1 Samuel 17:40 "Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine."
Two
armies faced each other more than two millennium ago. The Israelites were
retreating from the advancing Philistines. The two armies took their last stand
on opposing hilltops in readiness for the final decisive battle. The odds
favored the Philistines. Dividing them was the Valley of Elah in Judea. Today,
some call it part of the West Bank. This is important because, in this tale,
you will hear the echoes of history resound in today’s world.
Conditions
favored the Philistines. The Israelites were led by a weak king. Strategically,
the tailwind seemed to be with the Philistines who taunted the retreating
Jewish people who were fearful and unwilling to head into another losing battle
that they knew was facing them. Their land, their kingdom, was in jeopardy of
being lost forever.
Each
day the Philistines sent their most potent weapon down into the valley to insult
and challenge the legitimacy of the Israelites. A giant named Goliath was their
representative, their perceived strength. Nobody on the Israelite side was
prepared to face the challenge until a boy stepped forward. David, a young
shepherd boy from Bethlehem, had walked the fifteen miles to join the Jewish
army facing the advancing Philistine enemy. He saw that nobody was willing to
take up the challenge of defying them, so he walked down into the valley armed
with nothing more than a slingshot.
The
enemy burst out laughing when they saw this single figure of a lad step forward
to take on their impressive figurehead. The boy waded into a nearby stream and
took out five smooth stones. He armed his slingshot, whirled it round his head,
and hurled the first stone at the enemy’s hero. It struck the middle of the
giant’s forehead. Goliath fell to the ground, dead.
The
Philistines were stunned into silence and shock. The Jewish army, amazed at the
simple act of initiative from this young courageous boy, advanced confidently
on the enemy and routed them from the battlefield. They saw that the perceived
invincibility of the Philistines was built on nothing more than a clumsy giant
without substance.
The
story has great relevance today. The powerful narrative of today’s Philistines,
the Palestinians, is built without substance. It can be brought down with a
handful of smooth stones - the stones of truth, legitimacy, courage, heritage,
and values. All it takes is one person with conviction and the knowledge to courageously
go out armed with the weapons of the five stones and face the fraudulent giant,
knowing that he represents nothing but lies and deception.
Learn
the factual legitimacy of Israel. Research the events of San Remo and the
League of Nations Resolution of 1922. Read what actually happened to the United
Nations Resolution 181 that failed to make it into the statute books, to
realize that the Palestinian narrative has no basis in fact or law.
The five stones must be held firmly in the hands of Israel, as firmly as
they were held in the hands of David so many years ago.
With
these simple weapons, the five stones of rights, justice, truth, facts and
history, it is possible for Israel to gain the high moral ground and leave the
enemy in disarray.
Barry
Shaw is the author of ‘Israel Reclaiming the Narrative.’ www.israelnarrative.com
His
new book ‘Fighting Hamas, BDS and Anti-Semitism’ has just been
released. https://www.createspace.com/5333306
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