And 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
David was scared, hungry, and desperate. He sought temporary refuge and help at Nob, where the priests served and worshipped God. He looked for comfort in the presence of Ahimelech the priest. He asked for food and was given the shewbread that had been on the altar. He asked if the priests had any swords or spears since he had neither with him. The priest told him of the sword of Goliath.
We see the sword and its preeminence.
“And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah.” This sword was the one that Goliath had carried in his sheath, and when he took it out, it was known as the sword of the champion of Philistia. God has given us His sword: the Word of God. It is living, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It is the sword of a champion. Just as Goliath carried that sword wherever he went, we must carry God’s Word and make it preeminent in all areas of our life. Just as Goliath lived and died by his sword, even so should God’s people live and die by the Word of God.
We see the sword and its preservation.
“Behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod.” The sword of Goliath had been wrapped in a cloth and left in the possession of the priest. Distance, time, culture, preferences, war, and people did not and could not change the uniqueness and usefulness of it. God has given a more sure Word. “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever” (Psalm 12:6-7). God has preserved His Word throughout the ages. Today, we have His preserved Word in the English language through the King James Translation.
We see the sword and its proposition.
“If thou wilt take that, take it….” David was given a substantial offer: take it! That’s the challenge for every Christian: take it, for there is no other save that here! Take it as your weapon in spiritual warfare. The devil and giants in life are defeated and overcome by God’s holy Word. Take it for your witness to those who are unsaved and in need of salvation. Take it to the world in reaching the masses of people who are trapped in the darkness of unbelief and false gods. In Acts 19:10, “All they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus.” We preach Christ! With God’s Word, we must reason, open, allege, and persuade the unsaved of their need of salvation through Christ. Take it, for there is none like it!
We see the sword and its possessor.
“And David said, There is none like that; give it me.” David took it as his possession. First, we must have faith in God’s Word. You must know that God’s Word is truth and it can set men free. Second, you must have fidelity to God’s Word. We must be like the psalmist who testified of loving God’s Word. “My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly” (Psalm 119:167). Third, we must have a fervency for His Word. We must be like Jeremiah who said, "His word was in mine heart as a burning fire." “Give it me”! Take it, and do something great for God!
Have a Word-enabled God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Matthew 9-10