Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for today is taken from Psalm 60 verse 11, “O grant us help against the foe, for human help is worthless,” (NRSVB). In this psalm David recalls the severe battles that the Israelites had to face and the multitude of enemies they had to fight, with a smaller army, less chariots and less ammunition. He thinks on the times when they had to flee, but then he is reminded how God came and turned the battle to their favour. It was not the power of the mighty warriors, but the power of the Lord, that saved Israel and her army from certain defeat. David realizes that the work of humans, even the greatest well-trained and equipped armies, cannot stand against God. God uses the elements, like hail, to help in the battle and to confuse the enemy so that they flee. God’s plans and purposes will not be altered, or changed, by the work of enemy forces. At exactly the strategic right moment, God will intervene. The power of the horses and their riders will suddenly perish and the hands of the soldiers with the bow and arrow will become limp, their hearts will become fearful. They will flee, for their eyes will see the angel armies of the Lord of host, and they will tremble. God will raise his banner, his flag, over his army and will claim the victory over the adversary.
The Apostle Paul tells in his letter to the Ephesians, in Chapter 6 verse 12, that our adversaries are not flesh and blood, but we are wrestling and fighting against the powers and principalities of darkness. It is not to make us fearful that Paul teaches us this lesson, but to make us vigilant and mindful, encouraging us to use the spiritual armour that God has given his children. The belt of truth and the breast-plate of righteousness, given to us by the grace of God and the faith the he creates anew in us daily. As shoes for our feet, we must wear, like a horse, shoes shod from iron to protect and make us for swift running. This iron we wear, is the iron will of eagerness to run and proclaim the Gospel. As a shield, to protect us, we have to wear the shield of faith, that will deflect the “fiery missiles” of the evil one. Our head must be protected by the helmet of Salvation, that we have received through the work of Christ on the Cross, for us. The sword in our hand is the Word of God. It is powerful to cleave between bone and sinew and expose only the truth. Finally we can have all the weapons, but if we approach the battle without prayer, we will will not be able to fight courageously to the end. We therefore must never grow tired in our practice of prayer.
The enemy, like Goliath the Giant, may scoff at our weapons, however, it was the first stone from the slingshot, that cause the giant to stumble. So it is with the children of God, protected by him, God fights our battles, and claims the victory over the evil one. He is likes a roaring lion, trying to find those he can snatch away, but his might has already been broken. David protected his flock from the animals of prey and those who tried to steal the sheep. God protects his children and takes them to a safe haven, for he has vanquished the foe. The evil one may roar, but he has already been condemned to failure, he has been overcome and the battle has been won, once and for all. We do not need to fear his roars.
Living life on earth can feel like a battle zone, enemies within and enemies without, fearful situations and enemies that one cannot perceive with the eye, all standing at attention, ready to attack. The Apostle Paul states that when we dress ourselves with the full armour provided by God for us, we will be able to stand-up against the strategies and the deceits of the evil one, and we will overcome. We do not have to live in fear, even in evil times and times of great turmoil, we are not alone. We rely on the power of the One who walks on the water, and stills the storms, whom death could not contain in the grave, but who rose from death to life, for us. The Apostle Paul encourages us to wait and see how the Lord will deliver us. He writes in his second letter to the congregation of the Thessalonians, Chapter Three verse 3, “But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one,” (NRSVB).
Father God, we thank you that you come and battle on our behalf, that you protect us in the cleft of your hand, that you call your angels to carry us so that we would not even hurt our foot. We ask that you will give us courage as we face the trials and temptations of the times we live in. Father, we thank you that you host your banner over us, and call us your own, Amen.