by Angie Jarratt
This week we covered 1 Samuel 16-19. During my personal study time and when deciding what to focus on this Monday the word armor just kept popping out at me. You know how it goes, you’re reading through the Word and the Spirit keeps showing you the same thing over and over. Armor. Armor. Armor. So guess what?! We are going to look at several examples of armor and how it applies to our own lives. Let’s dive right in.
In chapter 17 we meet Goliath, a Philistine giant challenging King Saul and the Israel army. His size and aggressive threats fill all of Israel with great fear. Another factor of his intimidation is the description we get of his armor. “He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders.The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him”. (1 Samuel 17:5-7)
After we are introduced to Goliath and his armor, we see another example of armor when Saul dresses David for battle in armor that doesn’t belong to him. “Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off.” (1 Samuel 17:38,39) David knew the Lord had carried him through battles against lion and bear. (vs 34) He knew the armor Saul had put on him wouldn’t help him beat Goliath. The armor would fail, but his God would protect him. (vs 47) We all know how this story ends, even in all its impressive weight and bronze Goliath’s impressive armor fails to protect him; And the little unlikely shepherd boy slays a giant!
Again in chapter 18 we see yet another reference to armor. This time we see Jonathan strip off his robe and armor and demonstrate his loyalty and alliance to David. Going as far as to give away his birthright as the next king. A kind of love and friendship that many of us will never experience in this lifetime. This sacrifice displays his devotion to God and his friend. “And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.” (1 Samuel 18:4-5) We know that the armor given by Jonathan and even Jonathan’s good intentions could not protect David. Actually we see this commendable act create another problem, Saul becomes very jealous of David’s success in battle and seeks to take out his competition. Once again the armor David is wearing fails, the only thing truly protecting David was God’s favor and anointing.
So why does the author of 1 Samuel include so many details about armor? Why is that significant to the original audience and to us today? In the book of Isaiah we are shown a powerful picture of God wearing His armor. “He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped Himself in zeal as a cloak.”(59:17) You see there is a connection here to this armor in Isaiah and the armor that Paul refers to in Ephephians as “the whole armor of God”. The very armor that we believers are called to put on is the very armor that God adorns Himself with. Does that blow your minds? It does mine. Now you might be asking why would God want us to wear His armor? Like David, God wants to protect us, but His armor also equips us to fight against the enemy and be victorious. I want to look at the armor in Ephesians 6 to get a better idea of this protection and weapons God makes available to us, like David, we must understand God’s armor before we can wear it.
THE BELT OF TRUTH: Is the unchanging Word of God in its entirety, the standard in which we live our lives by. The promises of God, the sweet things He whispers to you and me. Sometimes it's just the security of knowing the truth about the Father, the Son and the truth and understanding of the Holy Spirit. This belt of truth shuts down all the enemies lies.
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: Is the application of the truth we just discussed, it’s allowing the Spirit to show us how to live lives that honor God. When we choose what's right instead of what's easy, being sanctified, and set apart.
THE SHOES OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE: Because of our relationship with Jesus we are able to rest and be at peace no matter our circumstance or other peoples actions. We know how the story ends. The gospel provides the foundation and sure footing in everything we do. Peace not chaos should be left in our wake, because we are walking with the Spirit of peace.
THE SHIELD OF FAITH: Faith is putting everything we say we believe into action. Faith is also showing trust in the God we say we believe in. (Psalms 91:1-4) You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!” That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, SHIELDS you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you—under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm.
THE HELMET OF SALVATION: Is our eternal security including our blessings status and IDENTITY Because of our relationship with Jesus any doubt or insecurity about who we are or whose we are has no place in our heads.
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT:The Word, the promises, and truth that speaks to us and strengthens us. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 )
When we put on the full armor of God the devil has to penetrate all that protection, everything you just read to get to you. Dang! That’s why it’s so important!
Covered in God’s armor we are ready to walk side by side with the Lord and fight the good fight. We are ready to go to war. Now of course our war looks different from David’s. We won’t be killing ten thousands, phew, thank you Jesus.
Our war looks more like:
•Speaking truth even when it’s hard.
•Living holy and righteous lives, leading by example.
•Testimony, telling our story of our blessings and salvation. Leading others to Jesus.
•Learning and sharing the word and proclaiming it over the lost and hurting.
•Leaving peace where we walk. Caring for our neighbors and our community.
•Forgiving the unforgivable and loving the unlovable.
•Overcoming temptation and telling the enemy he’s lies don’t work here anymore.
•Sometimes it’s just getting through another day. And that’s ok!!
Everyday is a war but we have the victory! “But thanks be to God, who GIVES US the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV)
I saved two examples of armor for last. Let’s go back to Chapter 16. “And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly and he became his armor-bearer.(1 Samuel 16:21) Saul the King, makes David his armor-bearer. This wasn’t a light hearted decision. An armor-bearer was a chief assistant in battle. Not just some dude who carried a shield. David would be dressed in armor, no doubt. He would have to be competent, efficient, a fierce warrior and very, very loyal to Saul. This wasn’t just about fighting ability but also about integrity, good character and matters of the heart. (We will see how far this loyalty goes in upcoming chapters. Did anyone catch this detail? Have you asked yourselves why David doesn’t just kill Saul when he has the chance, repeatedly?) David wore the outer protection given to him to do the job Saul had asked of him, but he was also clothed in the whole armor of God that offered protection from the biggest of giants and even the king he had pledged his allegiance to. He understood who’s armor he wore. David wore the whole armor of God.
In contrast king Saul wears only a secular armor, he relies on his own abilities and his own power to protect himself. Our previous chapters have shown again and again a once humble king grow deeper and deeper into self reliance and prideful agendas. Saul refuses to humble himself. He chooses to trust in earthly armor, over the whole armor of God. In reply we see Saul rightly stripped of his royal glory. (1 Samuel 19:24) AMP “He also took off his [royal] robes [and armor] and prophesied before Samuel and lay down naked all that day and night. So they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” We will watch in the weeks to come his decline as king. Saul chose to compare himself and allow circumstances to rob him of the purpose God had for him. He places his confidence in the wrong armor.
We too have a choice...to be like David, or to be like king Saul.
We must not forget that God is in complete control and He chooses who is worthy to wear HIS armor. God can and will put on His armor and fight for His glory (like He does in Isaiah). But He enjoys using us, allowing His glory to shine through us, the unlikely weak, flawed warrior. It’s a privilege. He allows us to wake up every morning and put it on piece by piece. But might I suggest that we do our best to put it on and never strip it off? Wear the armor that belongs to the God of the Universe, that provides protection, peace, comfort and allows us to war against our enemies everyday. Wear it and be proud that you are His. Like David we are chosen and anointed to be loyal armor-bearers to a most loving and deserving King. He comes alongside us, and places sweet, fierce, warrior sisters to fight with us. We are the army of God. Get dressed and fight!