Spiritual Power vs. Physical Weapons

Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. “I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine. [1 Samuel 17.38-40]

It's not about what you have with you when you fight an enemy. It is all about Who you have in you.

Saul tried to equip David with his armor. But it didn't fit and was cumbersome to the shepherd boy. David decided it was best to take what he knew, his staff and sling along with 5 smooth stones. And, with his staff and sling and 5 smooth stones, David approached Goliath the giant champion of the Philistines.

Here is what is interesting though. Even though David was armed with a staff and a sling, he said something very interesting in his pre-engagement discussion with Goliath:

David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. [1 Samuel 17.45]

Why didn't David say, "I come to you with a staff and a sling..."?

Simple: David was not concerned with the tools. He was fighting at a spiritual level. David faced Goliath with the spiritual power of God, not the physical power of weapons. David knew Goliath was going down that day - how it would happen was merely a 'detail.' In fact, the weapon used to assure Goliath's death was Goliath's own sword with which David disassembled Goliath's head from his body.

The point?

We should fight our battles armed with the spiritual power of God. The physical weapons simply do not matter. Who knows, we might just 'seal the deal' of victory with our enemy's own weapon.

Father, thank You for David's story. I never tire of it and the lessons from it just keep coming year after year!