Animals, Colors, Metals, Numbers and Signs in Scripture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

600  War, and Weapons of War Continued

 

Noah 600 Chariots Goliath's Armour
The Army of Dan David's Army of 600 600 Killed with Ox Goad
The value of the King's Armour The Cost of War and Its Weapons
The Mercies of God Manifest at Rock Rimmon The Greatest War of all Time

The Army of Dan 

Judg. 18:11 "And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war."

Judg. 18:16 "And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate."

Judg 18:17 "And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war."

In the days of the judges, the tribe of Dan had not come into all the inheritance that had been promised unto them.  The elders of the people appointed five men to go find and spy out a land suitable for a possession for the tribe of Dan: Judg. 18:7 "Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man. 8 And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye? 9 And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land. 10 When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth."

An army of six hundred men was appointed to go and destroy the inhabitants of the land and to secure it for the tribe of Dan.  In the process of going to obtain the land the army of six hundred men and the tribe of Dan committed idolatry: Judg. 18:16 "And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate. 17 And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war. 18 And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image.

Then said the priest unto them, What do ye? 19 And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel? 20 And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people."

Though the army of six hundred defeated the Zidonians and secured the land for the tribe of Dan, yet Dan committed idolatry in setting up the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image and in appointing a Levite to be their priest: Judg. 18:30 "And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. 31 And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh." 

The sin of idolatry they committed in obtaining the land led to their being expelled form the land that they fought to obtain.  Now all this is a lesson to us today.  There are those who at one time are good soldiers of Jesus Christ, but later their hearts are turned away to idolatrous practices and they lose their possession in God's church kingdom on earth.  Examples of this in the New Testament are:

    1.  Matt. 13:22 "He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful."

    2.  Phil. 3:17 "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:"

    3.  2 Tim. 4:10 "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia."

    4.  2 Tim. 2:18 "Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some."


David's Army of Six Hundred

When David was forced to flee from the presence of King Saul, there came out to David six hundred men to serve under him and to fight for him against the enemies of Israel:

    1.  1 Sam. 23:13 "Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth."

    2.  1 Sam. 27:2 "And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath."

    3.  1 Sam. 30:9 "So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed."

    4.  2 Sam. 15:18 "And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king."

As an army, these men were faithful to David and proved themselves to be worthy soldiers both before David became King over Israel and after David became King over Israel.  They also had to endure hardness as they both were sought to be destroyed by King Saul while at the same time fighting the enemies of Israel.  Later, they became leaders in the army of Israel under David.  In later life, they made up the special forces and honor guard of King David as the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and the Gittites.  They increased in responsibility the more that they served King David and were faithful to him.  All of this is an example for us today as the disciples of our King Jesus Christ.

The six hundred under David came out to David and enlisted in his army to fight the enemies of Israel and to assist David whenever he desired and wherever he appointed them.  Likewise, we are to press into the Kingdom of God and to be the servants of God and to fight the good fight of faith: 1 Tim 6:12 "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." 

Furthermore, the six hundred under David endured hardness in their circumstances in which they found themselves.  Likewise, we are to endure hardness as the disciples of the Lord and as a part of his army here on earth: 2 Tim 2:3 "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." 

As the six hundred proved themselves faithful, David increased their responsibility in the army of Israel.  Likewise, when we prove ourselves faithful, the Lord increases our responsibility in his army:

Matt. 25:14 "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

            19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

Both the servant who had been given five talents and the one who was given two talents dealt faithfully in their service to their master.  Their reward was that they had the commendation of their master, they entered into the joy of their master, and they received additional responsibility from their master.  Such is it today for us in the Lord's church kingdom here on earth. 

We should reckon ourselves to be a part of the army of King Jesus and fight the enemies that our master has taught us to fight:

Eph. 6:11 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."

When we have done the above, we will be good soldiers of Jesus Christ and will be able to say as Paul said in his later days: 2 Tim. 4:6 "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 


Goliath's Armour 

1 Sam. 17:4 "And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. 6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. 7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him."

Not only was Goliath massive in size (somewhere between 9 ½ and 10 feet tall), but he also carried a massive amount of armour showing forth his tremendous strength.  In the Old Testament a hundred shekels is equivalent to a pound.  Goliath's coat of mail was equivalent to 50 pounds.  His spearhead weighed about six pounds.  The staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam.  Most of us would have trouble throwing such a spear more than just a few feet, if at all.  There is no man on the face of the earth today that is of such stature and strength. 

Yet, Goliath with all of his size, strength, and armour was no match for David with a sling.  The reason is that Goliath relied upon his strength to wage war, but David relied upon the Lord to deliver him in battle.  With the Lord on your side, there is no foe that is a match to you regardless of how big a giant he may appear to be.  All the foes we may be matched against in our fight of faith are no match for our Lord.  He is greater and mightier than all combined. 

In the army of our Lord, we are to go as David did with faith in our God to deliver us.  The giants will fall before us. 


The value of the King's armour

1 Ki. 10:16 "And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target. 17 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon."

The target is a body shield to protect against arrows and spears.  The shield mentioned above is used to protect in hand-to-hand combat.  According to the scriptures a pound of gold is equal to one hundred shekels.  Thus, the target was made of six pounds of gold and the shield was made of three pounds of gold.  That is a lot of gold and is of much value. 

These were the king's targets and the king's shields.  Therefore, the armour of the king is of great value.

Our King (Jesus Christ) has provided for us the armour we need to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ.  We are to fight the good fight of faith.  While we walk in the flesh, yet our warfare is a spiritual warfare and our armour is a spiritual armour: 2 Cor. 10:3 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled."  From this we gather that our spiritual armour is mighty through God. 

Our armour is listed for us in Ephesians chapter six:

6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel."

This armour is designed so that we may stand against the wiles of the devil and that we may be victorious against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places.  How could we have a more valuable and durable armour than this armour that our king has provided for us.  Furthermore, 1 Pet. 1:7 speaks to us of the great value of a single piece of our armour: 7 "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." 

King Solomon's armour was of gold.  King Jesus' armour is greater in value than King Solomon's armour.  Thanks be to our King who has provided for us such armour that is of so great a value and of such great usefulness that we may fight victoriously in our daily battles against our enemies. 

The Cost of War and Its Weapons  
The Mercies of God Manifest at Rock Rimmon The Greatest War of all Time