A Show of God’s Power without Fanfare, Marketing, or Hype
38 Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, 39 and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached [Goliath] the Philistine. 41 And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42 And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43 And the [Goliath] said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
1 Samuel 17:38–43,45 Read More
The shield-bearer, or the armor-bearer, had a special job. He would be a close helper to a warrior. He would watch the main fighter’s back, help carry all of the gear and follow behind to make sure all of the opponents are really dead. He served another subtle purpose in all of those tasks that is a core part of ancient Eastern warfare culture.
When Goliath’s armor bearer went behind him cleaning up, he would pick off the good weapons, the best armor, and various decorations from Goliath’s foes. One look at the armor bearer and you’d know Goliath’s record. The armor bearer goes first, not so he can hold up a shield and protect Goliath, but so that he can hold up the helmet of this slain opponent and the sword of this slain general and the broken flags of these armies. Sure, any of those weapons would be at Goliath’s disposal in a fight, but the point was to show Israel Goliath’s record of wins.
When David refuses the armor of Saul, it is so much more than just refusing protection from metal clothing. He is also not clothing himself in Saul’s victories or in a show of Saul’s might. He is depriving Saul of the boast that “Goliath was killed by my sword,” by not even taking Saul’s sword. With no fanfare of his experience, no vain show of his credentials, David runs at Goliath.
The dishonor is doubled toward Goliath, of course, that not only is this not even a valiant warrior, but he doesn’t even have any fanfare or presentation. Goliath’s boasting and shouting for these 40 days were part of the whole act of war. This is the trash-talk that is essential to street ball, if you will. David did none of that until the moment of the fight to give glory to God.
All of the greatest feats in the kingdom of heaven are the little ones, aren’t they? No fanfare when Lazarus was raised from the dead. No trash talk from Jesus as He died on the cross. No boasting in greatness on the morning of Pentecost. Without a lot of pomp and glory going ahead of us, the kingdom of heaven advances.
Instead, the glory comes after the victory, as all of Israel looks on David as he carries the thing he alone is worthy to carry (Goliath’s head and his sword!). He did not need an armor bearer to show off any vainglory; his works themselves spoke loudly enough.
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