The Battle is the Lord’s

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Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:14-15 (NIV)

14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.

15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s,

Devotion:

            We hear and see a culture war raging around us. Pitting nation against nation, culture against culture, and even brother against brother. It seems that those of us who call Jesus our Lord are hopelessly outnumbered by those who fight on behalf of our spiritual enemy the devil. We shrink back and do not engage the enemy out of fear and even cowardice. It seems to us to be a hopeless battle in which we have no chance of surviving let alone winning.

            So, it must have seemed to Israel. Their foes were described as a “great horde” that no one could number. This was not the first time, nor would it be the last in which Israel seemed to face certain defeat in battle. From the days when the Lord had fought for Israel against the mighty army of Pharaoh, to the days when a cheeky little shepherd boy named David had slain Goliath and Israel had routed the Philistines, the Lord had fought for his favored nation of Israel. The battle on this day was won by the power of God over his enemies.

            While today’s battle is not fought with weapons of war it is no less of a struggle. There are two competing sets of ideas at war in our midst. On one hand are the people of the world who fight for their spiritual father, Satan. On the other hand, there is a small remnant who fight on behalf of their crucified and risen Lord, Jesus Christ. The strangest part of this battle plan is that we who follow Jesus are not taught to fight our enemies but to love them. The Lord desires that he convert the enemy into a friend of God. God would preserve his enemy's life rather than destroy them.

            God loves even those who do not love him in return. This is the mystery of God’s unsearchable plan for salvation of the world. As Jesus hung dying upon a cross, he called out to his Father to forgive those who had done this because they did not understand what they were truly doing. Jesus could see the battle from a different perspective than those who stood around him on that hill of death called Calvary. As he struggled to breathe his last breath, he could see God’s plan unfolding before him.

            By his resurrection he routed the enemy and began the long coming kingdom of God Almighty. There would still be battles to be fought but the outcome is sure. So, as we face our intensifying culture war around us, we should remain confident and not be moved. The battle and the victory are God’s to win. We must just stand strong and not be afraid or frightened. Let us pray for courage to face the coming battle.

Prayer:

            Glory be to you O God who fights our battles for us. Keep us from despair O Lord, help us stand firm in the battle you have led us into. Move our hearts with love and compassion for our enemy that they may be saved from the disaster that is surly coming upon them in this battle. Lord, when the war is over, and you are on your throne judging the nations remember us who stood our ground during the heat of the battle and lead us into heavenly glory with you. Amen.

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