Whose Armor Are You Wearing?
You might recall the story of young David who went to visit his brothers on the battlefield. His father sent him to check on his older siblings and deliver a gift package to them. When he arrived he became enthralled by the scene of the standoff and enraged by the audacity of a giant that would taunt the God he loved and served. While everyone else stood trembling at the proposition of facing a large warrior giant, David was willing to gladly accept the challenge (1 Samuel 17:17-29).
Soon, thereafter, he is standing with king Saul and the taller-than-most king is offering his armor to the young man (31-39). Why would he offer his armor and not fight the giant himself? Why sacrifice his own armor to a young man who had obviously never trained in it. A few millennium later many would speculate on the reasons. He could have simply wanted the young man to have the best protection there was if he was so willing to fight for the kingdom. Others would accuse Saul of conspiring to take credit for the victory if the giant is taken down. At a distance, all they would notice was the king’s armor in the valley. If the young man died, he could claim to have done all he could to protect him by giving him his own armor. It seemed to be a fail-proof plan.
Except that the young man already had armor. He was armed with the God whom the giant was defying with each breath. David had spoken to Saul saying “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (37). Then to Goliath David said, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands...” (45-46). David had warrior skills although he had grown up a shepherd, because protecting sheep meant fighting predators. But his victories were evidence of more than just his skills--it was a revelation of the One whom He trusted to get him through those battles.
Many centuries later, a man once known as Saul would encourage Christians to wear an armor. Only this time, that man whose life had been drastically changed by the Lord, would not boast in an armor that was his own personal armor, but in one provided by and representative of the God he served. Notice the words that are highlighted in the verses below from Ephesians 6:10-17!
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
We will all fight battles. We will all face giants. The question never was about if you will have to stand your ground with your faith. At some point we all will. The question is whose armor will you be wearing?
Ben