Some months ago I was asked by a Milk Company to present a topic to a group of people.The notice was very short so I was asked to use their prepared slides.I agreed! Despite the fact that I went through the slides before the presentation,I couldn’t flow very well.Though the audience didn’t notice,I knew that I struggled throughout the presentation.I remembered this incident yesterday and the Holy Spirit pointed my attention to something related to it in the Bible:

“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”-1Sam 17:38

The Hebrew word for armour is mad mêd which means: clothes, garments,tunic,vesture.

“Then Saul had his own military clothes put on David…”(CSB)

“Saul put his garments on David…”(ISB)

“Then Saul clothed David with his own fighting attire…”(NET Bible)

What happened to David afterwards?

“David strapped Saul’s sword over the armor and tried to walk, but he couldn’t, because he wasn’t used to wearing them. “I can’t fight with all this,” he said to Saul. “I’m not used to it.” So he took it all off”-1Samuel 17:39

THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF SAUL’S GARMENT

1)It slows you down: David couldn’t walk because of the weight of the armour.Saul could use it well but David couldn’t even take a step forward.

Application:

The garment of Saul represents anything that wearies you down or makes you stagnant.It could be certain jobs,careers, relationships etc that are too heavy on you.They drain all your energy and sap out all your strength such that you can’t take a step forward.You know that you are not moving forward and there is no hope or bright future in sight.They are Saul’s garments!

Spiritually,it represents any sinful lifestyle you adopt.Likely you were not like that before but you have been influenced by your new friends.Now there is a heaviness in your heart whenever you are alone.The weight of your sinful lifestyle slows you down spiritually such that you can’t pray and have a personal communication with God again.

2)It does not bring satisfaction:David cried out:”I can’t fight with all this”, “I am not used to it”.He was disatisfied!

Application:

Whenever you complain daily about certain things,it might be an indication that your Spirit is not in agreement with such things.Though you make money from them,you notice you are never satisfied.They might be Saul’s garments.Your disatisfaction for these ‘garments’ might be a genuine one like that of David.Your Spirit is actually telling you that something is not right with the ‘cloth’ you are putting on.

Spiritually,Saul’s garment is like your old torn garment that is being patched with new cloth.It results in a bigger tear and it disatisfies you.There is a void or a tear in every person that can only be ‘patched up’ by God with His own materials.If any man patches it up with any other thing like money,sex,food,houses,cars etc,there won’t be any internal satisfaction.

3)It kills your creativity:The speed at which David used to grab a lion or bear when it snatched his sheep couldn’t be replicated when he wore Saul’s garment.In fact,He couldn’t take a step forward!

Physically,there are some things that do not make you exhibit the potentials you have.They kill your dreams and aspirations.They are numerous to mention:Sinful addictions,certain jobs,some terrible relationships etc.They place a high demand on your life such that you forget the reason for your existence.You have legs but you can’t walk.You have potentials,but you can’t show them to the world around you.What you want to do,you can’t do!

Spiritually,Saul’s garments could be wrong thought patterns that prevent you from manifesting your God-given potentials.Such thoughts come from lust of the flesh,lust of the eyes and pride of life.They compete with the words of God in your life.They frustrate the grace of God upon you and distract you from your main goal.They make you redundant!

To be continued…