God's Weapon in the Hands of God's Man

imaginary enemies - he had practised with it for hours on end. He was familiar with its feel and its weight; he knew what it could cut through, and how much force he needed to swing it with. He knew how to use it both defensively and offensively - he was totally at home using this sword. He was so familiar with it, in fact, that it became just like an extension of his own arm.

[Pause.]

Eleazar’s sword provides us with a picture of the weapon that God has placed in our hands as Christians. In Ephesians 6:17 we are told to take up . . . the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD of GOD. Here is our “Excalibur” - the eternal, unchanging revelation of the living God - the Scriptures - the Bible.

The question is - do we know our weapon?

Do we know it well enough that we have UNFLINCHING CONFIDENCE in it? This book is the Word of God, and God is not a man that He should lie, so you can be assured of every line written here. Jesus said in Luke 16:17 It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one penstroke of the law to fail. this is the unfailing truth - God’s Word is absolutely reliable! You can take Him at His Word today!

But listen - no one will ever be able to convince you of this. It is logical and reasonable that God’s Word should be trustworthy, because of who God is, BUT YOU MUST EXPERIENCE THIS TRUTH FOR YOURSELF! Preacher after preacher can assure you that God’s Word is unfailing, and we can present it in such a way that rings out with truth to you, but it will all be just words until you begin to live out God’s Word in your own life and see for yourself that He NEVER fails to keep a promise - that He is always faithful to His Word. Then you will know - THEN YOU WILL HAVE UNFLINCHING CONFIDENCE IN THE WEAPON IN YOUR HANDS! Oh, begin to take Him at His Word, and see His faithfulness poured out in your life.

Are we FAMILIAR enough with our weapon? There is an answer in the Word of God for EVERY situation you will ever face - but if we haven’t spent time in the Word we won’t know those answers when we need them. . . . solid food is for the mature, who BY CONSTANT USE have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:14)
Eleazar’s sword was sufficient for the battle - but for him to be effective with it he needed to have confidence in it and to be totally familiar with it. The Word of God is sufficient for every battle we ever have to fight - how well do we know our weapon?

Secondly, we see:


2. THE STUBBORNNESS OF ELEAZAR’S GRIP.

. . . his hand CLAVE unto the sword.

OH, I LIKE THAT! Eleazar’s hand clave unto the sword, despite the fact that:

a.) THE SITUATION “SEEMED” HELPLESS.

. . . the men of Israel were gone away - YOU run away as well, Eleazar, what’s the point?! You can’t face this whole horde of Philistines alone - “He who turns and runs away lives to fight another day!” - Isn’t that right?

NO - . . . his hand clave unto the sword.

Despite the fact that:

b.) ALL HUMAN RESOURCES WERE GONE.

He arose, and smote the Philistines UNTIL HIS HAND WAS WEARY - he was exhausted! All his human strength was drained - did he give up?

NO - . . . his hand clave unto the sword.

NOTE THIS WORD “CLAVE”:

The Hebrew word implies two meanings, both of which are significant I believe.

a.) “PURSUING”, “clinging onto”, “grasping”. If we