David killed the giant, Goliath, with a slingshot, then cut off Goliath’s head with Goliath’s own sword. David would use that same sword when Saul was trying to kill him, only he didn’t use the sword to harm Saul, he used it to cut off a portion of Saul’s robe to warn Saul that he could have died.
The sword had a dual purpose: 1> to harm or kill and 2> to warn and expose the motive of the heart.
This understanding of the sword gives Psalm 149:1-6 deeper meaning, because here it is used in conjunction with praise in the mouths of Israel, as they wielded the sword to execute judgment, and to bind the enemy from doing any harm to God’s people, especially when they were praising the Lord.
Psalm 149:1-6 says, “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the people, to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, to execute on them the judgment written; this is an honor for all His godly ones. Praise the LORD!”
Psalm 22:3 says, “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” God dwells in the praises of His people. So when we sing to the Lord with our hearts, when we pray to the Lord, when we give thanks and give praises to the Lord, God draws near to us and dwells in our praises.
James 4:8 says, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”
The priests, under the Tabernacle Plan, offered incense before Yahweh. The Altar of Incense was a part of the Holy Place. The Ark of the Covenant sat in the Holy of Holies section of the Tabernacle. When the incense was offered on the Altar of Incense in the Holy Place, it wafted up and through the veil, separating it from the Holy of Holies where God dwelt on the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant.
Now, notice what it says in Revelation 8:4, “The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out.”
The prayers that Christians pray ascend up from our hearts, through the veil of the first and second heavens, right into the Throne Room of Yahweh. The prayers are the New Testament form of the incense offered in the Old Testament Tabernacle Plan by the Priests.
I Corinthians 3:16,17 says, “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” “If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.”
Our bodies become the New Testament equivalent temple of the Old testament Holy section of the Tabernacle. So when we pray, sing, praise, read, and study His Word, meditating on them, while opening our mouths and giving voice to what is in our hearts, it becomes incense that flows straight into God’s heart as He sits on the Throne of Heaven. Yahweh/Christ literally sits in the praises of His people!
I John 1:5 says, “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.”
If God is light, and there is no darkness in Him, and the devil is darkness, and there is no light in him, then the devil can’t dwell where God dwells. This means that when you and I praise the Lord, God draws nigh to us as we draw nigh to Him, and He dwells/hovers/abides in our praises, as Light and Truth. The devil hates this, and has to withdraw from us because he hates the light, and cannot dwell where there is light, especially in the Light of God Himself. It literally binds the devil and his demons up in chains, and renders them powerless in the Presence of God!
The praise in our mouth which agrees with the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17) becomes a two-edged sword that not only judges that which is darkness, but exposes that which pretends to be light, because that which is dark, and that which is pretending to be light, has to flee and leave nothing but the true light of God dwelling in us and around us.
Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
One of the joys of preaching the Word of God, is watching the eyes of the congregation in how they respond to its Light and Truth. If they are comfortable with the Light, they will reach out and up toward the Light, embracing it for more and more. If they have darkness or sin in their lives, they will look down and away and fidget as they try to avoid the power of the Light drawing them towards Him.
The Sword of God’s Word judges sin and darkness, and makes us uncomfortable. This is why you see so many today rising up to attack the Word, Christ, and His followers. Jesus said they hated Him for telling them the Truth, and they would hate His disciples as well.
The Sword of God’s Word also exposes that which is displeasing to Him, so when a sincere Christian feels that exposure of his transgression, he runs toward the light to get it cleansed from his heart, so his fellowship with God as Light and Truth is restored and he can walk in liberty and openness again. Light attracts light and darkness attracts darkness.
Some people get upset over any teaching about hell and everlasting punishment. Think about how uncomfortable most people are when they drive through the dark areas of our cities. Think about how uncomfortable most people are to enter certain establishments where darkness is promoted. Then think about how certain people are so comfortable in these areas and establishments that they live there and hang out there continually.
Heaven is full of God, Light, Truth, Purity, and Angels singing and praising God, as well as holy saints of all time who have been made clean by the Blood of the Lamb. Do you think that the people who live in and frequent the dark areas and dark establishments of our cities would be comfortable among all these holy, pure, spiritual beings for eternity? If not where will they be comfortable at?
Revelation 19:15 says, “From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”
The truth of the matter is, God made Hell for the devil and his demons. He never intended for mankind to go there. But when we serve the devil and his world, then we will send ourselves to hell by realizing how unclean and impure we are as we try to stand in the Holy Presence of God; and just like in a Holy Ghost anointed church service, if we are uncomfortable in the light, due to sin in our lives, then we will look down and away and fidget, wanting to hurry up and get out of there. The only place left to go outside of heaven is . . . Hell.
I encourage you, that believe in Christ as the Son of God, to open your mouths and send praise up to God continually throughout the day. (I Thessalonians 5:17) I encourage you, that have doubts about Christ, to tell Him so and ask Him to reveal Himself to you as the way to His Father. Eternity is a long time to spend in darkness. Allow the Two-edged Sword of God to do its work by judging your sins now, and exposing anything that is displeasing to Him as it draws you closer and closer towards His Light. (I Corinthians 11:31)