A biblical analogy to gun control is recorded in 1 Sam 13:19-22. The Philistines, who held a monopoly on the manufacture of iron implements, refused to allow the Israelites access to swords or spears. In spite of the Philistine attempt at armament control, the Israelites were able to defeat both the Philistines (1 Sam 14) and Amalakites (1 Sam 15) in battle.

More pointedly, David “prevailed over (Goliath) with a sling and a stone . . . but there was no sword in David’s hand” (1 Sam 17:50 NASB; cp 31-40). The theological lesson of David’s victory is that trust in God is more powerful than human attempts at armament, a lesson that Isaiah found necessary to repeat to King Hezekiah in the face of the Assyrian invasion of 701 B.C. (Isa 22:8-11). That is not to say that weapons were irrelevant or unimportant. Most of Israel’s battles were won by the use of weapons under the favor and providence of God.

One should not make specific application of this to the modern world. No nation today, including America, is God’s covenant people. Sin and corruption in the world entail the implication that war is sometimes unavoidable, and nations must be prepared to protect their citizenry.