This past Sunday, during worship, I was so heavily burdened,
the Holy Spirit caused me to kneel and intercede in prayer…
for the lost…
for the hurting…
for the prisoners…

As I sat there on my knees, I wept bitterly…
for those I didn’t know…
for sorrows I couldn’t name…
for chains I could not see.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life…John 3:16

We’re all familiar with this verse.
We see it at sporting events.
People throw it around like a beachball.

But do we really understand its depth?
Are we capable of grasping its implication for how we are to live?

We’re told throughout Scripture to share in the suffering of Christ.
           We think of Paul and the other apostles,
                 who endured painful torture and death at the hands of persecutors,
                        who gave their lives for the furtherance of the Gospel.

In our American sheltered luxury, we often think that suffering means enduring ridicule or being a social outcast for living and sharing our faith.
Maybe even sacrificing material desires in order to be obedient in our tithe…
Or giving up our weekend pleasures to serve in ministry…
We are grateful that we aren’t forced to suffer the ways many Christians throughout history, and today, around the world suffer for the sake of Christ, being beaten, killed, tortured, burned alive, separated from their families, martyred.

I, as many, have reflected, and considered whether my faith would be strong enough
–whether I am strong enough–
to endure those types of suffering.
If my child were threatened, would I have enough faith to stand firm?
          If the knife were at my throat,
                           the gun to my head,
              if I were drenched in gasoline and the match was inches away,
would I have the courage to still proclaim Christ?
I’ve long been thankful that I will likely never have to find out.

But is that what He was really talking about?
Is the extremity really necessary?

Is that the God we serve?

I don’t intend to minimize the suffering of the saints who have endured extreme persecution.

The Holy Spirit has just been teaching me something different.

But go and learn what this means: I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE;
for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners…Matthew 9:13

He’s been teaching me about compassion.

          Compassion comes from a latin root:
                      com=with or beside; 
                      passion=suffering or feeling
          Compassion: to suffer with or beside; to share in one’s suffering

I’ve always been gifted with compassion. But my understanding has deepened.

We see suffering. 
We experience suffering.
Right here.
In our city.
In our neighborhood.
In our schools.
In our churches.
In our homes.

It looks different…
It’s more subtle…
Yet it can be just as destructive
–perhaps even more destructive–
as physical torture.

The suffering we see attacks the very soul.

I see people at extreme lows.
Total despair.
Buried in shame,
            consumed with anger,
         soured in bitterness,
  smothered in fear,
                      lost in darkness.

As I pray with people through their suffering,
I get to experience the intensity of their feelings.
It’s part of my spiritual gifting.

I feel the shame that makes them curl up and want to disappear.
I experience the darkness that surrounds them and leaves them blinded to God’s goodness.
I burn with the anger they hold on to.
I shudder in the fear that consumes them.
I am heavy with the unforgiveness they harbor.
I battle against the thoughts of death that seduce or torment them.
I hear the lies that taunt them.
I confront the demons that prey on their suffering,
    trespass on their souls,
        pulling them further into the abyss.

I experience compassion…I share in their suffering…
It’s a heavy burden sometimes.
It’s messy.
It’s troublesome.
It’s difficult.

Yet what I experience with them is nothing compared to what Christ experienced.

His suffering was not just physical. It was not isolated to the cross.

He has suffered from the beginning,
                 knowing we would turn away
…and embrace the knowledge–the experience–of good…and evil…

…and yet, He loved the world so much, He made a plan to redeem.

I can hardly fathom the great love of the Father…to love an undeserving people
so deeply,
so intensely,
so unconditionally,
so relentlessly,
so tenderly,
that He would be willing to become one of us and endure the cross…
that He collects our every tear and record each of our sorrows (Psalm 56:8)…
that He wept bitterly (Luke 19:41)…
          and felt great compassion, for those distressed and dispirited
                   …like sheep without a shepherd (Matt 9:36)

That kind of love…and we just don’t seem to get it…that’s suffering.

Parents can only experience a glimpse of this kind of love for our children.

But do we really know the suffering of Christ?
Do we experience the suffering of Christ?
He suffered in body.
He suffered in Spirit.
His heart was broken and grieved.
he was deeply moved and troubled in spirit. (John 11:33)
He wept bitterly for His people.

…

We are surrounded by suffering.

It’s time for battle.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the LORD; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. ..Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep…Romans 12: 10-15

He defended the cause of the poor and needy (materially and in spirit), and then it was well. Isn’t that what it means to know Me? declares Yahweh…Jeremiah 22:16

Are we ready to emerge from our comfort zones?
       …and share in the suffering of others…of ourselves…of Christ?

Suffering with…

to know Christ.

Do you really know Him?

It’s taken me a week to publish this…a tough one…

Mayim Hayim–Living Water

John 4…At the well, Jacob’s well, on the outskirts of town, a Samaritan woman comes during the heat of the day to draw water. Jesus meets her there, and asks for a drink. He offers her living water, and tells her to go and bring her husband. She admits that she is not married, which, of course, He already knew. He refers to her five ex-husbands, and her current live-in boyfriend. This woman was a social outcast, caught in a life of sexual sin. He essentially tells her He knows her fruitless pursuits: seeking fulfillment, escape, belonging, and more, in mere men and the things of this world. She is amazed and runs back to town to tell the rest of the Samaritans about the Messiah, whom she has just met face to face, and who told her everything she had ever done. Many Samaritans believed after hearing the woman’s testimony about Jesus’ words.

I think about the woman’s words, what Jesus called her to, and the Samaritans’ response.

I think back to my first encounter at the well…

My initial response to sexual abuse was to withdraw, turn inward, and insulate myself almost completely. It was easy to convince everyone that I was just stuck up, being a cheerleader and all…

Truth be told–I was afraid:

…afraid of boys…the only ones who seemed to take much notice of me hurt me, binding me to a life of darkness, confusion, and secrecy…
…afraid of being found out…I couldn’t bear for anyone else to know the shame, horror, and humiliation I had experienced…

Dysfunction and chaos at home just added fuel to the fire…

I walked a fine line
                       …between the external confident, fun-loving feistiness
         …and the internal shame, fear, and self-hatred that consumed me.

It’s taken me a long time to realize what was happening to me…
        what I was doing to myself…

                                               I began walking two paths–
   …the one most could see–of apparent perfection: 
           high grades, prudish chastity, full of accomplishments…
                     …the other was much darker–the road to self-destruction:
                                                     alcohol, partying, casual dating…

Along both paths I experienced
                        further betrayal
              more violations
                                      and a brutally terrifying assault.

Unable to deal with the assault or other abuses at the time, I needed other reasons to hate myself.

Before long, I plunged almost completely into the darkness.

Into the abyss…

          …immersed in the poison, deceit, confusion…

Within a couple of years, I found myself
                     nearly flunking out of college
                                              drinking and partying almost every weekend
                           squandering my soul piece by piece
      on the verge of a life I had never imagined for myself
                     …nor ever wanted for myself.

Then…one morning…I woke up…
Literally…

…next to an older man I barely knew…
                   so hungover that I couldn’t remember how
                           the previous night had ended…

…and still can’t remember…

…I woke up at the well…

I heard a Voice inside ask me,

“Wendy…what are you doing here?
This isn’t who I created you to be.
Is this what you want for yourself?”

No.

I walked away…
                  from the drinking
     the partying
              the clubs
                        the dating…

I was ready to walk away…but was not yet strong enough for the battle…
                      so I locked that part of my life away…
 

    …while traces of the poison still coursed through my veins…

 
        …and I ran headlong back to the life I had envisioned…
               graduated college with honors, married a good man,
                          went to graduate school… 
                                     I have two beautiful children, 
                                            my dream career
                         …and Christ…

After many years, Jesus brought me back to the well
                 –to join the battle–
                      it was time to begin bleeding out the toxic sin
                        that had plagued my life and relationships…

   …it was finally time to tell the other Samaritans about the Messiah
                            Who told me everything I had ever done…
                  Who called me out of my life of sin
                                 Who offered me Living Water
          and invited me into a life of mercy, grace, redemption,
                                    restoration, healing, wholeness,
                  sacrifice, joy, servanthood…

                                    …into a life of Immanuel…

Mayim Hayim…Living Water… 

Have you been to the well?

We had an awesome prayer session this morning. I’m continually amazed to witness the things Christ has enabled us and empowered us to do through Him. As we came to a close, the instruction was clear: drink of the Holy Spirit.

Now on the last day, the great {day} of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. ”He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ “ But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive.
John 7:36-39

…we were all made to drink of one Spirit
1 Cor 12:13

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes, take the water of life without cost.
Revelation 22:17

Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. 
Psalm 107:8-9

For I will pour out water on the thirsty, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants.
Isaiah 44:3

The Holy Spirit is being poured out like living water…Will you drink?

Continuing and finishing in Isaiah 61: (see part 1, part 2)

8 For I, Yahweh, love justice, I hate robbery in the burnt offering; and I will faithfully give them their recompense and make an everlasting covenant with them.

For I, Yahweh, love justice (govern, vindicate), I hate robbery (something plundered, taken away) in the burnt offering (ascent, that which goes up); and I will faithfully (true, sure, support) give them their recompense (wages, reward) and make (cut, as in a sacrifice, to effect) an everlasting covenant (agreement, pledge) with them.

Here we have instructions on how we are to worship and give offerings to God. The NT speaks of our praises rising like incense, and the sacrifices of our lips. They rise up to God, the way the smoke from the burnt offering of the sacrifices in temple times. It should never be plundered, or offered flippantly. Our worship, our prayers, our confessions, our cries for help, our praise should never be so indiscriminant that it would burn His nostrils. Rather, He desires justice, a well-thought decision when offering up to Him.

He promises to faithfully repay us (good or bad), and that His promise will never end. The literal translation is to cut an everlasting agreement. In ancient times, formal agreements, or contracts, were not valid until some blood was shed. The animal sacrifice would be made, the parts laid out, and the two parties to the agreement would walk between the pieces of the animal. This ritual effectively said they should take the place of the animal if they failed to fulfill their end of the agreement. The weight of the agreement was signified by killing an animal.

Christ became the sacrifice of the everlasting covenant with His believers. Isaiah prophesies here of Christ’s sacrifice, the shedding of His blood, to bring freedom to the mourners and prisoners.

9 Then their offspring will be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples. All who see them will recognize them because they are the offspring whom Yahweh has blessed.

Then their offspring (seed, descendants) will be known (distinguished, known by experience) among the nations, and their descendants in the midst (among, middle) of the peoples. All who see (look at, consider) them will recognize (acknowledge, discern, regard) them because they are the offspring whom Yahweh has blessed (kneel, offered on bent knee). 

To be known in this sense indicates that those observing would do more than know of. This known (yada, in Hebrew) indicates an experiential knowledge. There would be something that would stand out and take notice, and leave an impression. Similarly, they would see in a way more than merely perceiving the visual image, as when dozens of people pass by on the street. To see here (ra’ah, in Hebrew) indicates a comparison, considering, intentional gazing.

The word bless (barak, in Hebrew) is also the word used for knee or kneel. A blessing is something offered on bent knee, indicating reverence, or high regard for the one receiving the gift. Isn’t it amazing that our rescuer, our King, would bring us anything on bent knee? Further, those who see, will know that God has given something to His people on bent knee.

10 I will rejoice greatly in Yahweh, my soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

I will rejoice greatly (display joy, exult) in Yahweh, my soul will exult (be glad, tremble) in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation (deliverance, rescue), He has wrapped (covered, enveloped) me with a robe (garment signifying high rank, as of a king or priest) of righteousness (justice, straightness), as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

We will display our joy with all of our soul, everything we are and have. Our joy will be so great, we will tremble! For He replaces our prisoner’s clothes, our mourner’s sackcloth with garments, robes indicating high rank, of righteousness. Not just new clothes, but the best of clothes, for a special occasion.

11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, so the Master Yahweh will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

For as the earth brings forth (to come out, by pressure) its sprouts, and as a garden (orchard, enclosure) causes (form of speech intensive action, causative action) the things sown in it to spring up (sprout), so the Master Yahweh will cause righteousness (straightness) and praise (raising hands toward something, to direct attention toward) to spring up (sprout) before (conspicuous, to the face of, in front of) all the nations (people of all nations).

Righteousness and praise will (and should) literally spring up and out from us. One of the words used here (yatsa) is also the word used to describe childbirth, and the bringing out of the Israelites from Eqypt. It indicates that the conditions create such pressure, that the thing is pushed out by force. It literally pops out.

When I married, we spent our honeymoon in Hawaii. If you’ve ever been there, or some place similarly tropical, you have seen the lush landscape. Plantlife just springs forth out of the ground. On a kayakking/hiking tour we went on through the Wailua River, we noticed something incredible on the side of the trail. On a rock, there was a coconut that had fallen off of a tree and split open. Out of this coconut, on a rock, was the shoot of a coconut tree growing…On a Rock! The environment is so fertile, trees can grow on top of rocks! We were blown away!

…

I reflect and consider how much righteousness and praise spring forth from me. I try. I try to maintain intimacy with Him. I try to allow Him to fill me. When I do truly let Him fill me up, I notice righteousness and praise pouring out. My desire, my goal, is to continue on. To daily, hourly, minute by minute, seek ways to remain in constant fellowship with Him. To rely on Him. To examine myself. To mourn. To lament. To cry out to Him. To rejoice. To receive His blessing. To wear His garments with joy. To be seen among the nations as His blessed offspring.

…

Some questions for reflection:

1. Do the nations recognize you as the blessed offspring?
2. Is righteousness and praise springing up out of you? Are you cultivating the soil?

Contuing on in Isaiah 61: (go to part 1)

3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland (of beauty) instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of Yahweh, that He may be glorified. 

To grant (appoint, set, place) those who mourn in Zion, giving (as a gift offered) a garland of beauty (headdress) instead of ashes (also translated worthlessness), the oil of gladness (joy, exhultation) instead of mourning, the mantle (wrap, clothing) of praise (public praise, singing, adoration) instead of a spirit (or breath) of fainting (dull, dim, colorless). So they will be called oaks (pillar, mighty tree) of righteousness (upright, straight), the planting (as in physical act of planting) of Yahweh, that He may be glorified (adorned with beauty).

He has appointed, or set before us, a crown of beauty, oil of joy, and garment of praise. This is in perfect contrast to the dullness of the ashes and burlap one donned when in mourning. His promise further is to plant us, with His very own hand, and grow us in to straight, strong oaks, one of the strongest trees, to signify His beauty.

When we lament and publicly mourn (confess and repent) our sins, whether it’s our own actions and choices, or our response to another’s sin toward us, He will meet us there, take it away, and establish our roots in His righteousness.

4 Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, they will raise up the former devastations; and they will repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.

Then they will rebuild (establish, permanent, build up, sometimes refers to the return of the exiles) the ancient ruins (desolation, a place laid waste), they will raise up (arise, stand up) the former devastations (appalled, causing horror); and they will repair (make new) the ruined (dry, parching heat) cities (guarded town), the desolations (deserted, cause horror) of many generations.

This passage foretells the return after the coming exile, which would be punishment for Israel’s continued disobedience. Those He plants will establish, or be the establishment of, the cities abandoned in the exile. The devastation would cause horror, but He promises to make new the dry, parched land, which thirsts for His presence and His righteous people.

We think of the sins of the father, being passed down through generations. In Israel’s history, we see the sins of the fathers leaving consequences for generations, as the sons followed in their fathers’ ways. But He promises to make all things new. To restore everything as it should be.

5 Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks, and foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.

Strangers (gentiles, people from another nation) will stand (remain, endure) and pasture (see, look after) your flocks, and foreigners (sons of the foreigner) will be your farmers (working the land, without ownership) and your vinedressers (tends the vines).

After the exile, when God’s chosen people return to the promised land, He will again drive the foreigners, meaning those foreign, or strangers to His covenant, from the land. Some will remain and endure to tend the flocks and the crops, as workers, but without ownership of the land or cattle. Not only does He promise a return, but will make the enemies of His people and His ways work and toil!

6 But you will be called the priests of Yahweh; you will be spoken of as ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.

But you will be called the priests (one who mediates or administers a religious service) of Yahweh; you will be spoken of as ministers (servant) of our God. You will eat the wealth (strength, efficiency) of nations, and in their riches (abudnance, splendor) you will boast (exchange, promise).

To be spoken of indicates that others would recognize and mention something. Our position under Him will be so clear and obvious, that it will demand the attention of strangers. God’s people are promised not only return and restoration, but will acquire the wealth and splendor of the nations. There will again be an exchange, a taking over, as God drives out His enemies and brings His people into the land to possess it. 

7 Instead of your shame, you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, everlasting joy will be theirs. 

Instead of your shame (humiliation), you will have a double portion (repeat, second), and instead of humiliation (disgrace, dishonor) they will shout for joy (overcome, singing out, crying out) over their portion (share, territory). Therefore they will possess (seize, inherit, take possession of) a double portion in their land, everlasting (continuous, unending) joy (gladness, pleasure, gaity) will be theirs. 

Wow, not only will He bring them back into the land, but the truly repentant will receive a double-portion! In the laws of ownership and inheritance, the double-portion belonged to the firstborn male. What a promise. Jesus is referred to as the firstborn of all creation. Here, God is promising us the inheritance that belongs to Christ! By adoption, we truly do share in His kingdom! This promise is so great, we will literally shout for joy, to make it known among the nations, just as we now make known the mourning and lamenting for our sins (confession and repentance).

I’ll repeat the reflections I posted a couple of weeks ago on the sacrifices Christ made and endured to fulfill these promises to us:

• He was arrested, to set us free
• He endured ridicule, beatings, and the cross, and yet did not open His mouth, to proclaim His year and His vengeance
• He wore a crown of thorns, to bestow on us a crown of beauty
• He tasted vinegar and hyssop, to anoint us with the oil of joy
• His clothes were taken and divided, so he could clothe us with praise
• He hung from a tree, to plant us as oaks of righteousness

What incomprehensible love–love extravagant!

…

These promises and these sacrifices have been that tangible thing to hold on to during my healing. He has rescued me out of the dark pit of my self-destruction, and delivered me from the bondage I had been prisoner to. He is redeeming me by making things right, by molding me into the woman He created me to be. He is restoring me to a right relationship with Him.

…

Questions for reflection:

1. Are you wearing His crown of beauty, oil of joy, garment of praise?
2. Are you living in the inheritance (double-portion) promised to us by Christ?

I mentioned I’ve been meditating on Isaiah 61. I like to dig deep into Scripture, pick it apart, and study individual words. The following few posts will be pieces of the devotional I shared with my leadership team on this passage last week with some additional insights…

1 The Spirit of the Master Yahweh is upon me, because Yahweh has anointed Me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners;

Christ was annointed to come and bring good news to the afflicted (indicates one who is oppressed, with their head down, meek, humble). He came to bind up (in the sense of bandaging a wound) the brokenhearted (more specifically, shattered to pieces). To proclaim (shout out) liberty (free flowing) to the captives, and freedom (opening wide) to the prisoners (those who are bound).

What an emancipation proclamation! We get a beautiful picture of compassionate Jesus, coming to rescue those who have been oppressed, beat down, held captive…to tend to their wounds, and shout out to their oppressors that He will be freeing them. He’s removing their chains, and they’re leaving with Him.

There is also a double-meaning within the last phrase. The “opening wide of those who are bound” refers not only to the releasing of the physical bondage, but also an opening of the eyes for those in spiritual darkness (restoring sight to the blind).

2 To proclaim the favorable year of Yahweh, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn,

To proclaim (shout out) the favorable (delightful, pleasurable) year (time) of Yahweh, and the day of vengeance (repaying) of our God, to comfort (console, with compassion) all who mourn (lament, grieve, often done in ritualistic fashion).

We get deep imagery when we consider the biblical appointed times (holy days). The fall feasts consist of the Day of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. The Day of Trumpets (known today as Rosh HaShanah) is the day when the trumpets would be blown (the shouting), signifying the time of year, and reminding God’s people of the upcoming times. It is believed that this appointed day is prophetic of the second coming of Christ, as Scripture indicates that He will come at the sounding of the last trumpet, or with a shout. 

Following the Day of Trumpets was the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This was a special Sabbath day, on which no one was to work. The day was set aside to examine oneself, to recognize one’s sin, and to atone for that sin. This appointed day teaches us about regular self-examination, repentance, seeking forgiveness, and is prophetic of the final judgment day, on which we will be called to account before the living God.

The final feast during the fall is the Feast of Tabernacles. During this 8-day celebration, the Israelites would build booths (tents, or shelters), both to remember the 40 years in the wilderness between leaving Egypt and entering the Promised Land, and to look forward to the time when Messiah would come and live among His people. They would recall the cloud by day, and the pillar by night, which was the physical representation of God’s presence, Him dwelling among His chosen people. Interesting that one of the names for Jesus is Immanuel, which literally means God with/in the midst of us.

This passage is also representative of the Year of Jubilee, which was celebrated every 50th year. During this year, slaves were set free, debts were forgiven, and any land sold was to be returned to the family according to the initial inheritance. This was a time of restoration, reconciliation, freedom and celebration.

I find it interesting that the time of vengeance is also His delightful time, when things are set straight.

We also see His compassion for those who mourn. We can learn from the ritualistic practices of the time that mourning is a set aside time, prompted by either a loss, or repentance for disobedience. The ritual was to wear sackcloth (like burlap) and pour ashes over one’s head. Mourning was a public ritual. Someone in mourning did not hide their grief. There was no question when encountering someone in mourning.

…

So often, we hide our grief and our sin. We don’t want to burden others. We hide in shame. In the darkness. Exactly where the enemy wants us. What a lesson we can take from this passage, reinforcing Scripture which teaches us to confess our sins so we may be healed.

…

The past several months have seen much mourning and lamenting for me. As I continue my healing journey, and memories continue to surface, I’m repeatedly faced with new wounds, and sin that requires grieving and healing. I’ve also been able to experience His deliverance and redemption in ways I never imagined. This chapter has provided much hope and promise to hold on to and fix my eyes upon when times get difficult.

…

As we savor those thoughts, some questions for reflection: 

1. Are there any areas of bondage from which Christ desires to set you free?
2. Is there any sin in your life for which you need to lament, be shattered to pieces, mourn?

I love when God brings these illustrations to mind…

After I had shared some of my testimony with the ladies at MAP (the mom mafia, as my husband calls us), this image of David fighting Goliath came to mind. This story is one of my son’s favorites, and we read it again before bed the other night.

I read to him from a picture bible, and there was this picture of little David wearing King Saul’s armor.

I realized that this has been me all these years. From an early age, I had been wearing someone else’s armor, which was far too heavy for me to function and fight properly. The sheer weight of it was too much to bear.

In the story, David quickly takes off the king’s armor, selects five stones, loads one into his slingshot, and hurls it at the giant. Here’s the application I found…

• David, Dawid in Hebrew, means beloved. I am also God’s beloved child.
• When everyone else was afraid to face the giant, David stepped forward, relying not on his own strength, for he was a young boy, but trusting in the name of Yahweh. King Saul immediately gave his armor to David, and David tried it on. King Saul and his army trusted in their armor, their shields, their spears, their training, just as society trusts in its knowledge, its weapons, its discoveries. I too, tried on that armor. I wore it for a very long time. It’s really, really heavy.
• David removed the King’s armor, finding that it was too cumbersome to be of any value to him. He chose instead to wear the armor of God–faith, righteousness, and truth. When I, too, began to let down the king’s armor, I found it much easier to maneuver and prayerfully plan my attack.
• He chose a stone, a rock, as his weapon. Christ is my Rock, the only weapon I need. He is Yahweh Nissi, which in Hebrew means “The LORD my Banner”. He goes before me, fights my battles for me, and defeats my enemies.
• David defeated the giant. The stone struck Goliath between the eyes, and the giant fell to the ground. Goliath’s comrades fled in fear, and the Israelites rejoiced in triumph. In each battle, as I, through Christ, defeat my giant, the enemy and his legions flee, and my brothers and sisters in Christ rejoice.

Come to me, all who are weary, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Here is what I believe He is telling us through this story:
My beloved child, don’t look to the world’s armor. It was not made for you, and it will only weigh you down. Put on My Armor, trust in My Name, and I will go before you, defeat your enemies, and blot out their name from the face of the earth.

So, the question…Whose Armor Are You Wearing?