I Samuel 13:19 ” 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!’ “

Israel was weaponless…the armaments to protect and defend themselves- swords and spears –  were absent…leaving them vulnerable to the enemy.  We too can be open to attack from the enemy if we are swordless, for it says in Ephesians 6:17, “Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”   The Word of God…the Bible, is the mightiest weapon we have  in our arsenal against the enemy.  Without our sword of the Spirit, we are as unprotected as the Israelites facing the Philistine army were.  That’s why memorizing Scripture is so important…for you never know when you might be ambushed and need that trusty sword at your side.

Psalm 83:13 ” Make them like a tumbleweed, O my God, like chaff before the wind.”

Psalm 83 is one of the Imprecatory Psalms, where the writer is praying to invoke God’s wrath upon the wicked.  The invading enemy armies were  boasting of what they would do in verse 4, “Come, they say, let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more.”  This prayer, written by Asaph, wasn’t just a harsh outburst of anger and resentment, but rather a carefully worded petition laid before the Lord for Him to come to Israel’s defense.  Asaph was asking the Lord to make the enemy army as helpless as  storm-driven leaves.