“Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David 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.” (1 Samuel 17: 38-39 NIV)

Saul’s own armor. Wow! In our culture, it would be the rage. Toy stores filled with miniature versions of the king’s armor. Halloween costumes. A little boy’s dream.

Shepherd’s gear? That’s so—not in.

Adults do it too. Clothes. Cars. Be like whoever’s trending.

So, are we in the dressing room, trying things on for size? Whose armor are we trying on? Are we actively wearing someone else’s—even though it doesn’t fit?

Picture the whole David and Goliath scene if David had kept Saul’s armor. It wouldn’t have been pretty. The battle would have been fought on the enemy’s terms. David would have tripped, stumbled, and blindly fought his way to his death—to the detriment of the army and the nation behind him. Not to mention the blow to God’s credibility.

There’s more at stake than our fitting in.

Though David didn’t know the ramifications of his choice—he knew what didn’t fit.

And he took it off.

In staying true to himself, he placed the battle in God’s hands, not in his ability to carry a certain image. One he couldn’t back up. One that didn’t yet fit.

What did fit?

Contentment in his own skin.

A dependence on God in the moment.

Have we tried to wear someone else’s armor?

Do we still have it on?

What do we need to take off?

Questions:

Why did Saul offer David his armor?

Do you think the offer was a test from God?

Was Saul’s armor good? Functional?

What was the problem?

Is there anything you have taken on that doesn’t fit? (Thoughts, attitudes)

Are we leaning on or trusting in something other than God?

Tweetables:

So, are we in the dressing room, trying things on for size? Whose armor are we trying on? Click To Tweet
There’s more at stake than our fitting in. Click To Tweet
Though David didn’t know the ramifications of his choice—he knew what didn’t fit. And he took it off. Click To Tweet
What do we need to take off? Click To Tweet

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