The Sword and the Ephod

1 Samuel 21:8-9 "And David said unto Ahimelech, is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste. And the pries said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me."

2010 has began, a new chapter, a new start.

David was running from Saul for his life and came into the Tabernacle to find refuge. He had no bread, no weapon, nothing just a man on the run.

The significance of these two items are so important:

The Sword - This weapon signified David's victory

The Ephod - This garment was a garment of Worship and prayer that was worn by the priest to minister to God.

David's victory was hiding behind a garment of worship. Our victory in life only comes as we learn that it takes worship to unveil the weapon of victory.

Many people wait for God to give them the victory so they can worship Him - God is waiting for people to worship Him so He can give them the VICTORY!.

This is the word for me in 2010 to focus on worship then many victories will come my way.

The Tabernacle was a place of worship:

• Altar of Burnt offerings
• Brazen Laver
• Golden Candlestick
• Table of Shewbread
• Altar of Incense

All speaks of worship before you enter the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant sat. If you notice the progression - The Glory of God was NOT revealed until after the SACRIFICE and WORSHIP were performed!

The Priest didn't go in and get the anointing and then come out and perform the act of worship - the act of worship came FIRST! We must be worshippers in 2010 as we enter into the final Victory.

"Christian churches has come to the dangerous time predicted long ago. It is a time when we can pat one another on the back, congratulate ourselves and join in the glad refrain, 'We are rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing!'

"It certainly is true that hardly anything is missing from our churches these days - except the most important thing. We are missing the genuine and sacred offering of ourselves and our worship to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ...

"My own loyalties and responsibilities are and always will be with the strongly evangelical, Bible-believing, Christ-honoring churches. We have been surging forward. We are building great churches and large congregations. We are boasting about high standards and we are talking a lot about reveal. But I have a question and it is not just rhetoric: What has happened to our WORSHIP?" - A. W. Tozer

God forbid that we take off our garments of worship, true worship, and sit down in 2010 and remain powerless, our victory (sword) is behind our worship (ephod). Pick up your ephod and march forward towards VICTORY! Shalom!