There is an interesting story in 1 Samuel 11 where God’s people, the Israelites of Jabesh Gilead, are being besieged by the Ammonites. If you read my blog about ‘Lot and His Family’ you may remember where the Ammonites came from – Genesis 19:38 The younger daughter(ie: Lot’s daughter) also had a son (from incest with her father Lot), and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today. NIV Anyways, they are being besieged, and all the men of Jabesh Gilead want to make a treaty with the enemy…
1 Samuel 11:1-2
11:1 Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you.” 2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.” NIV
It’s obvious that the enemy here is wanting to disgrace and disfigure God’s people. It is also obvious that the enemy is wanting everyone who looks upon or knows the men of Jabesh Gilead (ie: God’s people) to see that they have the ‘mark of the enemy‘ and have been overpowered and defeated by them.
What is not so obvious to us, is the importance of the right eye for battle during those times. With a shield in a warriors left hand, the left eye was (at times) partially or totally obscured behind the shield. This left the right eye to be used to sight the enemy so that he could wield sword or spear or bow against the enemy and defeat the them.
Wow! Let’s apply this scripture to our own lives. Have I been disfigured by the enemy? In my life, have a made some sort of agreement or compromise with the enemy and my spiritual sight has been impaired? Am I waving about the ‘Sword of the Spirit’ and completely missing the enemy because I am spiritually impaired or blind?
Lord, speak to my heart. In my heart is there some sort of compromise or agreement with the enemy? Am I fighting a useless battle because of my spiritual blindness? Lord, show me where compromise has crept in. Help me to have true, heart felt repentance for my compromise so that I can wield the ‘Sword of the Spirit’ effectively for ‘your Kingdom come, your will be done‘, in Jesus name, AMEN
(Thanks Gary)
Enlightened Hope 
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