Into Battle - December 18 Readings: Hosea 11–14, Revelation 6–7, Psalm 144:1–4, Proverbs 30:30–31

Links to December 18 Readings: Hosea 11–14, Revelation 6–7, Psalm 144:1–4, Proverbs 30:30–31

From the moment that Samuel appeared at Jesse's house and anointed him, David's life was one struggle after another. Some of his battles were suffered for righteousness sake, as in his conflict with Saul, rooted in Saul's jealousy.  He suffered, at times, as a consequence of his own sin, primarily that with Bathsheba. He also had struggles in which he fought against the Lord's enemies, as when he faced Goliath. Whatever the reason, the effect was the same. David spent his life at war.

In Psalm 144:2, David rejoiced in God's protection and deliverance.

He is my faithful love and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer.
He is my shield, and I take refuge in Him.

In spite of the constant turmoil and difficulty, David also knew the faithful and unceasing love of God. God was the fortress and stronghold into which he could run for protection, the shield against which the enemy's arrows would bounce and fall harmlessly to the ground. God was his refuge; protecting him from the enemies of life.

But David wasn't looking for God to remove him from the battle. Too many Christians think of God as their means of avoiding the war. They think of "peace" as the absence of struggle, as an escape from spiritual struggle. David never thought that way. In verse 1, he said,

May the Lord, my rock, be praised,
who trains my hands for battle
and my fingers for warfare.

God was not just protecting him from battle, but preparing him for it. God watched over him, but it was not to keep him out of trouble, but to empower him through it, to strengthen his hand for victory. Verse 2 closes by saying that "he (God) subdues my people under me." David was raised up by God and protected by him so that he could battle in God's name. 

We are saved to fight - not with each other, or even with sinners in the world, but with the spiritual forces of darkness. God protects us. He is our fortress and deliverer. But his power is not released in our lives to put us as ease, to make us comfortable and our lives easy. We've been enlisted as soldiers in God's cosmic conflict with the enemy and his forces. 

He trains our hands for battle and our fingers for warfare. 

Father, forgive me for when I have sought ease and comfort, when I have run from the battle. May I seek to war not against people, but against the sin and darkness that destroys them, in your name!