Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"O you sword of the LORD"
Text: Jeremiah 47:6
THE SWORD OF THE LORD
Wars may be understood in at least two ways. Firstly, war is man’s invention, by which the stronger nation conquers and subdues weaker countries. But, there are times when God is directly involved in war. The “sword of the LORD” is a description of God’s involvement in war.
“O you sword of the LORD,
How long until you are quiet?
Put yourself up into your scabbard,
Rest and be still!
How can it be quiet,
Seeing the LORD has given it a charge
Against Ashkelon and against the seashore?
There He has appointed it.”
Jeremiah 47:6-7
1. “O you sword of the LORD, how long until you are quiet?
Put yourself up into your scabbard, rest and be still”
a) The sword of the LORD is personified in this text.
b) A question was raised to the sword of the LORD.
“How long until you are quiet?”
c) A plea was made to the sword of the LORD.
i) To sheath the sword.
(To have the sword put back in its scabbard.)
ii) To rest and be still.
d) There is recognition that the sword of the LORD
cannot be overcome by human forces.
e) The Philistines were not just fighting the Egyptians, but they were in truth,
fighting the sword of the LORD.
f) The Philistines knew the deadly power of the LORD in battle!
They had been defeated by the LORD on many occasions!
g) The Philistines were in despair, losing one city after another
to the sword of the LORD.
2. “How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD has given it a charge
against Ashkelon and against the seashore? There He has appointed it.”
a) The reply given to the inquirer.
b) The sword cannot be quiet.
c) The LORD has given it a charge, a command.
d) God Himself had appointed it to fight:
i) Ashkelon (representing the Philistines’ pentapolis).
ii) And its seashore, closely associated towns of Ashkelon (a seaport).