"Ready for Battle"

 

“Ready for Battle”

 

In my Scripture reading and journaling I came to 1 Chronicles in early August. I was tempted to skip over the opening chapters which record the genealogies of Israel’s tribes but God showed me that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful….” (2 Timothy 3:16, emphasis added). So I fought my way through the jaw-breaking names and—surprise!—God showed me truths I hadn’t seen before.

When I came to Chapter 7 I encountered two similar phrases I hadn’t noticed previously: “ready for battle” (Verses 4 and 40) and “ready to go out to war” (Verse 11). Why were these words included? My guess is that Israel throughout its 3500+ years of history has been surrounded by enemies and has had to (in the words of the Boy Scout motto) “Be Prepared” to defend itself. And God has seen to His people’s preservation despite the myriad of human threats.

As I write this in mid-August Israel is poised for another attack from foes that are determined to obliterate her from the earth. Will God’s people be intimidated? Not if history repeats itself (apparently her “neighbors” haven’t yet gotten the message that they’ll not succeed). For some 35 centuries God has kept His promise as echoed by an unknown poet and songwriter: “…He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:4). And in a time of crisis some 2900 years ago He assured King Jehoshaphat that “…the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15). And a generation after Jesus’ earthly ministry Paul wrote, “God did not reject his people….” (Romans 11:2, emphasis added). As I asked an agnostic friend a couple of years ago: Is this luck? Or the hand of God? I never received an answer.

As God’s people today we must be prepared for the spiritual battles which will come our way (“…Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”—2 Timothy 3:12, emphasis added). We protect ourselves with God’s armor (Ephesians 6:10-17a), Scripture (Verse 17b), prayer (Verse 18), readiness to speak respectfully when God opens doors (1 Peter 3:15) and keeping closely connected with His family (“Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one…If one person falls, the other can reach out and help….”—Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NLT). These resources make us ready for the battles of life. Let’s put them to work to God’s glory.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan