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(1 Sam 17:40)  And he [David] took his staff [rod, (hand) staff] in his hand, and chose him [selected (indicating discernment)] five smooth stones out of the brook [running water, symbolizing the Holy Spirit], 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 [i.e. David crossed the water] to the Philistine [Goliath].

1.       rod = Heb: Heb: a branch (as extending); a rod, whether for chastising (fig. correction), ruling (a scepter), or walking (a staff; fig. a support of life, e.g. bread): rod, staff, tribe.

2.       scepter = Dict: 1. a rod or wand borne in the hand as an emblem of regal or imperial power. 2. royal or imperial power or authority; sovereignty. 3. to give a scepter to; invest with authority.

3.       “And he” = David is a biblical type of us becoming Jesus Christ; we may therefore thoroughly identify ourselves with him. “And saviours [plural] shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau [rough (symbolic of the flesh)]; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.” (Obad 21). Previous to this moment, David was walking with the operational “the [very specific] earnest” (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5; Eph 1:14) of the Holy Spirit which is bestowed upon us before we receive the fullness (full empowerment) of the Holy Spirit. Two major symbolic indicators of this circumstance are firstly that David was still a young lad or youth of perhaps fourteen or fifteen years (immature in body and mind), and secondly that David had not yet crossed the running waters of the brook (Joel 2:1-11: more about that later).

4.       (1 Sam 17:33)  And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth [a boy, from the age of infancy to adolescence: babe, boy, child, lad, young man], and he a man of war from his youth.

5.       (1 Sam 17:42)  And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David [loving, beloved], he disdained him [to disesteem: despise, contemptible, scorn]: for he was but a youth, and ruddy ['admoniy, ad-mo-nee'; reddish (of the hair or the complexion) /// 'adam; (to show blood in the face), i.e. flush or turn rosy], and of a fair [beautiful: comely, goodly] countenance [appearance, form, pattern, sight].

6.       (1 Sam 17:55,56)  And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell [to know (to ascertain by seeing); discern, perceive, understand]. And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is.

7.       stripling = Heb: something kept out of sight, i.e. a lad: young man, stripling /// to veil from sight, i.e. conceal (lit. or fig.): X any ways, blind, dissembler, hide (self), secret (thing).

AND CHOSE [selected] HIM

(John 15:16)  Ye have not chosen me [selected], but I have chosen you [selected], and ordained you [appointed, purposed], that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain [to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand]: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

FIVE SMOOTH STONES (versus Esau – rough)

Were those stones always smooth? Originally smooth? How do stones become smooth?

(Eph 4:7-12)  But unto every one of us is given grace [the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life] according to the measure [a limited portion (degree)] of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting [complete furnishing /// to complete thoroughly, i.e. repair or adjust: fit, frame, mend, (make) perfect (-ly join together), prepare, restore] of the saints, for the work [toil: labor] of the ministry, for the edifying [architecture, a structure: building] of the body of Christ:

1.       (Ezek 11:19)  And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh [a hard heart], and will give them an heart of flesh [a soft heart]:

2.       (John 2:6)  And there were set there six waterpots of stone [symbolic of hardhearted people], after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece [18 or 27 gallons apiece].

3.       (Psa 127:1)  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep [shamar; to hedge about, guard, protect (Gen 2:15)] the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

4.       apostles = Gk: a delegate; spec. an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (with miraculous powers): messenger, he that is sent /// set apart, (by impl.) to send out (prop. on a mission).

5.       prophets = Gk: a foreteller; by anal. an inspired speaker /// & /// pro; "fore", i.e. in front of, prior (fig. superior) to /// & /// to show or make known one's thoughts, i.e. speak or say.

6.       evangelists = Gk: a preacher of the gospel /// to announce good news ("evangelize") espec. the gospel: declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).

7.       pastors = Gk: a shepherd.

8.       teachers = Gk: an instructor: doctor, master, teacher.

9.       (Gen 2:15)  And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden [delight] to dress it [serve, worship it] and to keep it [to hedge about, guard, protect it].

THE BODY OF CHRIST: GOD’S GARDEN OF DELIGHT

God’s living garden, His garden of life, His delight, is His sheepfold, of which the garden of Eden, the ark of Noah, the tabernacle of Moses, the temple of Solomon, the barn of Jesus Christ, and the temple of the Holy Ghost are ascending biblical types and shadows. God’s garden of Life (eternal) is the antitype (fulfillment) of all these latter types. God’s Garden of Life is the living Body of Christ, of which we are each members.

1.       (1 Cor 12:27)  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

OTHER STONES

God related in 1 Samuel 17:40 that David (a type of Jesus Christ) “chose him five smooth stones out of the brook” of the Holy Spirit. This statement clearly indicates that there were other stones in the brook as well. What does that mean? Perhaps that the “other stones” differed in some quality not perfectly suited for this particular job or mission in that they were not quite as large, small, etc., or perhaps that the “other stones” were of differing degrees of “smoothness?” There is also something here in the comparison of light rays flowing through smooth objects versus light rays flowing through rough objects. Perhaps all the stones in the brook, including the stones not chosen (not purposed) for this particular mission, were indeed either apostle stones, prophet stones, evangelist stones, pastor stones, or teacher stones. What do you think? Praise God!

(1 Cor 15:41)  There is one glory [glory (as very apparent): dignity, glory (-ious), honour, praise, worship] of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star [i.e. a star is a giver of light] differeth from another star in glory.

Amen