Weapons of Choice

“They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.”  Nehemiah 4:17

After many years of captivity, Israel was allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall that had been destroyed by their captors, the Chaldeans (Babylonians) (II Chronicles 36:19).  However, Israel still had numerous enemies, particularly descendants of the ancient Canaanites, who did not want to see the Israelites prosper, much less live (Nehemiah 2:10).  As the people of Israel worked feverishly on the wall, they held their building tools in one hand and a weapon in the other in order to defend themselves and their work from their enemies.  Some of us can’t even walk and chew gum at the same time (just kidding), yet God’s chosen people were so intent upon restoring the city of David to its former capital of God’s nation of Israel, they would let nothing stop them.

There are many mentions of weapons in the Old Testament because there were so many wars and battles fought between Israel and various enemies.  We read of swords, spears, and even stones as in the case of David and Goliath who was killed with a small pebble.  The New Testament has few references to weapons, but I have always found it interesting that just before the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, He told His disciples in Luke 22:36 to sell a garment and buy a sword.  When the disciples reported that they already two swords, He said that was enough.  Jesus was certainly not a violent Man, but perhaps He wanted His disciples to feel like they could defend themselves, not Him.  He needed no defense.  Perhaps He considered that if the soldiers saw that His disciples had swords that they would be left alone.  It wasn’t part of the plan for them to die in trying to defend Jesus.  However, when Peter used his sword to cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant, Jesus told Peter to put his sword away, and He healed the servant.  Jesus said that those who live by the sword will die by the sword (Matthew 26:51-52).

We modern day believers are also building, not a wall, but a relationship with the Lord of the universe and also a life of commitment to please and honor Christ, but we, too, have enemies who do not want us to prosper nor live as those who openly display our faith in Jesus.  Our tools are the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.  Our weapons are prayer, faith, diligence, and obedience to Christ who will always lead us in the spiritual battles that we face daily.  Thus we must brandish the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17) relying on the prayers of faith and obedience to Christ as we journey throughout enemy territory into victory over sin and the devil’s influence.  God’s people will know the thrill of victory, and Satan will eventually know the agony of defeat.