The Sword was One of God's Four Sore Judgments
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In the biblical narrative, the concept of divine judgment is a recurring theme, often depicted through various forms of calamity and punishment. Among these, the "sword" is frequently mentioned as one of God's four sore judgments, alongside famine, pestilence, and wild beasts. This entry explores the significance of the sword as a divine instrument of judgment, its biblical context, and its theological implications.

Biblical Context

The notion of the sword as a divine judgment is prominently featured in the book of Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 14:21 , the prophet declares, "For this is what the Lord GOD says: How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem My four dreadful judgments—sword and famine and wild beasts and plague—to cut off both man and beast from it!" Here, the sword is listed as the first of the four judgments, emphasizing its role as a primary means of divine retribution.

The sword symbolizes warfare and conflict, often used by God to execute judgment upon nations and peoples who have turned away from His commandments. In the Old Testament, the sword is frequently associated with the consequences of disobedience and idolatry. For instance, in Leviticus 26:25 , God warns the Israelites, "And I will bring a sword against you to execute the vengeance of the covenant. Though you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be delivered into the hand of the enemy."

Theological Implications

The use of the sword as a divine judgment underscores the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God. It serves as a reminder that God is not indifferent to the moral and spiritual state of His people. The sword, as a form of judgment, reflects God's righteousness and justice, demonstrating that He will not tolerate rebellion and wickedness indefinitely.

Moreover, the sword as a judgment is not merely punitive but also corrective. It is intended to lead people to repentance and restoration. In the prophetic literature, the call to repentance often accompanies the pronouncement of judgment. For example, in Jeremiah 18:7-8 , God declares, "At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed. But if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I will relent of the disaster I had planned to inflict."

Historical and Prophetic Fulfillment

Throughout biblical history, the sword has been a literal and metaphorical instrument of God's judgment. The Assyrian and Babylonian invasions of Israel and Judah are historical examples where the sword was used to fulfill divine judgment. These events were not only political and military catastrophes but also spiritual reckonings for the nations' unfaithfulness.

In the prophetic books, the sword is often depicted as an impending threat, a warning of the consequences of continued disobedience. The prophets, as God's messengers, conveyed the urgency of turning back to God to avoid the sword's destructive path.

Conclusion

The sword, as one of God's four sore judgments, serves as a powerful symbol of divine justice and the seriousness of sin. It is a reminder of God's sovereignty and the necessity of aligning with His will to avoid the dire consequences of rebellion. Through the lens of Scripture, the sword is both a warning and an invitation to repentance, underscoring the hope of restoration for those who turn back to God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Ezekiel 14:21
For thus said the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments on Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The First vision "On Earth"
... of my covenant" (Leviticus 26:25-33). The "sword" is one of God's "four
sore judgments" sent upon the earth (Ezekiel 14:13-21). ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the first vision on earth.htm

Letter cclx. To Optimus the Bishop.
... thy face, it remains for me to be slain of every one. ... and the mightiness of the wrath
of God, was not ... which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter cclx to optimus the.htm

One Thing is Needful;
... filled with gravity; His tongue is like a sword; His presence ... He doth not use to
punish any one With any ... Now if God noble angels did not spare Because they did ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/one thing is needful.htm

The Scope of the Apocalypse is Indicated by Its Place in the ...
... authority" (v.2). This is the Devil's travesty of what God the Father ... "And I saw
one of his ... seventieth week the Antichrist will be slain by the sword " cf Isa ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/the scope of the apocalypse.htm

The Exile Continued.
... to trust himself in Gath, with Goliath's sword dangling in ... his own deliverance with
the judgments of God over the ... One friend goes with him through them all. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/v the exilecontinued.htm

Elisha's Closing Ministry
... whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with ... Wherever he was, God was with
him, giving him words to ... On one occasion "the sons of the prophets said unto ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 21 elishas closing ministry.htm

The Sixth vision "On Earth"
... to Egypt, Assyria, and Nineveh; or begin with Rome, when God makes the ... to individuals,
Why make all the seven kings belong to one of the four world-powers ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the sixth vision on earth.htm

Carried Captive into Babylon
... I will follow the counsel of the Mighty One of Israel. ... "A small number that escape
the sword shall return ... Zion was utterly destroyed; the people of God were in ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 37 carried captive into.htm

The History of David
... men that were able to fight and to draw sword, and of ... should go to David and bid
him choose one of three ... his bed, and said: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of david.htm

Antichrist in the Psalms
... my soul from the Wicked, by Thy sword." The "Wicked ... The one hundred and fortieth
appears to be the last of ... the piteous cries of the Remnant to God: "Deliver me ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/antichrist in the psalms .htm

Resources
Who was Ehud? | GotQuestions.org

Was Jesus a pacifist? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about conscientious objection? | GotQuestions.org

Sword: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Sword

Sword of Judgments

Sword of the Malicious Tongue

Sword of War

Sword used by Gideon

Sword used by Goliath

Sword used by Peter

Sword: David's Army Equipped With

Sword: Made of Plowshares

Sword: Symbolical

Sword: To be Beaten Into Plowshares

Sword: Two-Edged

The Sword in Time of Peace Made Into Plough Shares

The Sword in Time of War, Plough Shares Made Into

The Sword of Deep Mental Affliction

The Sword of False Witnesses

The Sword of Judicial Authority

The Sword of Persecuting Spirit of the Wicked

The Sword of Severe and Heavy Calamities

The Sword of the End of the Wicked

The Sword of the Justice of God

The Sword of the Protection of God

The Sword of the Tongue of the Wicked

The Sword of the Wicked

The Sword of the Word of Christ

The Sword of the Word of God

The Sword of War and Contention

The Sword was Brandished Over the Head

The Sword was One of God's Four Sore Judgments

The Sword was Pointed

The Sword was Thrust Through Enemies

The Sword was Used by Heathen Nations

The Sword was Used by the Jews

The Sword was Used by the Patriarchs

The Sword was Used for Destruction of Enemies

The Sword was Used for Punishing Criminals

The Sword was Used for Self-Defence

The Sword was Used: Sometimes for Self-Destruction

The Sword: (Drawing of) of War and Destruction

The Sword: (Living By) of Rapine

The Sword: (Not Departing from One's House) of Perpetual Calamity

The Sword: (Putting, Into Its Sheath) Peace and Friendship

The Sword: Bright

The Sword: Carried in a Sheath or Scabbard

The Sword: Frequently had Two Edges

The Sword: Glittering

The Sword: Hebrews Early Acquainted With Making of

The Sword: Hurtful

The Sword: Often Sent As a Punishment

The Sword: Often Threatened As a Punishment

The Sword: Oppressive

The Sword: Probable Origin

The Sword: Sharp

The Sword: Sharpened and Furbished Before Going to War

The Sword: Suspended from the Girdle

The Sword: Those Slain By, Communicated Ceremonial Uncleanness

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The Sword was Brandished Over the Head
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