"It came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul or Jonathan:but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found" (1 Sam. 13:22).

What a tragic state of affairs! Apart from the king and his son we have a sword less army in the hour of battle, and this army composed of God's people! We voice our surprise in the question, "Why?"

One reason is given us (5:19). On account of the national and spiritual paralysis prevailing in Israel, the Philistines are in control. They have a boycott on Israel's weapons, and the people which were to dwell alone are dependent on their enemies for even the necessary instruments of agriculture (ver. 20). What a national disgrace, and what a solemn demonstration of God's displeasure in them and their leader, Saul!

Is not this, however, the case with multitudes of professing Christians today? They seem to be sword less. The Philistine world has snatched their only offensive weapon (see Eph. 6:17) from them, and they are either servants of men or of men's theories. The world, the flesh and the devil assail, and the believer, instead of using the "It-is-written" blade of the Holy Spirit, cowers and goes down in defeat. Like a sword less soldier in the thick of the battle he becomes an easy prey to the adversary. This is always the case when the Word of Christ is not dwelling in us richly. The enemy can out-argue us; he cannot resist the inherent power of the keen-edged Word of God. Therefore it behooves us to emulate the example and courage of Eleazar, who had such a grip of his weapon that he discovered at the battle that the weapon gripped him, for "his hand clave unto the sword, and the Lord wrought a great victory" (2 Sam. 23:9, 10).

But now look at Saul, the leader of Israel. He is one of the two who does possess a sword. But what is he doing? He sits under a shady pomegranate tree surrounded by a body-guard of six hundred men, with a good blade on his knee but lacking the courage to use it. Why? He is out of touch with God!

There are plenty of Christians pictured in this gloomy king. They sit under some ecclesiastical pomegranate tree, nursing the Book and congratulating themselves on their knowledge of it, but doing nothing. Why does God often set us aside and use some other group of believers possessing perhaps less light? Is it altogether because He is sovereign? Or may it not be because of our carnal orthodoxy? The Spirit of God is the Spirit of power, but it is well to remember He is the Holy Spirit and cannot tolerate sin or use the believer who is going on in ways displeasing to Him. The surgeon would not think of using a soiled instrument for the delicate operation, nor can our God pick up an unclean vessel in which to display Himself. "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me," is our Lord's word.

Saul's responsibility was much greater than that of his sword less followers. And shall we not be held responsible for the use we might make of God's blessed Word or God's blessed Son?

In the Cross the character of God has been fully and finally displayed. The heart of the blessed triune God has been unveiled. And now the knowledge of His glory radiates from the face of the risen Son to find its reflection in our own hearts.

Does His glory, meekness, grace and power in my life rebuke the Philistine pride, pleasure and pomp all around me? Or am I useless to God, like Saul, on account of unjudged sin?

But how refreshing to turn to Jonathan and his armor-bearer ! Here is a young man who has a sword and God. His life and his blade are wholly surrendered to Jehovah. He sees not the hosts because his eye is on the Lord of Hosts, and because he fears God he fears not man.

The thrilling account of Jonathan's faith, courage, warfare and victory is indelibly recorded (1 Sam. 14:1-23).He was indeed a vessel unto honor, meet for the Master's use, for he gave all diligence, and added to his faith courage, reminding his helper that, "There is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few" (ver. 6). With what contempt the enemy regarded these two warriors who dared to approach! How disdainful must have been their tone as they cried out, "Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves!" and again, "Come up to us, and we will show you a thing!" Little did they realize that the God of the Hebrews was behind these men. ' "And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and feet" (ver. 13).Before he got up he got down. This is always the way to victory. Service that does not flow out of all humility of mind is not acceptable to the Master. Like those seven hundred left-handed men of Benjamin who "could sling stones at an hair-breadth and not miss," we should find in our weakness His strength.

Are we surprised that the Philistines "fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer slew after him," and "so the Lord saved Israel that day?"

And can He not take that little life of thine, O fellow-Christian, and use it as a mighty weapon in His hand? He can! He would! He will! Hearken:"Yield yourself unto God"-"till He come." C. Ernest Tatham