Stone Of Ezel

The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid when this trouble began, and wait by the stone Ezel. 1 Samuel 20: 19

You know David as a mighty brave warrior. Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands. 1 Samuel 18: 7b. You know him as a man of great faith, a faith that is demonstrated as a lad when he took care of his father’s sheep. Just listen to the bold victory of faith in Jesus. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 1 Samuel 17: 34b – 36.

You know him as the young lad who was not in the least bit intimidated by the echoingly loud threats of the Philistine giant, who has King Saul and all Israel’s army quaking in their boots. Then the Philistine said, This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other. On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified. 1 Samuel 17: 10 – 11. When David, obeying his father Jesse’s command goes to take supplies to his three older brothers who are fighting in Israel's army, gets there, he witnesses a most heart-rending scene. His brothers, the king and all the soldiers of God’s army are terrified. David hears the bullying giant of a Philistine and stands up to him without an ounce of fear.

The very giant thinks that it is comical for this pipsqueak of a lad before him, not to beg and plead for his brothers, the king, nor the Israelite army, but to take on the giant’s challenge. Honestly, it is kind of amusing for this is like a tiny, naked mouse, standing before a huge, mightily armed elephant. But David knows one thing and one thing only. His God is stronger than any Goliath. Looking up at the giant, who stands tall in the air, David speaks with authority to Goliath. You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 1 Samuel 17: 45b – 46.

David kills Goliath. I can’t resist this story about the stone, which killed the giant of an enemy. Just listen to and see the picture portrayed for us in 1 Samuel 17: 48 – 50. As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle lineto meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. Just a stone! Only a stone! Nothing beats the stone of faith!

You also know David as a servant of the Lord whose life is protected by his God, on all sides. We know this when we listen to his psalms. He said: The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior – from violent people you save me. 2 Samuel 22: 2 – 3.

Yet, this is the man, the anointed, the called, the chosen and the protected servant of Israel’s God, who needs a hiding place. It is a place that he runs to in times of great danger. It is about time for the grand celebrations of the New Moon festival, and it is at this festival that Jonathan will know beyond the shadow of any doubt, whether or not what David is telling him about Saul, Jonathan’s father, is really so. You see, Saul hates David and wants him dead. This is his single fear of David. As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send and bring him to me for he must die. 1 Samuel 20: 31.

It is the king’s intention to kill David at this year’s festival. But David has been hiding from him for a time. We know this from Jonathan’s words to David. The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid when this trouble began, and wait by the stone Ezel. 1 Samuel 20: 19.  David has a hiding place in which the stone Ezel stands, unmoved and undaunted. But note what this stone is to David.

Target of Action

The stone is used as the target of action. Jonathan uses Ezel as his target for archery practice. He tells David. I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target. 1 Samuel 20: 20. The eyes of the entire world will see Jonathan doing what is commonly done by all archers. They shoot arrows and have a boy run after them to retrieve them. It’s not unlike a tennis player who is practicing her or his serves for example. He or she stands on one side of the net and sends the balls across and has a young person run and collect the sent balls.  But here, in this targeted arrow shooting, there is much more going on.

Translator of Action

It is used as the translator of action. Jonathan has devised a plan to translate truth to David without uttering a word to him. The plan is to let David know whether it’s safe to return, or whether he has to run for his life and run fast at that. Jonathan uses Ezel as the translator, if you like, for the words, ‘beside Ezel’ and ‘beyond Ezel’ will speak plainly and clearly to David. If David hears Jonathan tell the lad, Look, the arrows are on this side of you, David will know how to respond. And if he tells the boy, Look, the arrows are beyond you, David will also know how to act. The arrows are to be shot in relation to the stone, either beside Ezel, or beyond Ezel.

Transcending of Action

It is used as the transcending of action. This stone called Ezel is the place where concealed love and commitment transcend all the barriers and blocks of human hatred, guile, jealousy, wickedness and deadly evils.  In the midst of this Jewish festival of the New Moon, when thanks is offered to God for a new month and a new beginning; when there is to be no sadness, only joy, dancing, eating and making merry, the thick, heavy darkness of deceit has been spread. It is the Ezel which provided the place where love transcended all this death.

David finds a stone in the middle of a field that becomes his help and saving grace.

The Lord is your Ezel. You will find Him in any place and at any time, to be your sure fortress and horn of salvation.