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1 Samuel 13:19-22   Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears.”  But every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle, and the charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening the axes and for setting the goads. So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.

The Philistines had managed to secure such a tight grip on ‘world’ economy and the utilisation of natural resources at the beginning of Saul’s reign that they obtained full control of all the surrounding nations, including Israel.  Although I don’t understand international economic forces, I do hear enough news (most of which I can’t understand) that this is a very effective strategy being adopted by powerful leader(s) in dominant countries today!

It also causes widespread angst, fear and confusion, just as it did for Israel three millennia ago.  What Israel and their new King, Saul had to learn from this is that there is one resource and strategy readily available, and that is much more powerful and effective.  It is called humble contrite prayer to the one true all-powerful Sovereign God who always responds with love and compassion to the cries of his people.  Throughout its history, Israel usually had to learn this important lesson the hard way!

Let us not be so slow to learn.  How is the daily news affecting our daily prayer time, privately and corporately whenever there is an opportunity?  It is good to remember what the Apostle James (5:16b) says about this: “The prayer of a [declared-through-faith] righteous person has great power as it is working.”  (This is the ESV, but my preference is for the KJV: “The effectual fervent prayer of a [declared-through-faith] righteous man availeth much.”

“The Lord is King!  Lift up your voice, O earth and all you heavens, rejoice!  From world to world the joy shall ring,  ‘The Lord Omnipotent is King!’  The Lord is King!  Who then shall dare resist his will, distrust his care; or murmur at his wise decrees, or doubt his royal promises? The Lord is King!  Child of the dust, the Judge of all the earth is just; holy and true are all his ways: Let every creature sing his praise.  He reigns!  You saints, exalt your strains; your God is King, your Father reigns, and he is at the Father’s side, the Man of Love, the Crucified.  Come, make your wants, your burdens known; he will present them at the throne; and angel bands are waiting there his messages of love to bear.  One Lord, one empire, all secures; he reigns, and life and death are yours; through heaven and earth, one song shall ring: ‘The Lord Omnipotent is King!’ (Josiah Conder.)

Remember, ‘Prayer’ is always the true, effective trump card in world affairs.

– Bruce Christian