Goliath trusted in his armor. He terrified the armies of Israel by his defiant, savage boastings, while he made a most imposing display of his armor, which was his strength. David, in his humility and zeal for God and his people, proposed to meet this boaster. Saul consented and had his own kingly armor placed upon David. But he would not consent to wear it. He laid off the king’s armor, for he had not proved it. He had proved God and, in trusting in Him, had gained special victories. To put on Saul’s armor would give the impression that he was a warrior, when he was only little David who tended the sheep. He did not mean that any credit be given to the armor of Saul, for his trust was in the Lord God of Israel. He selected a few pebbles from the brook, and with his sling and staff, his only weapons, he went forth in the name of the God of Israel to meet the armed warrior. {3T 218.2}

Goliat stolede på sin rustning. Han forfærdede Israels hære ved hans udfordrende, grusomme praleri, når han gav så stort et (219) indtryk i sin rustning, som var hans styrke. David havde, i sin ydmyghed og nidkærhed for Gud og hans folk, i sinde at imødekomme denne udfordring. Saul indvilgede og ville have sin egen kongelige rustning på David. Men han ville ikke være med til at bære den. Han lagde kongens rustning fra sig, før han havde ikke prøvet den. Han havde prøvet Gud og ved at stole på ham vandt han særlige sejre. At påtage sig Sauls rustning vil give det indtryk at han er en kriger, skønt han kun var lille David som tog sig af får. Han mente ikke at Sauls rustning skulle have nogen ære, for hans tillid var til Herren Israels Gud. Han udvalgte nogle få sten fra bækken og med hans slynge og stav, hans eneste våben gik han frem i Israels Guds navn for at møde den udrustede kriger.