In Context: Correlating Strength to its Source

The Word of God shows a correlation between the strength of a people and the blessing of God upon a people. “The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace” (Psalm 29:11).

One of the manifestations of God's strength for a People is their ability to arm themselves. This can be seen throughout the Scriptures all the way back in Genesis 14:14 when Abraham armed 318 men so they could reclaim his captive brother.

God does not always send blessings. Just as God fulfills his promises to bring good things on His People, when they leave Him and serve other gods, God also fulfills his promises to bring harmful things upon His People, up to and including total displacement from the Promised Land (Joshua 23:14-16).

When people turn to other gods, and those gods fail to deliver them, they end up oppressed. One of the first steps to oppressing people is disarming them. That's how the Philistines were able to oppress Israel: “Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, ‘Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears’” (1 Samuel 13:19). Further, the Philistines heavily regulated anything the people of Israel could do by which they could circumvent the ban on anything that could be used as military-style assault weapons (1 Samuel 13:20-21).

Weekly Congress Update

Daily Digests – House • Senate — Prayers — Committee Reports

Senate — Daily Leader Remarks • Actions begun, passed, declined

Senate Republicans block domestic terrorism bill (H.R. 350) • Majority Leader Schumer was correct to point out that a similar bill (H.R. 5602) passed the House by voice vote two years ago during a different administration. • Now, after seeing new attempts to reach for excessive executive power, Sen. Hawley says: “It’s like the disinformation board on steroids. …the Patriot Act for American citizens”