1 Samuel 17:39
And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
1 Samuel 17:39
David’s insistence on not using weapons he has not tested reveals a mature prudence: tools must be known to be effective. He has not proved Saul’s armor, and in effect, he chooses to rely on God’s sufficiency rather than human implements. The image of “assayed to go” captures decision under pressure—integrity in the moment of testing.
The verse underscores trust in divine provision over human preparation that hasn’t been validated by God. It aligns with a theology of experience—God’s faithfulness seen in practice, not merely taught in theory.
Apply by recognizing when to say no to unsafe or unsuitable methods in your life. When facing a tough decision, test the approach in prayer and small steps rather than leaping with untested plans. Valuing proven methods—especially those that align with biblical ethics—can prevent costly missteps.
Cross-References: Proverbs 3:5-6; Philippians 4:6-7; James 1:5