"Saul put his garments on David, set a bronze helmet on his head, and put armor on him. David strapped Saul’s sword over his garments and tried to walk, but he was not used to the armor. David told Saul, “I can’t walk in these because I’m not used to them,” and then took them off. He took his staff in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook and put them in the pouch in his shepherd’s bag. He approached the Philistine with his sling in his hand." -1 Sam 17:38-40 (ISV)
I think David was a scrawny teenager. He was definitely younger and smaller than Saul. Before fighting Goliath David met with Saul, and Saul tried to give him his armor to use for the battle. Was Saul trying to get some credit for the victory by having David wear his armor? Or was he just being a nice guy? What we do know is that this was Saul's armor and sword--unique to him and for his own battles. David had other weapons that fit him for his own battles. He took his shepherds staff, his shepherds pouch, five smooth stones, and his slingshot. These were his weapons, and possibly the same ones used against the lion and the bear. David's "armor" were part of his daily tools, the tools that identified him as a shepherd. The only difference was that he was no longer protecting sheep but people--a whole nation for that matter.
God has gifted you with unique talents and abilities. You are to use these in your daily life and in the challenges of ministry. For example I cannot use another pastor's "Armor" when preaching, the messages have to be my own--spurring from my own walk with God--messages which uniquely identify with me and with who God made me to be.
A lot of times we fail because we try to be somebody else or imitate someone else's gifts and abilities. When we do this we are trying to fight our own battles with someone else's armor. But God has equipped us through His Spirit uniquely for His glory. The difference between David and Saul is that David used his armor to fight his battles..Saul didn't. How has God equipped you? Are you using your armor?
God has gifted you with unique talents and abilities. You are to use these in your daily life and in the challenges of ministry. For example I cannot use another pastor's "Armor" when preaching, the messages have to be my own--spurring from my own walk with God--messages which uniquely identify with me and with who God made me to be.
A lot of times we fail because we try to be somebody else or imitate someone else's gifts and abilities. When we do this we are trying to fight our own battles with someone else's armor. But God has equipped us through His Spirit uniquely for His glory. The difference between David and Saul is that David used his armor to fight his battles..Saul didn't. How has God equipped you? Are you using your armor?
- WHAT GIFTS AND ABILITIES DO YOU HAVE? DO YOU USE THEM REGULARLY?
- "It is true that we should put on the whole armor of God, it is also true that we should put on our unique giftings and abilities." -Albert G.