The Strongest Sword

Once upon a time, in the land of dreams, there lived two kings, King Just and King Greed. They both had beautiful land to rule, but King Just had the most beautiful land. He also had more wealth. 

Now, one day, King Just invited King Greed to stay a week at his castle. The week went by quickly, for King Greed enjoyed seeing all the wonderful things King Just had. Before leaving, King Greed went through a closet when no one else was around. King Greed saw a beautiful crown of gold and diamonds. He held it up and it sparkled in the light. When he tried it on, it looked so right for him because it fit and made him look great. 

“No one will ever miss this,” he said, “if I just take it.”

So, he hid it in his robe. As he was closing the closet door, he spotted the largest ruby he had ever seen.

“Oh!” he thought. “That would look so good with the crown.”

The more he looked at it, the more he wanted it. “I must have this, too!” he said.

So, he hid it in his robe with his other things.

“King Just has so much, and this was in a closet that is never opened! No one will ever miss it!” He said to himself.   

King Greed said goodbye to King Just and left for his land. When he reached his kingdom, his servant ran to tell him that King Just had found out that he took things and was very angry. In fact, he was planning to have an army of men come and fight him and get the things back.

King Greed said, “If only I could have the strongest sword, I could win the fight!”

So, he called everyone in the kingdom and said, “Whoever can find me the strongest sword to win my battle will be made my knight in charge of all things and will get a large reward!”

Everyone in the kingdom had an idea, from the strongest to the weakest.

The king called the strongest man, who made iron, and he said, “King Greed, I can make you the strongest sword that can win all your battles!” 

But when he made his sword of iron, it was too heavy to hold. Even the strongest man had to use both hands to lift it.

“This will never do,” said the king.

Then the baker came forward. “I know the strongest sword.”

Everyone laughed. “You don’t know anything,” they cried. “You never play our sports and games. You never fight our fights. You are not as strong as we are. In fact, all you do all day is sing, read books, and bake. What do you know? You are not important. Why, no one has ever given you a name. Go away, No Name!”

And so, they laughed and chanted, “Go away, No Name!”

Then, a strong carpenter came forward. “I know the best sword,” he said.

So, he made a sword of wood. But when the soldiers hit the sword on a rock, it split in two and they got splinters in their hands.

“That will never do!” said the king. “Will not someone give me a sword to win my battles, one that will not break or be too heavy to carry?”

“I will,” said the baker. 

But again, the people all started to say, “Go away, No Name! We do not want to hear what you have to say.”

Then, someone stepped forward. “I can give you the strongest sword. One that is beautiful to look at.”

The king said, “Please bring it quickly.” 

So, the man gave him a sword of tin. It was light and beautiful shining in the light, but it started to rain, and the sword rusted in its holder. It made it hard to remove.

“No, no, no!” said the king. He knew that King Just was coming to fight, and no one had given him the strongest sword to win. “Is there not any of you who will give me that sword!” he said.

No one came forward but No Name.

“I can,” he said.

Everyone was silent when King Greed said, “Well, what is it?”

The baker said, “It is the Bible.”

“That is just a book!” They yelled. “How can that save us from our battles?”

No Name said, “It is not just a book. The Bible says it is God’s Word which is sharper than any two-edged sword.”

The king listened as the baker opened the Bible and read, “Thou shalt not steal.”

The king said, “I know I should not have taken King Just’s things, and I am sorry. But because of it, I have to fight. What shall I fight with?”

The baker opened the Bible again and read, “The truth shall set you free.”

The baker said, “You know, King Greed, if you went to King Just and told him the truth and returned those things, you would not lose the battle.”

So, that is just what the king did, and do you know what? King Just said, “King Greed, I was mad at you for taking those things, but I am happy you returned them. If you had only told me how much you liked them, I would have given them to you. Here, take them.”

So, King Just gave the ruby and the crown back to King Greed and they became friends.

So, King Greed came back to his kingdom richer, for he had won the battle with truth and God’s Word—the strongest sword. He not only had the crown and ruby and his kingdom, but his friend King Just.

He called No Name to come to be rewarded and knighted him Sir True and said, "You indeed had the strongest sword that can win all battles, so I will knight you Sir True, and all the people in the kingdom from this day forth shall never call you No Name again, for you saved their lives by God’s Word—the strongest sword."

Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” 

Want to Listen?

Castle artwork by Daniel Venturo. Other artwork by Joshua Venturo