Former Blackout Artist

David asked Ahimelek, “Don’t you have a spear or a sword here? I haven’t brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king’s mission was urgent.” The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Blah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one.” David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.” ~ 1 Samuel 21:8-9

You know… some mornings we wake up, and unbeknownst to us the devil has invited himself into our house, sitting at our kitchen tables drinking coffee. We sense a day of trouble ahead.

But regardless of the time of day, this is satan’s most effective tactic; to catch us completely off-guard and unprepared. To the prince of darkness, there are no rules of engagement, no codes to honor within the Geneva Convention; there will be no armistices, no truces. Spiritual warfare is an ongoing battle that will be waged throughout all of one’s life.

As David was fleeing from king Saul, he met with a priest in the town of Nob to gather a few provisions. It was there that he asked Ahimelek (a priest) for some food and some weapons. The priest offered him bread, but told him that the only weapon he had was Goliath’s sword – the very weapon that David himself had used many years prior as a young boy to remove Goliath’s head after he had slayed him. That sword had been kept at the tabernacle in Nob all those years since.

David, who was frightened and uncertain of what lied ahead of him in the days to come, undoubtedly found encouragement as he was reunited with an instrument that reminded him of God’s faithfulness. We can almost see the smile appear on his face as he said to Ahimelek, “Yes! There is none like it! Give it to me!”

When we find ourselves engaged in spiritual battle, we too have a weapon like no other: God’s Word.

Timothy was reminded of this by his spiritual mentor, the Apostle Paul, in 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

So when the devil shows up ready for battle, no matter what time of day it might be, we do what Paul suggests in Ephesians 6:10-11.

“Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Don’t just read God’s Word, but meditate upon it. What is God saying? What does He mean? How am I to apply His instruction in how I should live, regardless of my current situation?

We find in God’s Word everything we need: wisdom, courage, strength, perseverance, and inspiration. His Word is Authoritative. His Word is Truth. We read it, we memorize it, and we allow it to be both our shield and sword.

It is the greatest weapon we have, for there is None Like It.