Saul and David Had Different Armor, Different Battles & Different Faith

King Saul and David had a number of encounters throughout the decades of their personal relationship that showed a stark contrast how their spiritual relationships were built.

David was a threat to Saul’s kingdom not because he was younger, or more handsome or more talented, but because he was a man fully submitted to the Lord and that is what made him a king in God’s eyes, before he ever sat on the throne of Israel. And that is what made him a clear and present danger to the giant in front of him, too.

According to 1 Samuel 17:38-40:

“Saul clothed David with his armor. And he put a helmet of bronze on his head. He also clothed him with a coat of mail. David secured his sword to his armor and tried to walk, but he was not used to it, for he had not tested them. And he took his staff in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones out of the brook. And he put them in his shepherd’s bag, even in a pouch. And his sling was in his hand. Then he drew near to the Philistine.

David was prepared for the battle against Goliath in two ways: Spiritually and emotionally.

David was a man who had been privately prepared in every way to win a very public battle. David knew how to hear from God and how to fight to the death because the Lord was his shepherd before he followed anyone else. His preparation in the spirit and in his emotions was the winning combination for any battle you’re ever going to face.

Saul wanted to use his armor to protect David- God wanted to use His power.

~ Alicia Purdy ~

To David, Goliath, a 9-ft. giant holding a spear that was as big as the trunk of a tree, was simply another form of the same enemy.

When David went to face the giant Goliath, he was ready– full of energy, passion and the desire to fight. In fact, King Saul was trying to bribe anyone to get out there and fight Goliath (1 Samuel 17:25) who had been taunting the Israelites for 40 days and nights.

Even the most battle-hardened soldiers were gripped with white-knuckled fear at the sight of Goliath. But not David. Why?

Saul was a man prone to fear. It was because of fear that he hid when the Lord called him. It was because of fear that he caved to the opinions of others. For Saul, fear was the true giant.

Both Saul and David has their strengths, but it was David who was the better warrior because he did not rely on this own strength, but leaned on the strength of the Lord.

David knew how to face down fear. David’s strength was not found in armor, or even in the army standing behind him. The source of strength David carried was found in the presence of the Lord. (Psalm 16:11, Neh. 8:10, Psalm 22:3)

David knew he could not borrow Saul’s armor because he was not used to it, and he had not experienced battle with those elements for himself. It matters!

You cannot borrow someone else’s faith when you’re a fight. You must have your own and that only comes from experience in fighting and winning battles.

Thought for today: Saul and David Fought Two Different Battles

Whether it’s a lion, or a bear or a giant – David knew the enemy was, essentially, the same – determined to “steal, kill and destroy” and it was kill or be killed. (John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8)

Saul and David had two different perspectives- one wanted more of the military might, one wanted more of the Lord.

When the time comes to face down a giant in your life, if you’re an experienced warrior in the faith already, you’ll have your own style of fighting the enemy, and you’ll have an understanding of how to use your own weapons.

The only weapons you are are those you’ve seen prove true in the Lord in each battle, the tested and tried weapons of warfare, but remember: You can’t rely on another person’s faith in battle. You need your own.

When the Lord is your shepherd, you don’t need to look to other people to fight your battles for you. You need to get into His presence and first find your victory in the Lord. Do what David did: Worship and prepare emotionally and spiritually, well beforehand, when no one is looking.

Then you’ll see that the enemy coming against you, exalting itself against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:4-6), will simply be another enemy that needs to die today.