Editorial March 13, 1926 Issue

On Proving Our Armor

Albert F. Gilmore

In the story of David's preparation for his encounter with Goliath are lessons of first importance to Christian Scientists. In I Samuel it is recorded that when the Israelites were faced by the army of Philistines, the giant Goliath came forth with a challenge to combat any man whom the Israelites would send against him. The youthful David, fresh from tending the sheep in the hills, to the surprise of many, asserted his ability to meet and vanquish single-handed the threatening giant. But Saul, lacking the spiritual vision which inspired the youth, was fearful, for he loved the comely lad.

Reassured in some degree by David's declaration that the Lord who had delivered him out of numerous perils would still protect him, Saul consented to his adventure, saying, "Go, and the Lord be with thee." But the king, still thinking in terms of materiality, and fearful for the lad's welfare, put upon David his own armor, a helmet of brass and a coat of mail, placing his own sword in the youth's hands. When David set forth, the strangeness of these habiliments of war disturbed him; for had he not hitherto won all his victories without such trappings? So he returned to Saul, saying, "I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them." And he put them off.

How, armed with only the sling and five smooth pebbles from the brook, David vanquished the giant is a familiar story. Firm in his unshrinking faith in God, he could not permit himself to use untried means. He had proved his own method, in which he had full faith, and he could not bring himself to accept that which might cause him to waver in his assurance of God's protection.

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