Quite a few swords are mentioned in the Bible. The first one we read about is “a flaming sword” that God placed at the east of the Garden of Eden after man sinned. Then we will remember Goliath’s sword, of which David said, “There is none like that” (1 Samuel 21:99And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me. (1 Samuel 21:9)). It was a great sword, but it was used to cut off Goliath’s own head. Gideon was a man used of God, who cried, “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon,” and with only three hundred men, he overcame a host of Midianites and Amalekites. Jonathan loved David so much that he gave him his sword, the very sword that Jonathan had used to slay many Philistines. Later on, Abishai wanted to use his sword to take off Shimei’s head, but David didn’t allow him to do this because God was punishing David. In the New Testament, Peter wrongly used his sword and the Lord said, “Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Matthew 26:5252Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. (Matthew 26:52)). There is another kind of sword which the Christian is to use, called “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:1717And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17)). There are many other swords referred to in the Scriptures. Let’s search out a few.
1. The higher powers are called ministers of God. Why do they have a sword?
Romans 13:___
2. What did the captain of the Lord’s host have in his hand? Joshua 5:___
3. What is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword?
Hebrews 4:___
4. When the Lord shall judge among the nations, what will people do with their swords? Isaiah 2:___
5. What are the four sore judgments that the Lord God would send upon Jerusalem? Ezekiel 14:___