Read 1 Samuel 17: 1-3
This story starts with describing a gathering for battle. This wasn’t just an overnight thing and it’s done. Camps were set up. They meant business. This was a battleground for war.
Battles of war in this time would be different than today. The weapons of choice were far limited compared to what can be used in our time. But it was a war, nonetheless.
Can you picture the opposing sides gathering on the hilltop facing each other? Each man has their thoughts as they gather their weapons. Will we fight today? Will my skills be adequate to face my enemy? Will I survive the day? Will I get to see my family soon? Or is this the end for me?
Did any of these men think about what they were fighting for? Were they just following orders and had no choice? Or were they fully engaged in their purpose of the battle?
Why was there a battle in the first place?
The Philistines were in Judah. This was not their land. They were an invading force. They were oppressing the people of Israel. The men of Israel were defending their land.
What were the motives of those going to battle then and now? The oppressors have their reasons. It could be hatred, or the desire to conquer land and add it to their kingdom. Whatever the reason for the battle, the result is that others are put in the defensive position.
In a war, there is also the unfortunate fact that someone is going to get hurt, even killed. Have we experienced the horrors of a war? If not physically, have we read, or seen a movie or a memorial that retells the story? What about current news? Each battle brings results in a traumatic force. Is the reason worth the impact of each battle? Why do we fight or get engaged in any battle?
How about a battle that we all face, daily?
There is a daily war that many may not recognize or think about, let alone understand. It is a spiritual war. There is an oppressor. There is an enemy. And that enemy, Satan, and his forces aim to kill our soul and spirit, even our bodies so that we die.
This enemy hates us.
This enemy wants to steal from us.
This enemy wants to make us miserable.
This enemy wants us to find relief with worldly solutions, even to create addictions.
This enemy wants to lure us into a pit of hell.
This enemy wants to steal our joy.
This enemy wants us cut off from the defensive that will conquer Him.
This enemy wants us helpless.
This enemy doesn’t want us to see his offensive plan at work.
We have an enemy that wants us to give in and join his side. Isn’t that easier? That’s what he wants us to think. There’s that luring us into a pit. But there is another side to the battle. We have a defense when we team up with Jesus, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. The enemy doesn’t want us to see that if we join up with the Lord, we not only don’t have to give up, but we can be on the offense against him as well. We can choose another side.
Here’s another thought about being in a battle…
Look at the hilltops. There are many men. On both sides. We see a setting in this story where the battle impacts several people. Can we relate as well? Do you see others around you?
We both stand alone in our position and our thoughts, and we are also standing side by side with others. We have communities, places to gather together, and times of fellowship. We build relationships with others. We are not alone. We choose the people we will stand next to in our daily battles.
Yes, we choose. We can argue that we can’t choose our family, but we do choose how engaged we are with them and let them into our daily lives.
We choose our friends. We choose those that we want to spend time with, talk to, and even confide in.
And in our battles in this life, we line up with these people on our side.
And the opposition? It’s there.
How many different forms and places are there that a battle can erupt in our lives?
What about where we work, our family, our marriages, in school, social media exposure, gangs or bullies in our neighborhoods, and so many other hilltops and valleys in our lives?
I’m sure we can all picture some kind of conflict that we are experiencing in our lives right now. Doesn’t it feel like an all-out battle at times?
Lines are drawn and people pick their sides.
But here’s what’s interesting… we are not alone, even though it may feel like it.
No matter what side of the battle we are on, someone is there.
We still have to deal with the personal battles that can rage within us, especially the battlefield that occurs within our own minds. But there truly are people around us. The observation here is to understand what side of the battlefield that we are on. And why. What are we fighting for?
Are we fighting blindly because someone expects us to? Or have we chosen a side because we believe in the cause? Are we fighting for our lives? Are we trusting the one who is leading us in our fight? Who is the commander that we are following? Who are we rallying with and against?
If we are uncomfortable with the answers to these questions, the good news is that we aren’t stuck where we are. We always have the choice to team up with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He wants us to join Him. There is a requirement though. Joining His ranks is through the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7, I Peter 1:18-19, Revelation 1:5). He also has a training course that includes discipline and correction.
Think about it for a moment. When one joins the military, one must go through a training course first. Then those methods and tools are used to fight the enemy.
But what is the outcome of that training? What is the outcome of joining the ultimate Victor?
To learn to fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12). To be with Him in all eternity, reaping the rewards that He has gathered for us. Each battle has a victor. And to the victor, there is a reward.
There is a battle raging around us. Much of it is unseen. (Examples are in 2 Kings 6:15-17, Daniel 10:10-14). The Word of God prepares and trains us so we that be equipped in this fight. We can know who the enemy is and how to defend ourselves against him. We can learn about the tools we have to fight against him and the armor to wear. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
As we get into the story of David and Goliath, let’s discern the enemy’s battle plan and how we can team up with the King of Kings to defeat him where he has been attacking us in our lives. We don’t need to be alone in our battles. Not when we are on the Lord’s side. We can experience victory.
