day no. 15,433: ordinary, everyday implements

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 did not permit blacksmiths in the land of Israel for fear that they would produce weaponry which would then be used to free Israel from Philistine oppression. But the Philistines underestimated the ingenuity of the Israelites and the intensity of their commitment to freely worship their God. The Israelites did not have weapons, but they did have tools, and they brought then down to Philistia for sharpening. But these tools were not merely destined for domestic duty, but for warfare.

"Rough tools may deal hard blows, and killing need not be elegantly done, so long as it is done effectually." -- C.H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

For warfare, a sword or a spear is preferred, but Christians are called to fight regardless and can manufacture instruments of praise and battle from ordinary, everyday implements. The Christian is a ninja who upon entering a room immediately identifies the objects that could be repurposed as weapons for the demolishing demonic strongholds and the building up the kingdom of God on earth as it already is in Heaven.

"Most of our tools want sharpening." -- C.H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

But sharp things don't stay sharp. If swords, which are made for battle, dull overtime with use, how much more do makeshift implements eventually fall flat? These everyday implements fashioned for battle require constant sharpening and must return to the grinding wheel of constant training and discernment in order to stay creative, faithful and sharp for God's glory, our neighbor's good and our growth.