Last week I shared about the spiritual battle we are engaged in, and the armor we have been provided. You can read that post HERE.
As the week went on, more thoughts regarding our spiritual battles came into perspective.
The story of David and Goliath is a familiar one to many of us. Goliath, the giant everyone was afraid to fight.
David, the youngest of Jesse’s sons, was sent to bring food to his brothers who were on the battle field. They were in need of sustenance as the battle had been going on for forty days and nights.
While delivering the food, David hears the usual taunting which would send the men running in fear. It is the question David then asks the soldiers which grabbed my attention:
“Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”
(1 Samuel 17:26b, NLT)
Basically David was asking for a description of the enemy. David wanted to better understand who he was engaging with should he go into the battle.
We need to do the same.
“For our
struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against
the powers, against the world forces of this darkness,
against the
spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
(Ephesians 6:12, NASB)
Paul, in writing Ephesians, wants to be sure we all know who we are battling. Satan is a strong enemy and we need the power of God, we need the armor God has provided, to stand firm against him.
Once David knew who the enemy was, he understood the battle was a spiritual one. He understood the enemy was bigger than he, but not bigger than the living God.
Paul does the same thing for us. He has defined the spiritual battle, identified the enemies we will face, and now tells us:
“Therefore,
take up the full armor of God,
so that you will be able to resist in the
evil day,
and having done everything, to stand firm.”
(Ephesians 6:13, NASB)
It is once we have this understanding of the battle and our enemy, that we can put on the armor and stand firm.
When we define the battle, understand who our enemy is
and put on our protective armor,
we will then be able to stand firm.
Reflection:
Are you facing a battle this week? Do you need to define the battle or understand who you are battling?
I wonder how David's brothers felt when he came in, and with the faith of a child saw the truth of a situation. He also talks like the scrappy youngest child who knows how to taunt his older brothers on the short-comings. I pray that in the battles I face this week, that I approach them with the faith of a child!
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