Fit for God’s Kingdom
The Long Road Home - Part 5
Sunday, November 7, 2021
1 Samuel 16:14-23, 1 Samuel 17:1-58, Psalm 27
David strapped Saul’s sword over the armor, and he tried in vain to walk, for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these; for I am not used to them.” So, David removed them. Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd’s bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine.
1 Samuel 17:39-40
Listen to this week’s sermon here:
On All Saints Day we remember and celebrate the lives of the Great Cloud of Witnesses who have passed through the veil of death to feast at Christ’s heavenly banquet. Despite this celebration, however, it is easy for us to be uncomfortable with our own mortality. We don’t like to think about death.
In some ways, David’s example prepares us for this final stage of our journey into God’s eternal kingdom. King Saul gave his armor to David to protect him in battle against Goliath, but the armor clearly didn’t fit. It was too big and far too heavy for this small, agile shepherd boy.
In the same way, the things we hold onto in this life to protect us at some point become too big and too heavy for us to bear. All our “stuff” becomes too hard to manage and most of what we have collected doesn’t seem nearly as valuable at the end of our lives. Dying is, in part, a process of shedding the “armor” that we have put on throughout our lives to protect us. Just like Saul’s armor was a hindrance to David, so our earthly attachments become a hindrance as we prepare to follow Jesus in the way of death and resurrection. It is not our belongings, our homes, our money, our jobs, or anything else that will carry us through the veil of death. It is the same Spirit of God who went with David into battle.
Eventually death will strip us all our mortal “armor.” For some it is a painful and agonizing process of holding on tight as long as we can. For others it is a sweet release of freedom, knowing the one who has walked with us through life will continue to guide us through the door of death.
What ill-fitting armor of this life are you holding onto?
What layers of security and protection do you need to shed as the Holy Spirit fits you for the Kingdom of God?