RTW 2024

There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days. The Philistines wouldn’t allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews. So whenever the Israelites needed to sharpen their plowshares, picks, axes, or sickles, they had to take them to a Philistine blacksmith. The charges were as follows: a quarter of an ounce of silver for sharpening a plowshare or a pick, and an eighth of an ounce for sharpening an ax or making the point of an ox goad. So on the day of the battle none of the people of Israel had a sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan.

The pass at Micmash had meanwhile been secured by a contingent of the Philistine army.‍

1 Samuel 13:19-23

Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified.
1 Samuel 14:15

• The Bible tells us a lot more than we comprehend in a simple reading. 
• Whether that is the first reading, or the hundredth…it can take a while to understand. 
• The Bible is telling us a lot about the context for the story coming ahead. 
• The Philistines had removed all the blacksmiths. 
• The Israelites therefore had no swords…except two: Saul and Jonathan. 
• This describes the conditions of the army during this time. 
• The entire army only had sticks and stones!
• How was Israel winning battles during this time? 
• The Lord brought them victory. 
• They would forget this lesson when Goliath shows up. 
• They saw him with his huge size and saw their empty hands. 
• Because…there were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days.

Don’t focus on your empty hands…God is the One that does the fighting!