BIBLE STUDIES ARCHIVE.....

A Call for Armor-Bearers:  1 Samuel 16:21
 
Just as in the days of David, who was anointed and found a leader to serve, so too we are being called to learn submission to the position of spiritual authority in our local churches and find new ways to serve our leader.  The description of David and Saul is a classic example of spiritual authority.   It is completely supernatural that David would stand with his feet firmly planted before King Saul and love Saul dearly, even though this same Saul would seek to kill David.  David submitted to and served the position of spiritual authority, not the man.  He “came, stood, loved and {served} Saul” and was his armor-bearer.  An armor-bearer in Hebrew comes from two words.  The first word is “nasa” which means to lift up, bear, carry, support, aid, and assist.
 
The second word is “keliy,” meaning a vessel or instrument.  We can see from the definitions that as an armor-bearer, David’s job was to lift up Saul; to carry Saul’s shield into battle; to serve and see to his master’s safety.  We can find the term armor-bearer listed some eighteen times in the Old Testament.  An armor-bearer stands with his leader to protect, lift him up and assist.  Other Biblical examples include Joshua to Moses, Elisha to Elijah, and the disciples to Jesus.
 
We do not find the term armor bearer in the New Testament.  However the function continued, as it does today.  Some are called as “armor-bearers” to do battle in the spirit, serving our leader/pastor.  What was a material bearing of armor in the Old Testament was the foreshadowing of the spiritual ministry of prayer, watchfulness and intercession in the New Testament.  It is an active demonstration of love, and fulfilling the commandment, “Love one another.” 
  
What does this mean for us today as the functioning body of Christ? 
 
Questions to consider……….
 
Who is your delegated authority?
 
Have you served as an armor-bearer?  

If yes, in what ways?