Weapons

Instruments of warfare. God's people are to trust in him rather than in weapons. Scripture speaks of a day when weapons will become instruments of peace. The term is also used metaphorically.

Weapons of warfare

1 Chronicles 12:23, 1 Chronicles 12:33; Nehemiah 4:16–18 See also Genesis 49:5; 1 Samuel 8:12, 1 Samuel 17:45, 1 Samuel 17:54, 1 Samuel 21:8; 2 Samuel 1:27; 2 Kings 11:8 parallel 2 Chronicles 23:7; 2 Kings 11:11 parallel 2 Chronicles 23:10; 1 Chronicles 12:34–37; 2 Chronicles 32:5; Nehemiah 4:23; Ezekiel 26:7–11, Ezekiel 32:27; John 18:3

Now these are the numbers of men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, in accordance with the word of the LORD:

From Zebulun: 50,000 fit for service, trained for battle with all kinds of weapons of war, who with one purpose were devoted to David.

And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me.

Trust in God rather than in weapons

Psalm 20:7–8; Isaiah 31:1 See also Deuteronomy 1:41–44, Deuteronomy 20:1; 1 Samuel 17:45–47; 2 Chronicles 20:20–24, 2 Chronicles 32:7–8; Psalm 33:16–19, Psalm 76:3, Psalm 147:10–11; Proverbs 21:31; Ecclesiastes 9:18; Isaiah 22:8–11, Isaiah 54:16–17; Zechariah 4:6

Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.

A day when weapons of war will become instruments of peace

Isaiah 2:4 parallel Micah 4:3 See also Psalm 46:9; Isaiah 9:5; Ezekiel 39:7–10; Hosea 2:18; Zechariah 9:10

Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.

Weapons used metaphorically by God

Isaiah 59:15–18; Jeremiah 50:25 See also Psalm 7:11–13; Isaiah 13:5; Jeremiah 51:20; Ezekiel 9:1–8

Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil becomes prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man; He was amazed that there was no one to intercede. So His own arm brought salvation, and His own righteousness sustained Him. He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal. So He will repay according to their deeds: fury to His enemies, retribution to His foes, and recompense to the islands.

The LORD has opened His armory and brought out His weapons of wrath, for this is the work of the Lord GOD of Hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.

Weapons used metaphorically by Christians

2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:11–17 See also Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 6:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:8

The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.