HE PUT HIS ARMOR IN HIS TENT

" And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent."  (1 Samuel 17:54)

One of the great triumphs of Scripture is that of David the shepherd boy over Goliath the warrior. He prevailed over the giant Philistine "with a sling and with a stone" (17:50). When  the stone struck Goliath, it did so with such great force that it "sank into his forehead" (17:49). After the giant had fallen face down to the ground, David "ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it" (17:51). The enormity of Goliath's sword was probably quite impressive. Following the overthrow of Goliath, I formerly timorous Israelites pursued the Philistines, making the triumph thorough. We are told "Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron" NIV (17:52). Afterward, the Israelites returned to plunder the tents of the Philistines. David's spoil, however, differed from the others. He brought the head of Goliath to Jerusalem, but put his massive armor in his own tent. Imagine the armor of a giant "over nine feet tall" NIV (17:4). The coat of scale armor he wore weighed "about 125 pounds," NIV besides his bronze helmet, bronze greaves that covered his legs, and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders. Now, these seemingly invincible articles became trophies of a God-wrought victory in David's tent. He could refresh himself by looking upon them, and considering the great victory God wrought through him. Where once they appeared threatening, now they became a comfort to his soul. Who knows what comforting recollections were spawned by viewing the armor of Goliath? They became a token of the triumph of faith, a constant reminder that all things are possible to him that believes. Faith is still the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4-5).
Saints do well to master the art of taking some spoils from their victories, and putting them in their own tent, so to speak. Some holy recollection that testifies to their hearts the triumphs of God's grace. Israel piled up stones in Jordan to aid them inn remembering the triumphant crossing over Jordan at floodtide (Josh 4:20-23). Samuel raised up a stone, and anointed it, calling it Ebenezer, declaring "Hitherto hath the LORD helped us" (1 Sam 7:12). The Passover feast was an ordained recollection of Israel's deliverance from Egypt (Num 9:2). It will do you good to ponder the victories God has wrought through you. Think of them often.