From the moment of the Queen’s arrival at the Abbey, the elderly Marquess of Salisbury had been bearing, in two handed grip, with the blade upright, the Great Sword of State.  It is an enormous weapon, over 4 feet in height and weighing more than eight pounds, and it is splendid to behold.  The sword is crossed with the lion on one side of the hilt and the unicorn on the other; the scabbard is fabulously worked with jewels in the floral symbols of the United Kingdom.

Now, something of a Sword Dance began, as the aged (but able!) Marquess at last surrendered the Great Sword of State to the Lord Chamberlain of the Household, and then the Sword of the Offering was placed in his hands.  This one is known to be the truly beautiful sister, sword and scabbard covered with the rarest gems, diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies, blade of Damascus steel.  Its price is beyond calculation.  It was presented unsheathed to the Archbishop, who brought it before God at the Altar, praying these words from the Liber Regalis (Regal Book,) that the Queen might use it “as the Minister of God for the terror and punishment of evildoers, and for the protection and encouragement of those that do well.”  Somebody has been reading their Scripture passages!

Then, joined by the Archbishop of York and the Bishops of London and Winchester, the bejeweled Sword caught the light and sparkled all the way to Elizabeth and was placed upright in her hand.

The Archbishop prayed as Her Majesty received the only sword that would be presented to her.  The others were borne before her.  “With this Sword do justice, stop the growth of iniquity, protect the Holy Church of God, help and defend widows and orphans, restore the things that are gone to decay, maintain the things that are restored, punish and reform what is amiss, and confirm what is in good order . . .”  This sword came to Elizabeth through her subjects, to the State, to the Church, to God, and again through the Church to the Queen, which is to say, State and Church acknowledged her right to bear it.

Our Sword is of God; rightly understood, our Sword is God, as Jesus Christ is the Word, and the Word is our Sword. (Ephesians 6:17)  By it we invoke justice, the Lord’s brand of justice, with mercy triumphant, and we pray for those who are desperate, fallen and lost.  We stop the growth of iniquity where fear and depression and violence seek to harm those we love, protecting and defending them with the very effectual prayer of faith from the heart of a righteous subject of God Most High.  We care for widows and orphans, restoring decayed family relationships and confirming what is good through our worship and praise and intercession.

But there is more  . . . let us pray today, pray as those who bear the Sword of God, and tomorrow we will see more of this great display of power, protection, and privilege.

The Sword of State, Wikipedia