If you listen to scoffers criticizing the Bible, they will tell you the Bible is not relevant in 2013 because it was written a long time ago and really doesn't apply to today's modern society. The Bible has life applications for yesterday, today and into the future far greater than mortal man can even imagine. For example, the scripture verses found in 1 Samuel 13:19-22 (NIV) is strikingly similar to today's battle for gun ownership in this country. These verses are as follows:
• 19 Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, "Otherwise
the Hebrews will make swords or spears!" 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow
points, mattocks, axes and sickles sharpened. 21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel for sharpening plow
points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads. 22 So
on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and
his son Jonathan had them.
Here in May 2013, there is a debate going on between gun control advocates and those who contend that, according to the second amendment, we as citizens have the right to gun ownership in order to protect us from a tyrannical government. The gun control crowd knows that fighting for an all out ban would be suicidal. However, although banning guns is their ultimate goal, they, along with many in the government (federal and state) have taken a page from the Philistines in 1 Samuel 13 in order to achieve their end.
The Philistines did not disarm the Israelites, their sworn enemy. But, they made it extremely difficult for the Israelites to arm themselves by eliminating the means by which arms - swords and the like - were manufactured. In other words, the Philistines removed the blacksmiths so that weapons couldn't be made. Moreover, the Philistines took it one step further. They let the Israelites have weapons on their terms by making it extremely expensive for lesser weapons, forks and axes, to be made. Therefore, the Israelites couldn't make arms to defend themselves. But, they could purchase at exorbitant prices, arms to compete against the Philistines.
Let's scroll ahead to 2013. Second amendment critics within our government have resorted to these methods: vilified special interest groups such as the NRA, targeted gun manufacturers, passed legislation in some cases to limit the amount of ammunition that can be purchased, attempted to sway pubic opinion against certain kind of weapons, influenced key members of Congress in an effort to water down the second amendment, forced companies to leave their jurisdictions, played on the emotions of recent gun killings, regulating sales of guns at trade shows and the like, increased taxes on guns and ammo as well as even taken the position that only government can dictate whether or not the people have rights to defend themselves.
Just like the Philistines, the government today realizes that it can't completely remove the right to bare arms from the people. However, it can, just like the Philistines, make it extremely difficult to obtain them. And, that is what they are doing. The end game is the same - disarm the public because they fear them.
• BELIEVE that we the people have a God-given right to defend ourselves
• ACT by telling anyone that will listen that we are the only country in the world that has a second amendment
the right to bear arms
• SERVE your neighbor by first getting to know them
Verse 22 says, "So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand;" If the government has its way, no one except the government aka the Philistine's, will have guns or a means by which to defend themselves from a tyrannical government.
It's time we wake up. It's time that we start reading the Bible - AGAIN - as it is relevant and parallels what is going on in 2013. Only God can save us and He speaks to us through his Word.
• 19 Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, "Otherwise
the Hebrews will make swords or spears!" 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow
points, mattocks, axes and sickles sharpened. 21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel for sharpening plow
points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads. 22 So
on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and
his son Jonathan had them.
Here in May 2013, there is a debate going on between gun control advocates and those who contend that, according to the second amendment, we as citizens have the right to gun ownership in order to protect us from a tyrannical government. The gun control crowd knows that fighting for an all out ban would be suicidal. However, although banning guns is their ultimate goal, they, along with many in the government (federal and state) have taken a page from the Philistines in 1 Samuel 13 in order to achieve their end.
The Philistines did not disarm the Israelites, their sworn enemy. But, they made it extremely difficult for the Israelites to arm themselves by eliminating the means by which arms - swords and the like - were manufactured. In other words, the Philistines removed the blacksmiths so that weapons couldn't be made. Moreover, the Philistines took it one step further. They let the Israelites have weapons on their terms by making it extremely expensive for lesser weapons, forks and axes, to be made. Therefore, the Israelites couldn't make arms to defend themselves. But, they could purchase at exorbitant prices, arms to compete against the Philistines.
Let's scroll ahead to 2013. Second amendment critics within our government have resorted to these methods: vilified special interest groups such as the NRA, targeted gun manufacturers, passed legislation in some cases to limit the amount of ammunition that can be purchased, attempted to sway pubic opinion against certain kind of weapons, influenced key members of Congress in an effort to water down the second amendment, forced companies to leave their jurisdictions, played on the emotions of recent gun killings, regulating sales of guns at trade shows and the like, increased taxes on guns and ammo as well as even taken the position that only government can dictate whether or not the people have rights to defend themselves.
Just like the Philistines, the government today realizes that it can't completely remove the right to bare arms from the people. However, it can, just like the Philistines, make it extremely difficult to obtain them. And, that is what they are doing. The end game is the same - disarm the public because they fear them.
• BELIEVE that we the people have a God-given right to defend ourselves
• ACT by telling anyone that will listen that we are the only country in the world that has a second amendment
the right to bear arms
• SERVE your neighbor by first getting to know them
Verse 22 says, "So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand;" If the government has its way, no one except the government aka the Philistine's, will have guns or a means by which to defend themselves from a tyrannical government.
It's time we wake up. It's time that we start reading the Bible - AGAIN - as it is relevant and parallels what is going on in 2013. Only God can save us and He speaks to us through his Word.
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