Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 13:16-23

“Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.” But all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man’s plowshare, his mattock, his ax, and his sickle…” (1 Samuel 13:19–20)

Now isn’t this peculiar? There was not a single blacksmith in all of Israel to fashion and sharpen weapons of war for the people. Rather, Israel went to the Philistines — their own enemies! — to sharpen their weapons. Could there be a more bizarre quandary than this? What an incredible, pitiful and truly pathetic dilemma!

Why? Why would Israel do this?

No one would rise up to the occupation of a blacksmith. That was the foundational problem. Even though the Philistines had established an ordinance against it, should that have stopped them? Because there were no blacksmiths, there were no weapons for war, and because there were no weapons for war, the people were fighting with inferior tools, like plowshares, pitchforks, and sickles. Even worse, they were paying money to have their inferior weapons sharpened by the enemy.

What a dreadful picture — an ugly spectacle — of godless spiritual warfare! God forbid that we, the church, should find ourselves sharpening our weapons of warfare by the hands of the enemy! God forbid that we should choose to fight the devil with inferior weapons instead of the Sword of the Spirit!

Even so, doesn’t this seem to be an epidemic in the church today?

Oh, how the church has erred! She has forsaken her treasured weapon — the vibrant, living and powerful Sword of God’s Word. All for what? Earthly chaff! Many preach relevance instead of truth, depriving the flock of divine sustenance. Many want fun and engaging, instead of sacred and holy — trading the church’s birthright of sound doctrine for tickling speeches of worldly wisdom! If you ask me, it appears that the church at large is going to war with farming tools sharpened by Lucifer. What a tragedy!

Know this — the devil is untroubled by such churches whose weapons are not God’s Word. He smirks at them. They have no offense against the forces of his kingdom. Satan will happily continue to charge them a pim (see 1 Samuel 13:21) to make them feel sharp and ready, when in reality their armament is severely lacking.

But there is something of a more personal lesson here, Beloved. You and I must take this to our own hearts.

Do you believe in the full sufficiency of the Scriptures for your life? Do you believe God’s Word is the only weapon you’ll ever need to have victory? God has made you his blacksmith. More than gold, even fine gold, are the Scriptures! There is no stronghold it cannot cast down, no darkness it cannot dispel, and no enemy it cannot overcome (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:3). Forsake your plowshares and lay ahold of that wonderful, mighty Sword! For this is exactly what Paul commands:

“And take… the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…” (Ephesians 6:17)

Therefore, rise up Christian! With holy boldness, enroll as a blacksmith of God’s Word. Prepare yourself and array your spiritual brothers and sisters with the Sword of the Word. There is a fight ahead, and all must be properly equipped. With the Scriptures as our trusted blade, let us charge forward in the promised victory of our Captain, Jesus Christ.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

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