Israelites; for neither shield nor spear was to be seen among forty thousand of them." In Saul's time, the Philistines had done the same, and entirely prohibited smiths to make them; hence, no more than Saul and Jonathan had sword or spear. It was common to hang up arms in strong, or sacred places: Goliath's sword was hung up in the tabernacle, as a trophy sacred to the honour of God.y Armour, when ascribed to God, denotes his all-sufficient fitness for, and the methods and means by which he conquers and defends his people, and destroys his enemies. The spiritual armour of the saints consists of the shield of faith,—that is, the reconciled God in Christ we believe on, and the grace of faith whereby we believe in him; the helmet of the hope of salvation; the breastplate of truth, applied to, and integrity wrought in us; and of imputed and implanted righteousness; the girdle of truth revealed to us, and of uprightness in us; the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace; the sword of inspired Scripture; and the artillery of earnest prayer. With these weapons we are to fight against sin, Satan, and the world: and to defend ourselves from their many and dangerous attacks. This armour is called, the armour of God.-GURNEY. Scripture Ellustration. THERE went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span :-and he was armed with a Coat of Mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.-And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day: give me a man, that we may fight together.—And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?—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. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand and he drew near to the Philistine.-Then said David to the Philistine, "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.-And all this assembly shall know, that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands."-And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sank in his forehead, and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone.a a 1 Sam. xvii. 4, 5, etc. : BELIEVERS FIGHTING. Soldiers of Christ arise, And put your armour on ; Strong in the strength which God supplies, Stand, then, in his great might, That having all things done, Ye may o'ercome, through Christ alone, Stand then against your foes, Leave no unguarded place, Take every virtue, every grace, Indissolubly joined, To battle all proceed; But arm yourselves with all the mind To keep your armour bright, Set stedfastly your face; Pray, without ceasing, pray, In instant prayer display ; Pray always, pray, and never faint; THE Lord hath opened his armoury, WESLEY. And hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: For this is the work of the Lord God of hosts. In the land of the Chaldeans.b When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him 6 Jer. 1. 25. D all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me, is against me: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Put ye on also the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.d For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strong holds ;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.e But in all things approving ourselves.... by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left. Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. Labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of h : e 2 Cor. x. 3-5. h Col. ii. 9, 10. |