³⁸Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. ³⁹David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. ⁴⁰Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. (1 Samuel 17:38-40)

You know the story — David’s minding his own business, tending his sheep, and next thing you know Jesse asks him to take some cheese and crackers to his brothers who are fighting the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:17-19). Israelites on one side of the Valley of Elah; Philistines on the other. Every day for 40 days, a 9-foot tall guy stepped out from the Philistine camp and dared an Israelite to come fight him. Any Israelite; didn’t much matter to Goliath which one.

Verses 20 and 21 just kill me: “[David] reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. ²¹Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other.”

Who are we kidding here? I can just see them — Israelites shaking their fists, yelling “Our army is better”; Philistines responding “No, we’re better, I promise!” After a few rounds of this, Goliath shakes his head and steps into the valley to shout out his challenge, just as he had done every day for the past 6 weeks.

²⁴When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear… ²⁶David asked the men standing near him, “…Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:24, 26)

Finally the voice of faith rather than the voice of fear. Evidently Eliab and the others didn’t know in Whose army they served.

Let’s cut to the chase — Saul got wind of David being there and what he was saying, and he sent for him. David told the king he’d go fight the giant, Saul offered his armor, David tried it on and couldn’t wear it, so chose 5 stones & a sling instead.

We know the rest. David’s stone found its mark. (Ever wonder why he took 5?) The giant was dead. Philistines ran; Israelites plundered their camp. (Just as an aside, I want you to notice verse 54: “David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem…”. Um, why? Seems a little weird to me, but I stray from the points of the lesson.)

Point #1: God didn’t refuse to provide victory to Saul and his army — they never asked for His help! He has promised never to leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5), but you are free to leave at any time. To receive His strength and care, all you need to do is ask (Matthew 7:7-8).

Point #2: David didn’t defeat the giant; God did. He’ll defeat your giants too. He has promised to not let satan (intentionally not capitalized) tempt you beyond what you can bear. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Point #3: We have armor just as strong as (and I’d argue even stronger than) the armor Saul offered David. We have the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). It is ours to use if we will just wear it.

So, whose armor are you wearing? Your own armor of pride, self-importance, and imperfection? Or the full armor of God?