The Battle is The Lord's

The Battle is The Lord's

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17

Focus verse: 1 Samuel 17:47, "Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands."

The Israelites had a thorn in their flesh and they really didn't know if someday they would get delivered from hands of the oppressing Philistines. Their King, Soul had given up in fighting the Philistines. The Philistine fighter, Goliath, was a gigantic man with great experience in fighting. He was a feared man. Nobody dared face him and he would insult the Israelites each day. Above that he would openly defy the name of the Almighty God. This angered a young boy called David and he asks for the chance to fight Goliath. His brothers and king Saul himself discouraged him and tried to deny him from entering the fight but he didn't listen to their discouragements but decides he would fight Goliath. King Saul gives him his fighting regalia, he tries them and takes them out since he was not used to such fighting regalia. He knew that the same God who had led him to killing a bear and a lion who had attacked his father's flock would give him victory again over the uncircumcised Philistines. He knew that the battle was God's and He would give Goliath into his hands. God answered his prayers and the Israelites were free once again.

There is a lot of fear in the world today. We wake up to bad news of infectious diseases, deaths, political unrest, cyclones, collapsing economy, loss of jobs among other uncertainties. Many people don't understand what life has for them and can't tell when all these will end. Well, we may have lots of challenges but we can still have a hope knowing that the battle is the Lord's and he will bring us victory. It may seem like it's getting late but be sure God already has a solution. His solution may not look wise before men but He is God and he doesn't fight the way men fight. David was discouraged by his own brothers and even the king himself but he listened to God more than those discouraging him. 

 

If you want to win you will need to stop paying attention to the discouraging forces but listen to God's voice who can make a way where there seems to be no way. The battle is the Lord's and not even a pandemic is too hard for him to handle. 

 

Pastor Eliazar Wambo

Director Bethesda Faith Ministries, Kenya