripture.  There are Sunday School songs about David.  It's one of those stories that even non-Christians know about.

Like I said, I've probably heard dozens of sermons based David and Goliath.  Have heard explanation over his brother's behaviors, Saul's giving him armor, and how difficult it would be to hit someone dead-on with a stone and sling.  

But the one thing that I take away from it is how God used the tools that David knew how to use.  David didn't attempt to use the sword and armor; he used his sling.  He didn't have to learn something new, he just did what he could.

I think we all assume that we have to become something different than we are to do something good.  We don't have to learn something new to participate.  We all have gifts, we all have talents, and they all can be used of God.

I don't enjoy speaking in large groups - you probably won't see me giving any large presentations any time soon.  However, I like to write, and I don't care how many people read it.

I have a talent that can be used of God, and I'm very thankful for it.  Whatever your talents are, let them be seen, let them be used, and don't let anyone try to change you.