Monday's Devo - Bring on the Blacksmiths

Read 1 Sam. 13 -
The key to me to this whole chapter is at the end in verses 19-22. No wonder they are shaking in their boots. They have no swords or spears. Only Saul and Jonathan had weapons. The reason they didn't have weapons was that they had been under the rule of the Philistines who hadn't allowed them to have a blacksmith to make weapons. The Philistines had swords, spears, shields, chariots, and horses. What the Israelites forgot was that they had God, whose weapons were fire, thunder, rain, lightning, bees, hornets, and a few more ideas they hadn't seen yet.
So the Philistines came in multitude with all their weapons and Israel ran and hid. Samuel had told Saul to meet him in 7 days to offer a burnt offering. Saul got there, but Samuel was late. All the people were panicking and leaving so Saul decided to take manners in his own hands. He offered the burnt offering. As soon as he had finished Samuel appeared. When he saw what had happened he told Saul he had acted foolishly; now the kingdom would be taken from him and given to man whose heart would be after God's.
Saul goes back and numbers his men. The 3,000 has now become 600. Meanwhile the multitude of Philistines are dividing their troops into 3 groups to surround the Israelites.
The interesting thing about the "no weapons" thing is that God's Word is our sword and shield. It is not enough for the pastor or leader to have the sword because they don't always make the right decision. The people needed their own sword. We are responsible for our own growth in God. When we don't sharpen our swords with use, we are terrified when the devil attacks us. We hide wherever we can find a place just like the Israelites did.
Lord, your Word is a 2-edged sword that pierces and divides the soul from the spirit, the bone from the marrow, and the thoughts from the intents of our hearts. We put our trust in your Word.