”So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.“ I Samuel 17:38-40 NKJV
a. So Saul clothed David with his armor: Saul was still in the natural, in the flesh, in the things that are merely outward. He figured that if this boy were going to beat Goliath, he needed the best armorin all Israel – the armor of the king.
b. Tried to walk…. David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them”: Saul tried to put his armor on David, but it didn’t work. It didn’t work because Saul’s armor did not physically fit David. Everything was too big, and David could not move well with Saul’s armor. It also didn’t work because Saul’s armor did not spiritually fit David. Armor, military technology, or human wisdom would not win this battle. The LORD God of Israel would win this battle.
i. Often people try to fight with another person’s armor. They see God do something wonderful through someone else and they try to copy it without really making it their own. God’s work is never most effectively done in this way.
ii. Sadly, many people would say the same about the armor of God: “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” Are you more familiar with the weapons and armor of the flesh or the weapons and armor of the Spirit? “Press some people to their exercise of prayer, or any other piece of the armour of God, and they must say, if they say truly, as here, I cannot do withal, for I have not been accustomed to it.” (Trapp)
c. So David took them off: David had to renounce Saul’s armor. He had to vow, “I will not fight with man’s armor. I will trust in the LORD and His armor instead.” Often, we want a safe “middle ground” where we try to wear both kinds of armor. God wants us to trust in Him and Him alone.
d. A staff in his hand…five smooth stones…a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand: David used the same tools he used before as a shepherd to kill the lion and the bear. What God used before, He would use again.
i. A charming – but purely legendary – Rabbinical story says these five particular stones called out to David from the brook and said, “By us you shall overcome the giant!”
ii. Why did David choose five stones? He only needed one to kill Goliath. Some suggest – somewhat humorously – that it was because Goliath had four relatives who were also giants, whom David and his associates later killed (2 Samuel 21:18-22). (Guzik)
Armor of God
”Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—“
Ephesians 6:10-12, 14-18 NKJV
Thank you for allowing me to send you this devotional as it helps me to put on the whole armor of God and by doing so it also helps me sin less.
Blessings
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