Armor-Bearers

Armor-Bearers
Duties of Armor-Bearers
In ancient times, an armor-bearer was a soldier's right hand man. In a time when soldiering meant hand-to-hand combat and heavy equipment, skilled armor-bearers were in high demand.
Shields
Armor-bearers carried massively heavy wooden and metal shields into battle for the warrior. He stood by the warrior as he fought, offering his shield when he needed it.
Weapons
Duties of the armor-bearer included keeping the warriors sword and weapons blades sharp. Besides the warrior, only armor-bearers handled the warrior's weapons. (taken from www.ehow.com)

1 Samuel 16:21-23
   21 So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer.
   22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse asking, “Please let David remain in my service, for I am very pleased with him.”
   23 And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.

1 Samuel 14:6-14
   6 “Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”
   7 “Do what you think is best,” the armor bearer replied. “I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.”
   8 “All right then,” Jonathan told him. “We will cross over and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, ‘Stay where you are or we’ll kill you,’ then we will stop and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come on up and fight,’ then we will go up. That will be the Lord’s sign that he will help us defeat them.”
   11 When the Philistines saw them coming, they shouted, “Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of their holes!” 12 Then the men from the outpost shouted to Jonathan, “Come on up here, and we’ll teach you a lesson!”
   “Come on, climb right behind me,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “for the Lord will help us defeat them!”
   13 So they climbed up using both hands and feet, and the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer killed those who came behind them. 14 They killed some twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre.

Armor-bearers were incredibly important to the soldier they represented. Not only in the protection of their lives, but, as we see in Saul's case, in the protection of their spiritual health. They essentially did anything their leader told them with complete faith and trust. Similarly, the soldier entrusted their lives to the armor bearer, counting on him to protect him from behind during fighting, hold his shield when he could no longer stand to fight, and to be his constant friend and trusted companion.

How many of us are armor-bearers for others? We stand strong for them, watch their backs, sometimes carrying them through the rough patches. This seems to come as the more natural role for us. It's easy to push someone else through. 

The hard part comes when we play the role of the soldier. Often times we are the ones "hard pressed on every side" with the enemy closing in around us. Or we find ourselves like Frodo in "The Lord of the Rings", at the top of Mount Doom. Unable to complete his mission, he falls on the ground in certain defeat. It is here that he is at his most vulnerable, and it is HERE where Sam Gamgee, his trusted travel partner and armor-bearer, tells him "Come on, Mr. Frodo. I can't carry it for you... but I can carry you!". 

Just like Frodo needed Sam, we need each other. We need to accept each other's strong arm from time to time, allowing ourselves to rest. It is in moments like this that, I believe, God is stretching us most. We want to do it ourselves. But we can't. God gives us each other with our various strengths and weaknesses in order to function as a team; as the body of Christ.

Who can you run to and trust to hold your armor for you when you are weakened and left vulnerable by the enemy? Do you have someone? If not, it would be wise, in my humble opinion, to pray about someone you trust enough to take on that role. I am reminded of the words of the wise Solomon; 
   9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

Paul, likewise issued this exhortation to the church at Ephesus, in Ephesians 4; 
 "2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all." 

We need each other. Simple as that.