battle

One Man Army

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1 Kings 1:36-37
“Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, ‘Amen! May the Lord God of my lord the king say so too. As the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so may He be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.’”

As David’s final days drew near, a dark and ominous cloud hung over the nation of Israel. Following in the footsteps of his brother Absalom, Adonijah exalted himself in an attempt to usurp the nation’s throne. He convinced the princes of Israel, as well as the army, to join his rebellion. However, the palace guard, prophets and the mighty men remained loyal to David and young prince Solomon. The nation of Israel found itself once again on the brink of a civil war that would cost the lives of thousands.

In the midst of all this chaos, we are re-introduced to Benaiah. We met him earlier in the story line, and found him to be one of David’s mighty men. We read in 2 Samuel that He “killed two lion-like heroes of Moab, a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day and an Egyptian, a spectacular man” with his own spear. Benaiah was well known in his day for his acts of valor, but the greatest battle he ever fought was in a totally different realm.

As the armies of Israel joined forces to attack the king, Benaiah stood before the Lord and interceded for his nation.“May the Lord God of my lord the king say so too. As the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so may He be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.”

This short prayer may be what saved the kingdom from a brutal civil clash.

It is important to remember the value of prayer. Instead of being quick to grab the sword, or enter the physical battle, we need to be instant in prayer. We must remember that the real battles will be won on our knees, as we intercede on behalf of others. One man’s plea, can rescue a nation.

Pastor Jim

 

It’s Not Free

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2 Samuel 19:4
“But the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, ‘O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!’”

I recently watched a news segment which focused on two teenagers who decided to rob a local business. One of the boys was reluctant to get involved, while the other boasted confidently that “no one would get hurt.” Sadly, as the story unfolded, one man lay dead and two young men were sent to prison for life. Sin is just like that. It promises to bring us happiness, and ensuring us that no one will get hurt. Regrettably, David found this out the hard way. One night, while allowing his passion to be distracted from the Lord, David made the choice to pursue his lust and begin a relationship with another woman. What he thought would bring him pleasure, continued to cost him over and over again. This chapter reveals some of those costs.

After what must have been the worst battle of David’s life, his son Absalom lay dead in the street. Because of David’s inability to deal with the pain, the nation was confused and susceptible. It did not take long for someone to seize the opportunity and take advantage of Israel’s vulnerability; the nation was divided, turning the cities into a battle field.

We must be clear, even though sin is confessed, repented of, and will always be forgiven, it never comes without cost. No man is an island, and we never sin only unto ourselves. When a man walks away from his family, his children and unborn grandchildren will be impacted. This will become a great mountain they will struggle to clim, for the rest of their lives.

If you are toying with sin because you have such a difficult life, believing you deserve the pleasure you think it will bring, remember the consequences of sin are far greater than you want to pay. You don’t want to observe all that you have built being ripped apart, as you weep at the loss of that which matters most to you.

Pastor Jim

 

Victorious 

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Psalm 44:3
“For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them.”

Even a casual reading of the Old Testament will lead to the conclusion that Israel did not win their battles on their own. When armies are overthrown by the rushing waters of the Red Sea, walls toppled with rams horns, and a shepherd defeats a warrior with a sling and stone, it is clear that the hand of God is behind the victories. There are times when Israel went to battle in their strength, but those are the times of failure, not of triumph. It is hard to forget the Battle of Ai. Joshua sent the troops into battle without first seeking guidance from the Lord, only to see his army retreat and many soldiers lose their lives (Joshua 7:2-6). Clearly, the strength behind the success of the nation of Israel was the leading and empowering hand of God.

There are many differences between our relationship with God through Christ, and Israel’s relationship under the first covenant. We are not a nation that has been given a land, and promised victory in physical battles. That does not mean the battles we face are any less difficult. Every Christian knows what it is to face spiritual battles with an enemy as real as Goliath.

Paul described this battle to the Christians in Galatia, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (Galatians 5:17).

The battle we face is a battle within. It is between our desire to do what is right and pleasing to God, and our desire for what is unholy, sinful and destructive. Just as Israel’s success was not found in bigger armies, more advanced weaponry, or treatise with other nations, so our victories will not be won with determination or increased will power. To win the battle against the flesh, we need to apply God’s battle tactics.

Again the words of Paul instruct us: “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:8).

In other words, if we spend our time feeding the flesh, the flesh will become stronger; and in battle, the flesh will win. We will find ourselves defeated again and again. On the other hand, if we spend our time feeding the spirit with a healthy diet of God’s Word, prayer, fellowship and service, we will find greater and greater victory in the times of spiritual battle. I believe what we do in times of peace, determines who will win in the times of heated conflict. Too many Christians spend little time making daily spiritual investments in their lives, and wonder why they find themselves defeated over and over every time temptation rises.

The ways of God will never change. His victories are always accomplished in His strength. When we take the time to sow to the Spirit, we will have victory over the lusts of the flesh. If we don’t, we will continue to struggle, fail, fall, and be constantly riddled with guilt and weakness. You don’t have to live like that any longer. His arm will be your strength.

Pastor Jim

Questions for Psalm 44

  1. How are the truths of God delivered from one generation to the next?
  2. How are you involved in passing on the truth of God to others?
  3. In verse 3 – 8, what does the Psalmist attribute Israel’s victories to?
  4. Despite the victories, the Psalmist is describing the times of defeat. What does he do to remedy the situation?

 

 

A Line In The Sand

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2 Samuel 8:2

“Then he defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought tribute.”


During the reign of Saul, Israel faced constant attack from within and without. From within, they faced uprisings from the Philistines; while beyond their borders, they were threatened by Moab, Ammon, and Syria. Saul’s foreign policy was to react to attacks as they came; once an enemy showed signs of attacking the armies of Israel, they would respond. David had a different approach. He decided to go on the offensive and remove the threats once and for all, even drawing a line in the sand to make his stance very clear. 


David’s model serves as a good example for how the Christian should approach sin. Instead of allowing compromise to exist, and only dealing with personal sin when it begins to overtake us, we should take an offensive approach, seeking to remove all areas of compromise from our lives. Taking inventory of our private life and our homes is a great way to get this started. If you have allowed things in your life that may lead to sin, then it is time for a good old fashion spring cleaning. Maybe it is time to go through the fridge, CD collection, and computer, and toss some things out. 


In this case, the best defense is a good offense. 


Pastor Jim 



Easy As 1,2,3

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2 Samuel 5:7
“Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).”

After taking the throne and ruling over all of Israel, David focused his attention on three crucial areas that would help to guarantee a long and successful reign.

First, he established Jerusalem as the capital of the nation. Jerusalem was centrally located and easily defendable. Although Shiloh housed the Tabernacle, Israel had lacked a central political capital. Choosing Jerusalem as the capital made a statement of a new beginning for the nation. They would not be continuing on as they had been for so many years, but would be starting fresh. This is one of the greatest benefits of becoming a child of God. Paul wrote, “. . .behold, all things become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We do not have to carry around the baggage of the past when we come to Christ. We can lay it at His feet and have a fresh start at life.

Second, David addressed the Philistine problem. Saul’s approach seemed to be to respond whenever the Philistines attacked. David chose to address them head on. After carefully seeking the Lord, he began a campaign to rid Israel of the Philistines, once and for all. Often, we deal with sin only when it becomes a problem, instead of planning ahead to ensure we have built up safeguards that will make it difficult to stumble. We all have “easily besetting sins” we must guard ourselves against if we are not going to be defeated by them. Perhaps it is time to drive some things out of your life, before you find yourself defeated by them once again.

Finally, David chose to bring the Ark to the center of the nation. Later we will read of his desire to build a Temple, to both house the Ark, and provide a place of worship for the people. Although David will struggle with the “how to” and move the Ark in an inappropriate way, he is showing his desire for God to have center stage in his life, and in the nation. Too often, we give God the back seat, or perhaps even “shotgun,” when we should be giving Him the driver’s seat. The rightful place for Jesus in your life, is sitting on the throne as Lord. Instead of letting Him be a part of your life, you should let Him be Lord of your life. If you make a mistake like David did, look into the Word and see how He wants you to live and “Just do it!”

Pastor Jim

 

Oh My! 

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1 Samuel 17:37
“Moreover David said, ‘The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’”

David had many reasons not to enter the arena and do battle with Goliath. David was young and had no real experience in battle. He lacked the support of those who knew him best, and the protective armor was way too big. Goliath, on the other hand, was a man of war, a legend on the battle field. His size alone was a force that spread fear throughout the camp of Israel. We would hold nothing against David, if the story read that he delivered the supplies to his brothers, then returned home. With all the reasons David had to avoid engaging in this battle, he had one reason that triumphed over all. David believed that God was alive and able to lead him to victory.

While David was not a soldier, and did not carry a sword or spear, he was not without experience in trusting the Lord in difficulty. He makes reference to times when he had to fight off a lion and a bear. Preparation for the greatest battle of his life took place on the job, as he protected his father’s sheep. It is the little battles we face day to day, that prepare us for what awaits us in the future. None of us can see around the corner of time. We do not know what trials or triumphs await us, but we can prepare for them by facing the daily challenges with the confidence of David. “The Lord will deliver me.”

Pastor Jim

 

The Wrong Battle

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Judges 20:14
“Instead, the children of Benjamin gathered together from their cities to Gibeah, to go to battle against the children of Israel.”

The book of Judges ends on a tragic note. Personal immorality, social chaos, and civil war mark the close of the book. This was certainly one of the darkest times in the history of the people of God. The rape and murder of a young woman led to a heated battle between the tribes of Israel. Instead of facing their true enemies, Israel was caught up in civil infighting that cost the lives of some of their most gifted men. When all is recorded, we find they were simply fighting all the wrong battles.

Instead of devoting herself to the Lord, the young woman who lost her life, spent her days in adulterous affairs. The Levite who reported the crime, was himself guilty of immorality. He was in a relationship with a woman with whom he was not married . She was his concubine, a practice acquired, not from the Word, but from the world. The night of the crime against his concubine, he was partying within the house. His drunkenness no doubt influenced his decision making. We read he is the one who sent her out to the mob of men, who eventually raped and murdered her. It is interesting to note, when he reports the crime, there is no mention of his own misdeeds, no repentance for his action, no mourning, no sackcloth, and no confession of sin.

As the story continues, the nation of Israel gathers for war, to avenge the crimes against this man and his concubine. The tribe of Benjamin, instead of realizing the immorality that was rampant within their tribe, stood up for the actions of these men, who raped and murdered the woman. Perhaps a spirit of freedom prevailed, and those who committed these deeds were only expressing their natural sexual inclinations. Whatever the case, Benjamin, instead of addressing a prevailing national sin, turned their anger against their brethren, and war broke out.

The lesson is clear. It is possible to spend a great deal of effort fighting the wrong battles. Instead of fighting to justify our own sins, or defending the sinful actions of others, we should be fighting for personal holiness and national righteousness. Because the people wandered from God, the nation lost sight of the holiness of God, and immorality spread like cancer throughout the land.

Pastor Jim


Fear Factor 

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Judges 7:3
“Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead. ’ And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.”

God is selecting a team for a specific task. They will be led into hand-to-hand combat against a Midianite army too vast to number. As the people gather for the selection process, the first cut is made. Twenty-two thousand men are sent packing for one simple reason – fear! Gideon may have asked for a show of hands, or for those who were afraid, to take a step backwards. Whatever the case, his army was immediately reduced by 70% and the reason for their departure was fear. They were afraid to be a part of the work of God.

After a second selection process, Gideon’s army was reduced again. Now there are only three hundred men left standing on the eve of battle. Here, just hours before they will step into the fight of their lives, something else very interesting transpires. After giving the battle plan to Gideon, God declares in Judges 7:10-11,

“’But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant, and you shall hear what they say; and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.’ Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outpost of the armed men who were in the camp.”

Did you catch that? After sending ALL those who were afraid packing God says, “If you are afraid go and listen to the talk in the enemies camp.” If all those who were afraid went home, then we should read that Gideon and his servant had no fear, but as the story continues they, filled with fear, sneak into the enemies camp, as the Lord instructed.

I think this passage sheds light on the connection between fear and faith. I have often heard, fear and faith are mutually exclusive. A person cannot be afraid and exercise faith at the same time. I have not found that to be true. I have found, at the times I had to exercise the most faith, I have also been filled with great amounts of fear. Faith is trusting in the Lord, despite the fears which unsettle the soul. Those who allowed fear to win the battle, went home that day, never realizing the power of God. Those who put faith over fear, saw one of the greatest victories in all of Israel’s history.

Pastor Jim

 

Team Work

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Judges 1:3

“So Judah said to Simeon his brother, ‘Come up with me to my allotted territory, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I will likewise go with you to your allotted territory.’ And Simeon went with him.”

 

When the land was distributed among the tribes,  Simeon was given a portion within the land allotted to Judah. The reason being,  Judah’s lot was too big for any one tribe. Since Judah and Simeon were going to share the land, they would have to learn to stand together in battle, to defeat their enemies. 

 

As the events recorded in Judges unfold, we find that each of the tribes, while facing different enemies, have a common struggle; some things are persistent and difficult to remove. This is the same struggle the believer faces today. Immediately upon receiving Christ, there are a number of things that seem to flee from our lives,  and that we may never struggle with again. There are however, other things which will require constant and continual battle. Like Potiphar’s wife who daily tempted Joseph, there are certain sins that require daily battle. 

 

We might learn a lesson from Judah and Simeon who engaged in the battle together. There are, no doubt,  some struggles we must endure alone. However, much of our Christian life would be easier if we joined with others in the journey. The Bible speaks of temptations that are common to all men.  Since we are facing the same struggles, it would be wise to have a few trusted comrades we can lean on when things become difficult. 

 

Over the years I have found through serving Christ, I have been able to team up with godly believers who have been a tremendous help to my walk with Christ. 

 

Pastor Jim 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Neglect

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Joshua 18:3
“Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: ‘How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?’”

After the great deliverance from Egypt, forty years in the wilderness, and five years in the Promised Land, there were still tribes who were neglecting to possess their possessions. In other words, the land that had been promised and distributed to them, remained in the hand of their enemies. Joshua, in a form of harsh rebuke, declares that the reason for their failure to take the land was simple neglect. Perhaps some used the age old excuse of “I have just been so busy” or “I don’t have time right now.” We know for sure, some of them made the excuse of the task being too difficult.

Joshua 17:16
“But the children of Joseph said, ‘The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron…’”

For the tribes of Joseph, the excuse was the enemy was too strong for them. As a result, they wanted to be given a different lot; one that was easier. It is almost as though they looked at the land the other tribes were given and thought, “My life is way more difficult than theirs. If I had their lot I could possess it.”

2 Corinthians 10:12
“…But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”

I think we are making a great mistake when we compare ourselves with others, to the neglect of God’s call on our lives. When facing giants with iron chariots, it is natural to think, “no one else has it as hard as I do”. The problem is, that is not true. The other tribes were facing difficulties as great as the ones Ephraim and Manasseh faced. The lot distributed to them was so they might learn to trust in the strength of God, and walk in His victory.

Instead of looking over the fence and complaining about how much easier everyone else has it, we should be looking up to the Lord. We should be seeking how He would have us successfully live out the lot He has placed before us. For all of us, there remains much land to possess in our walk with Christ. That land includes conquering personal sin, bearing the fruit of the Spirit, and winning others for the kingdom of Heaven.

Pastor Jim