David’s Armor vs, Goliath’s

I Samuel 16 and 17

Ephesians 6:14-17

We have all heard the story of David and Goliath as we were children. We were thrilled to sit and listen to the story as David picks up a stone, puts it in his sling and hurls it at the mean giant Goliath. We wondered how a small stone could kill a giant like Goliath. Perhaps it was because David had better armor than Goliath? Wait a minute! You are probably thinking there is no mention of David wearing armor when he went into battle with Goliath. But David was, it just was not visible. David had on the armor of God spoke of in Ephesians chapter six. This post will consist of three sections of armor. Goliath’s armor, Saul’s armor and David’s armor, the armor of God.

Goliath’s Armor

Goliath was a giant even for these times. He stood nine feet tall. He probably was not skinny either as his armor weighed 150 pounds. He had a bronze helmet. His coat of mail weighed 125 pounds alone. He wore bronze leg armor. He also carried a javelin on his shoulder with a spearhead weighing fifteen pounds itself. He also carried a sword because after he fell, face down I might add, David ran over to him pulled out Goliath’s sword, made sure he was dead by stabbing him and cut off his head. Goliath also had a shield. It was carried by an armor bearer in front of him. I imagine it would have to be large to cover a man as large as Goliath. Goliath felt confident his size and his armor would protect him. Yet he was killed by a stone landing just in the right spot of his forehead. Goliath’s armor reminds me of people who put their trust in things. Things, like money. Even all the money in the world cannot save us.

Saul’s Armor

Saul was king at the time of this incident. He had become ineffective when he disobeyed God and God said Saul would be replaced by another as king. Saul still won some of Israel’s battles but when the Philistines opposed Israel and sent out Goliath as champion he and the whole country quaked in fear. Not David though, he went to King Saul and said he would kill this giant. Saul finally agreed after David described battles with large wild animals while tending his father’s flock of sheep. Saul was not trusting in God to save Israel, so Saul had David put on Saul’s armor. Now David was still a young man at the time. Historians say David was on the shorter side. Saul was taller. Saul had David put on his tunic, coat of arms, bronze helmet, and sword. In my imagination I see David felt weighed down in Saul’s armor when he was trying to walk around. I imagine David trying his hardest to get used to the heavy armor. Trying to please Saul, the king. Then I imagine David realizing he did not need to be burden by heavy armor he had the armor of God. Saul’s armor reminds me of those who are burden down trying to be good enough. Trying to please our parents, teachers and bosses and even trying to please God without having the freedom of God’s armor He has to offer each of us through faith in God’s Son Jesus.

David’s Armor

In chapter sixteen we read about Samuel anointing David as king of Israel. I Samuel 16:13 says “And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on.” David’s armor was the Spirit of the Lord upon him. He did not need a helmet, coat of arms or even a shield he had the Spirit of the Lord. He was free of the armor of trusting things or trying to be good enough, he was free to trust the Lord to save him. When I think of this, I think of another place in the Bible which talks about armor. Ephesian 6:14-17 talks about the armor of God. I believe David was wearing this armor when he faced Goliath. Let us look at the different components of the armor of God I imagine David was wearing that day. The following verses are from Ephesian 6:14-17 and are from the New Living Translation. “Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Belt of truth: David believed the truth about God when God said He would deliver Israel from their enemies if Israel was trusting God. Goliath and Saul were not trusting God to deliver them, and both were killed in battle. (It was years later for Saul.)

Body armor of God’s righteousness: notice it says God’s righteousness not David’s or our own. We could go to church every day, pray without stopping, give all our money to the poor, and do good constantly and still not be righteous enough to be saved. Only God is righteous. Do not lose heart though, God sent His Son, Jesus to die on the cross and take all our unrighteousness on Him in our place so we can have God’s righteousness for our own by accepting Jesus. David knew God would send a Savior into the world. David looked forward to that time and had faith. David’s faith gave him God’s righteousness.

Shoes of peace which comes from the Good News: The Good News is God saves us through faith in His Son Jesus. Knowing the Good News gives us peace. It is not the same peace the world thinks of but the inner peace knowing we can trust God in everything. I imagine David stepped onto the battlefield with the shoes of peace God had given him because he trusted God.

Shield of faith: to stop the fiery darts of the devil. These fiery darts can be thoughts of doubt, anxiety, or depression. It also could be thoughts of low self esteem or even those 3am thoughts seeping into your mind of something you should have done in the past. Fiery darts could also be spreading gossip or outright lies to cause division. They are also hating someone because they are different than you are. None of these are from God. God wants you to remember your faith in Him and put up the shield of faith to stop the fiery darts. Perhaps David’s fiery darts came when he put on Saul’s armor before realizing he did not need it because God was his shield.

Helmet of salvation: salvation comes from trusting in God’s Son Jesus to save you. You must trust Him with your mind, soul, and spirit. All of these are in your head and is covered by the helmet of salvation. David knew he had the figurative helmet of salvation on his head because he was trusting in God.

Sword of the Spirit: which is also known as the Word of God. The Bible is the Word of God, but it is just a book until you read it, mediate on it, memorize it, and believe it is true. Then the Spirit comes in and fights your battles for you. The sword of the Lord divides the truth from the untruth in our lives if we are listening to what the Spirit if telling us through His Word.

David had the Spirit of the Lord upon him. He was not afraid of Goliath, and he understood he did not need Saul’s armor of good works to save him. He just had to trust God’s armor. What armor are you trusting in?

For further study on David and Goliath check out these selections from Christianbook.com Home. If you click on a link and make a purchase I may earn a small percentage of that purchase without any additional cost to you. The earnings go directly to the costs of the website. Thank you for your support.

Slay Your Giants: Life Lessons from the Story of David and Goliath – eBook
By Nell Mohney / Dimensions for Living

David & Goliath
By Jacqueline Jeannette Pfister / Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

David & Goliath/ Realities of Life Today and the Christian Response
By Dennis Hayes / Xulon Press