War Arrow

He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of His hand He hid me; He made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in His quiver.” Isaiah 49:2.

A war arrow is not designed to be used to write poetry. Rather, it has a far different function…it is designed to be lethal or cause serious injury, Psalm 45:5. A retired navy SEAL, Chris Sajnog, once reminded me of the 3 parts of an arrow… “and so a strong, straight shaft must have feathers carefully placed on one end for guidance to the target and a strong, sharp ‘arrow head’ to penetrate the skin and disturb vital functions of the target. Without the lethal tip and feathers to guide the “arrow” is nothing but a stick.

Check out this powerful imagery, “Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them”. (Ps 127:4-5) These arrow shafts must have feathers to guide them to a target as well as heads to give them a functional quality, a purpose. As fathers and mentors this is our mission to accomplish. Think of these feathers and arrow head as character qualities such as integrity, honor, courage, and loyalty. These qualities, and others, must be “one with the shaft”…our sons, daughters, grandchildren and mentees making them into “a war arrow”.

A war arrow “in the hands of a warrior”, like any weapon, is an extension of that warrior and of his authority. The use of any weapon is an acquired skill, a developed relationship with the weapon…and is therefore a perishable skill, and a perishable relationship. Why do men think they can ignore this fundamental principle and be in relationship with the arrows in their quiver?

Perhaps more importantly is our overall skill level and relationship with our main weapon, The Word. This is the weapon with which we can demolish the many strongholds that we encounter. However, such success in battle requires a warrior’s skill and intimate relationship with his weapon. In such an ethos, fathers and mentors will be sure to properly fashion the war arrow in their quiver…by virtue of the quality time spent in their hands.

Then the Lord will appear over them, His arrow will flash like lightning. Zech 9:14a

Verses using the imagery of war arrows : 2 Kings 13:17; Ps 18:14; Ps 45:5; Ps 64:3; Ps 91:5

Barney Barnes, Warrior Spirit Ministries, 10-10-2019