Not The Same Size

Have you ever read 1 Samuel 17 and wondered what in the world was going on?  Why would tall Saul give short young David his armor? Wasn't it obvious they weren't the same size?

Imagine David saying, "I can do this thing for you." Then within minutes he has all this protective metal and leather around him making it impossible to move. Trying to picture his trial walk around the tent with the armor on can be humorous. It's no wonder David turned around and diplomatically gave it all back.

If you're having trouble picturing this, think of a baseball playing father telling his young son he can play for the father in the game. He even gives the son his uniform to wear. The shirt ends up going to the middle of his thigh. The 'short' pants hang at the waist and run down to the lower part of his calf. The socks can be pulled clear up to his thigh. The team ball cap falls down over his eyes and onto his nose. The glove, too loose in the grip, slips with the slightest tip downward. The shoes have to be stuffed so the son can move without stepping out of them. Are you getting the picture of this?

Now picture David trying to walk around the king's tent. . . tripping and stumbling. Granted David wasn't a young boy but by the preceding verses we know he wasn't old enough to go to battle. Think about it. Where was David before this? At home, minding the sheep. . .not fighting for his country like his brothers. Was it because he was too weak to fight? No, he was strong enough to fight off and kill a bear and a lion while doing his job.

I've gotten off track, let's get back to the armor.

Have you ever wondered why Saul didn't take the armor off someone else? You know, closer in size to David. And, why would the king give his music playing servant his own armor? Well, perhaps, Saul wanted to thank him for playing soothing music by giving him the best protection he could...his own armor. Or, was he so desperate to have someone fight Goliath that he didn't think clearly when he offered his armor to David? Maybe he felt responsible, or guilty, in agreeing to send a young boy to battle the giant everyone else was too afraid to fight.

But there was more to it than meets the eye. I was recently reminded of the significance of this act when I read The Chronological Study Bible. Back then offering his own armor to David was in essence offering David the position of king. Was Saul seriously giving his position as king over to a boy who wasn't his son? Did he even think it through?

Whatever the underlying reason we know from the chapters that follow that Saul, who was too afraid to lead the people to fight a mean group of people, had no intention of giving his throne to David. Let alone following through on his promise of a reward marriage to his oldest daughter for the one who killed the giant.

Yet, in this whole process David set an example for us. He knew he was to be the next king. He was already anointed. But, he knew it was to be in God's timing. He was patient and willing to wait until God handed him the crown. . . not Saul, not Johnathan, not himself. . .only God.