Armor or No Armor?

³⁸ 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. ³⁹ 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. ⁴⁷ Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands. - 1 Samuel 17:38-39, 47

     Armor or no armor? Sounds like a stupid question, but is it? It is human nature and plain common sense to want to protect ourselves from danger in any way possible. The problem is that God does not work in humanly ways, nor do His ways always make sense to us. Saul offered David all of the worldly protection mankind could provide. A king's suit of armor and mail and a sword worthy of the ruler of Israel. But what good was that armor to David? God's plan for David did not include armor. Don't get me wrong, God doesn't want us to just blindly throw ourselves at danger and rely on Him to save us. But when I am consumed with decking myself out with "armor" I am focusing on myself and my ways. I am relying on my armor to protect me rather than trusting in God to do the saving. I create a sense of pride and self-achievement. Verse 47 reminds us that the goal was for everyone to know that God was in control, that God would win the battle and that God does not fight with man's weapons and ways. Humanly speaking, David had no chance against Goliath. Humanly speaking, I have no chance against Satan or even his least powerful minion. But praise God that He fought for David and He fights for me each day and He will fight for any of His children who call upon Him. The struggle lies in taking off my armor, exposing myself to danger, and trusting God to get me through. When I learn to do that my victory will be, humanly speaking, miraculous.