Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:
I recently saw a statement that says, “No matter what your opinion of guns, you owe it to yourself to study the history of unarmed populations.”
I do not know for sure, but I suspect that our text may be one of the earliest recorded accounts of one nation attempting to disarm another to maintain its oppression of them. The Philistines wouldn’t even allow for a weapon-making skill among the Israelites. So, first, they took away their weapons and slaughtered or enslaved their smiths. They intended to ensure the Hebrews had no weapons they might use to fight against them.
A disarmed people are more easily an oppressed people.
By the time Saul had become King, Israel had been beaten back by the Philistines and other nations for decades, maybe longer. Who knows how long they had been without smiths, swords, or spears? Likely they hadn’t lost them all overnight. Slowly, subtly almost imperceptibly, the enemy had disarmed Israel and removed their means of being armed.
I see this in parallel in the United States today. Currently, those armed citizens believe they have the means to resist government tyranny. Recently the President was recorded as saying he did not think so since the armed citizens have no F-16s. Liberal government officials constantly push for gun control, restricting the sale, possession, and manufacturing of guns. Some models are misrepresented to make them seem unreasonable for average Americans to own. I think that many of the mass shooters are Satan’s subjects, willing to sacrifice themselves for the cause of gradually disarming the population.
Here’s the good news. God is on the side of a free people. Saul’s people may not have had weapons, but they did have the tools of their trade and, given enough oppression, were willing to use them against a more advanced army. A teenager eventually beat back the Philistines with a slingshot.
Americans would be wise to resist liberal tactics of disarmament. But even if they succeed, God’s people need not fear. Our God is greater than any weapon formed against us. He will raise up another David on our behalf. He will give him a mighty slingshot, a holy skill, and a heavenly faith.
It is the nature of the corrupt governments of this world to oppress godliness. It is the nature of the children of God to cry out to the Lord. It is the nature of Almighty God to raise up deliverance.
To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.
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