Proved

Somehow I don’t think David was this close when he slung the stone into Goliath’s forehead. But, I do think this portrays quite well how David would have been dressed – by his own choice.

Saul, as a youth, was the son of a powerful man and was physically taller than those around him:

Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. (1 Samuel 9:1-2)

David was but a lad – according to Eliab, a naughty one at that.

And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. (1 Samuel 17:28)

When David went to Saul to make his challenge against Goliath, can you imagine how he would have looked in Saul’s armor?

And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. (1 Samuel 17:38-39)

Let me take that picture place it in another time, another place. Suppose we’re talking Pharisees instead of Saul. Pharisees were expecting Jews to put on the armor of their righteousness to overcome worldliness for God, but it was the wrong fit. Jesus came with God’s good news that belief in Him is first. With His strength the battles are fought – and won. His armor is proved.

I’ve often tried on someone else’s ‘armor’ instead of depending on God’s ability to reach, teach and lead me. It doesn’t take a theologically armored tank to fend off worldliness. It does take knowing who our enemy is, why we are battling and the source of our strength – David knew this:

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. (1 Samuel 17:45-46)

When we fight daily battles, do we enter them knowing there is a God? Do we come to those battles in His name? Do we want all the earth to know Him?