David And Goliath: The Spirit Of Faith And The Spirit Of Fear – Chapter 21

THE ARMOR OF SAUL

WOULD YOU PUT ON SAUL’S ARMOR?
HOW ABOUT CHARLES MANSON’S SHOES?

03-06-05

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(1 Sam 17:38,39)  And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

THROUGH HIS DISOBEDIENCE,

SAUL DEFILED THE OFFICES OF PRIEST AND KING

King Saul was a representation (symbol) of the majority of the Israelites. The Israelites had “rejected me [God], that I should not reign over them” (1 Sam 8:7), and demanded a king. So God gave them a king in their own image (Gen 1:26,27). Saul was the first king, “the first man Adam” of the church, and David is the second king, “the last Adam” of the church (1 Cor 15:45). Saul’s first notable sin was his willful failure to wait for Samuel, the priest of God, at Gilgal as he had been instructed (1 Sam 13:8,9). In his fear of the Philistines and probable greater fear of losing his army, and in his lack of reverential respect for the priestly office, Saul assumed the role and office of a priest by making a burnt offering sacrifice to ask for God’s blessing. This was religious disobedience. (Priesthood).

1.       (Gen 1:26,27)  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion [rule, reign] over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

2.       (1 Cor 15:45)  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

3.       (1 Sam 13:10-14) And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me [their fear and his fear], and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. 

Saul’s second notable sin soon followed. After defeating Moab, Ammon, and Edom, Saul was told by God through Samuel the priest to go to war against the Amalekites and to “smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.” (1 Sam 15:3). Saul carried out the command of God…

1.       (1 Sam 15:9-11)  But Saul and the people spared [king] Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.  Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me [stony ground], and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

2.       (Luke 8:13)  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root [i.e. not saved], which for a while believe, and in time of temptation [testing] fall away.

Later, when Samuel came to Saul, Saul immediately lied about his activities in the Amalekite city and told Samuel that he had followed God’s instructions. This was secular disobedience. (Kingship).

1.       (1 Sam 15:13-15)  And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

Saul’s disobedience in these two prominent examples, which are clearly types and shadows of the offices of “kings and priests” (Rev 1:6; 5:10), showed that he could not be trusted (mutual love connotations) to be an instrument of God’s will. Saul instead asserted his own will (self-love, self-serving). Although he was allowed to remain king for the rest of his life, “the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul” (1 Sam 16:14), i.e. the godly covering departed, and he was troubled by “an evil spirit” that brought bouts of madness. It was after he had lost the anointing, the godly covering, that Saul and the Israelite army were confronted by Goliath and the Philistines. Later, at the conclusion of Saul’s life, he died in sin. “Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it” (1 Sam 31:4) which was perhaps a fitting summation symbol of his life.

DO NOT PUT ON SAUL’S ARMOR NOR JOIN HIS ARMY

King Saul represents the head of the apostate (false doctrine) church, which is further symbolized by the Israelite army (the congregation). Do not put on Saul’s armor nor come under his covering. Do not join his army, as did David’s three eldest brothers (wayward denominations). But be good shepherds (the four remaining brothers and David), be sober, be vigilant, and feed your Father’s sheep, because if you are not sober and not vigilant, Saul will put the covering of his armor upon you. He will bind you to himself. Please note that what Saul attempted to do to David is an application of binding, which David, through the power of God (mutual agapao love), loosed:

  (1 Sam 17:38,39)  And Saul armed [to wrap around, clothed] David [i.e. Saul bound David] with his armour [height, stature /// to stretch: stretch self], and he put an helmet of brass [filthiness (false doctrine)] upon his head [like “a crown” Rev 6:2; symbolically, Saul’s thoughts]; also he armed [wrapped around, clothed] him with a coat of mail [brass, like Goliath’s, v.5: for defense: self-righteousness; hard (false doctrine)]. And David girded [put on] his sword [Saul’s words (false doctrine): defensive & offensive weapon] upon his armour, and he assayed [began (but reluctantly)] to go; for he had not proved [tested] it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put [declined, plucked away, removed] them off him [i.e. loosed the bindings].

1.       armour = Heb: extent, i.e. height; also a measure; by impl. a vesture (as measured); also a carpet: armour, clothes, garment, judgment, measure, raiment, stature /// to stretch; by impl. to measure (as if by stretching a line); fig. to be extended:--measure, mete, stretch self.

2.       Commentary: armor is an extension of oneself, worn to represent oneself, to increase oneself, and has distinct connotations of pride. Compare the hard brass armor Saul wore (soldier: closed fist, fear generating) to the soft wool armor David wore (shepherd: open palm, love generating).

3.       brass = Heb: #5178. copper; hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter; fig. base (as compared with gold or silver):--brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass), filthiness, steel.

4.       (Ezek 16:35,36)  Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD: Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness [#5178] was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them;

5.       (Eph 6:16,17)  Above all, taking the shield of faith [vs. “a coat of mail”(filthiness)], wherewith ye shall be able to quench [extinguish] all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation [vs. “helmet of brass”(filthiness)], and the sword of the Spirit [vs. “his sword” Saul’s words of false doctrine (filthiness)], which is the word of God:

6.       prove = Dict: 1. to establish the truth or genuineness of, as by evidence or argument. 2. Law. to establish the authenticity or validity of (a will); probate. 3. to give demonstration of by action. 4. to put to the test; try or test.

7.       (1 John 4:1)  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try [test] the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets [i.e. false speakers] are gone out into the world.

8.       Would you put on Saul’s armor, or join Saul’s army? Yup, now you know why David didn’t either.

Amen

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