No Weapon Shall Prosper

No Weapon Shall Prosper

Welcome to Christianity Oasis. This is No Weapon Shall Prosper from our Sojourn With Luz Leigh Collection. We hope you enjoy this enlightening reading and it helps you on your own be-YOU-tiful Christian walk.

Click the link below to enhance your faith:

Click the link below for Christian Faith Studies:

Sojourn With Luz Leigh

No Weapon Shall Prosper

Written by Luz Leigh - 02 July 2007

A few years ago I met a man who had recently moved to our community. He is a cabinetmaker by trade, non-practicing Catholic by religion and a humorous man with good ethics whose company I enjoy. His goal is to do more than make a living; he wants to help humanity, especially the unloved and unlovable of this world. Many nights he opens his door or answers his phone to hear someone wanting a handout, a ride somewhere, or a place to sleep. My concerns for him are that one of these nights he will be harmed or even killed by one of the junkies who have come to him for help (handout).

Once I told him that I had chosen him as my sinner friend because my pastor at the time urged us to enlarge our circle of friends to include at least one sinner. (My new friend had a good laugh that my words.) We are not to keep ourselves isolated from the world by surrounding ourselves with Christian friends only. So about once a month I visit his cabinet shop and watch him work, or share a cold drink while we discuss our views on society today. On one such visit, I noticed an unusual figurine sitting on a shelf.

My friend brought the figurine to me so I could look more closely at it. He had a question about it that he hoped I could answer. The figurine is about seven or eight inches tall, made of pewter, with a base about seven inches square. Laying on the base is a figure of a fallen warrior, and his enemy standing over him with sword raised. They are dressed in attire that would have been appropriate during the 745 to 680 BC period of time. These are the years that the prophet Isaiah was delivering the message of the Lord to the Israelites.

On the base of the figurine are the words "no weapon formed against me shall prosper. Isaiah 54:17." My friend wanted to know what this meant. Off the top of my head all I could come up with was that this was prophecy (simply because I knew Isaiah was a prophet). The work of art was covered with dust, but otherwise in good condition. I asked to be allowed to bring it home with me so I could clean it thoroughly. He agreed.

While I've had it in my possession I gave it a good cleaning. I have read a little about the prophet Isaiah and his works. After doing this, I put the following thoughts on paper. Later today I shall make a visit to the cabinet shop and return the figurine and give my friend the printed information I have prepared as follows:

Ron,

The figurine seems to be relating to the prophecy in the Old Testament. Isaiah, the spokesman for the Lord, was instructed to write about "judgment" and "salvation" to the Lord's chosen people, the Jewish nation. Isaiah's prophetic ministry lasted about sixty years during the reigns of four kings of Judah: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah during the years 745 and 680 B.C.

Isaiah was probably in Jerusalem when he wrote his message from the Lord, which was primarily directed to Judah, but also to all surrounding nations. He wrote to warn the people of impending captivity by the Babylonians. However, he gave hope that they would be allowed to return to Jerusalem under Cyrus's edict. He gave hope of the coming Messiah, a child born of a virgin, who would bring salvation to all who believe.

The verse mentioned on the figurine, Isaiah 54:17, was the Lord's promise to His children that He would always protect them. In the long run, they would not all be destroyed. Beginning with verse 16 we see this: "I have created the smith who blows the coals beneath the forge and makes the weapons of destruction. And I have created the armies that destroy. But in that coming day, no weapon turned against you shall succeed, and you will have justice against every courtroom lie."

The figure laying on the ground could be depicting the children of Israel with the figure standing with the sword could be depicting their enemies.

This is my understanding of the Scriptures. Others may have differing views.

The list of collected writings by Luz Leigh:

Shared Thoughts

Copyright © 2000-2024 All Rights Reserved.