1 Samuel 17:34a, 37a, 38-39
“But David said to Saul, ‘…The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’…Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic.  He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head.  David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.  ‘I cannot go in these,’ he said to Saul, ‘because I am not used to them.’  So he took them off.”

Matthew 26:50b-52
“Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.  With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.  ‘Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.’”

Ephesians 6:10-13
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take 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 dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground…”

Almighty God, your word has dominion over all the enemies of your kingdom.

Our weapons fail in the great fight between holiness and violence.  Darkness pierces armour we have forged in our own strength.

May we advance only in your power, wielding swords of truth to breach the ranks of evil.  Shield us with an impenetrable faith.

We kneel in service to the name of Jesus Christ, who died by the sword so that we may live by the Spirit.

Listen to ‘Strong Salvation’ (track 2) by Enfield