The Battle Is The Lord's!

While putting the boys to bed tonight we began reading a devotional that began with one simple statement from 1 Samuel 17:47 which simply said "the battle is the Lord's." I hadn't quite finished reading those words when Caleb was wanting to look it up in his Bible to read it for himself. I was so proud. But as I helped him find the passage and he read the entire verse we talked about what was going on. All he had read was that one verse. After setting the stage, we went back and read verses 45 through 47 where David was talking to the Philistine army just before he slew Goliath. It's been a little while since I've read the account of David and Goliath. But as I read those three verses aloud this evening I got chill bumps.

David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

I was struck by something about David here - his confidence. Here he is, the little brother that has come to bring provisions to his brothers as they are in battle. He gets there and as he first hears Goliath taunt the army of Israel he sees all of those grown men run in fear. And this teenager stands firm and confident in the power of the Lord asking what they're going to do about it. He confidently tells Saul that he'll go meet the Philistine. He confidently approaches the giant. And he confidently declared victory before the battle even began. He was confident because he absolutely knew the character of Yahweh and had no doubt that the Lord will prevail against evil. The Lord above all was to be glorified and David knew it.

Now I have to ask myself a hard question. Do I have that same confidence in my God, who I know is Mighty Warrior (Jer 20:11), My Banner (Jehova Niss - Exodus 17:15), a Strong Tower (Prov 18:10), the Victorious King and so many more? In Kay Arthur's book Lord I Want To Know You she makes a powerful statement. She says "...Christians, for the most part, can't boast in the name of their God...In biblical times, a name represented a person's character. God's name represents His character, His attributes, His nature. To know His name is to know Him. To boast in His name is to have confidence in who He is!" Do I know Him intimately enough to be able to boast in Him? The answer, I'm afraid is all too obvious. Were I that confident enough in His character then I wouldn't struggle with the sin that is too present in my life. Were I that confident, then I would always be desperately seeking the way of escape that He provides in the moment of my temptation (1 Cor 10:13). But alas, I succumb and fail to stand boldly in the face of that temptation proclaiming that "I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty" and that "the battle is the Lord's."

Oh righteous Father, I am ashamed. You have shown me since I was a child who you are. I have experienced your protection, salvation, and victory. Yet daily I fall. I am endlessly reminded of your holiness and my filthiness. I know that you wait longingly for me to fully believe and trust in your promises. And each day as I'm blessed with another opportunity to live in your power, I fail. But I praise you that all is not lost. For when I can deny myself, take up my cross and follow you that you make my footsteps firm. When I can clothe myself in the armor that you've given me you equip me to stand firm against the wiles of the devil. Your faithfulness is overwhelming. Father, help me to continually believe in the deepest part of my soul. Allow me to walk in your grace and follow in your footsteps. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me not to spend one moment apart from you. Let all who come against me know beyond the shadow of a doubt that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give [them] into [my] hands. Praises to the Lord of Hosts!