The Sword of the LORD

“Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh,…and Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.” (1 Samuel 17:1, 2).  The Philistines were a nation of people who occupied the coastal region of Canaan along the Mediterranean Sea.  They were one of the nations that Israel was unable to conquer in the Promised Land, and became a constant vexation to them.  This story takes place during the reign of King Saul who was the first king of Israel. The Philistines resented Israel’s rise to power in Canaan, and were constantly challenging that power.  Once again they had sent their armies against Israel to try to weaken them, and Saul had raised an army to oppose them.  “And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span [nine foot, nine inche...

  "And He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.  Then said He unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door.  And He said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.  So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about .  And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel…with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.  Then said He unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth ." (Ezekiel 8:7-12). Ezekiel prophesied to the Jews during the time of their captivity in Babylon.  The Prophet Jeremiah was a contempor...

"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20). So, I woke up one morning with a desire to revitalize my prayer life.   I have never been the greatest conversationalist, I usually am a better listener, and this has translated to my prayer life as well.   I spend a lot of time waiting to hear what the Lord wants to say to me, but not as much time expressing my wishes.   On the surface that may seem like a good thing, a less selfish thing; but not when it comes to praying for others.   I also have a tendency to pray in my heart, and not out loud.   This isn't really an important issue, but I wanted to force myself to talk to God as if He were in the room with me (which He is, of course) rather than someone who is far off whom I was communicating with telepathically. So I had this thought to invite God to tea. I got out two porcelain mugs, and chose my favorite one for the Lord (it's my Ohio State m...