A time to unsheathe the Sword

Read Jeremiah 47.

"For I the LORD do not change."  (Malachi 3:6)  A foundational understanding of the God of the Bible is that His character is, has always been, and forever will be the same.  1 John 4:8 states: "God is love."  Exodus 15:3 declares: "The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name."  This not a contradiction or a change but a complete picture of His nature.  He hates sin and will bring justice.  In His love, He provides every opportunity for people to respond to His grace.

God's judgment against the surrounding Gentile nations turned to the Philistines.  These were a coastal people who had migrated from Crete.  Throughout most of the Old Testament the Philistines were a consistent enemy of Israel.  The battle scene of the Babylonians coming in from the north is described as a rushing flood of water overtaking them faster than they can run from it.  Though it outwardly appeared to be nation against nation, verses 6 and 7 refers to it as the "sword of the LORD."

A sword is a personal offensive weapon.  When, in the timing of God, He has had enough of a nation’s sin, the LORD inflicts His judgment, using a powerful enemy nation, pestilence, or withholding needed resources.  God's "sword" of justice comes at His command.  As He spoke creation into existence by the power of His word (Hebrews 11:3), so He metes out His justice by command.  This is true from Genesis to Revelation.  Direct references are made to the sword of the LORD no less than 29 times in 16 books of the Bible.  Here are few examples:

The first mention is in Genesis 3:24, God positioned His sword in judgment to guard the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve sinned.

Balaam saw that sword in the hand of the angel of the LORD; a preincarnate appearance of Christ. (Numbers 22:31)

Joshua saw the angel of the LORD with that sword in Joshua 5:13, as he prepared to inflict God's judgment on Jericho.

God commanded Gideon to defeat the Midianites and in doing so shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" (Judges 7:20)

When David sinned, it was the sword of the LORD that responded in the death of thousands. (1 Chronicles 21:12-30)

In Ephesians 6:17, the Apostle Paul explained "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."  This is piece of the spiritual equipment every believer is to put on and the only offensive weapon issued to us.

As Jesus is revealed in Revelation 1:16, the words coming from His mouth are described as a two-edged sword.  And, in 19:15 at the return of Jesus to earth, that commanding word of God will strike down all the nations that have opposed Him.

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account." (Hebrews 4:12-13)