“Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah[e] in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Mikmash. 17 Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah in the vicinity of Shual,18 another toward Beth Horon, and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboyim facing the wilderness. 19 Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!” 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles[f] sharpened. 21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel[g] for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel[h] for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads. 22 So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.23 Now a detachment of Philistines had gone out to the pass at Mikmash.” 1 Samuel 13.16-23
Can you imagine going into battle without an actual weapon? What army would even conceive of that? But for some reason, the Israelites were so unprepared and so outmatched that they had no weapons. Only Saul and Jonathan, the son of the king had swords. This was an army going to war with plow shears, pitch forks and farm tools. The Philippines had already outsmarted them by removing all the blacksmiths from the nation.
Now perhaps this speaks to very poor preparation by the nation of Israel. Why would they not have reserves of swords, spears, axes, and pikes. Why would they not be prepared to war with and defeat their godless neighbors? It speaks to an unqualified king leading the land. A king who would supplant himself as God’s prophet would surely fail to plan for the war that would soon occur.
I wonder what lesson we can glean from this mishap by King Saul and his army? Most of us are not going to battle any time soon -but we are all in a spiritual battle for our hearts and souls. We wage a war not against earthly forces but against that which is spirit. Ephesians 6 reminds us our “battle is not against flesh and blood but the spiritual forces in the heavenly places”. We are up for a daily battle with temptation, sin, our selfishness and satan. Our battle is imminent and if we approach the battle unprepared then we are sure to lose the war.
So how can we prepare for the daily battle with the devil? We can be aware of the battle. We can pray. We can read God’s word, surrender to Jesus and put on God’s spiritual armor. We can be prepared for the battle to remain and pursue holiness as we pursue Christ with all our hearts.
“O Lord God, help us win the battle! Help us not be like those who were unprepared for the spiritual warfare that attacks us every day. Thank you Lord for the victory, for allowing us to walk in newness of life and for the love of Jesus which removes our sin and allows us to walk in relationship with you. Come now, Holy Spirit, have your way with us! Thank you for loving and saving us. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amensaving us. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen