Spurgeon: June AM
* 06/08/AM
"There fell down many slain, because the war was of God."
--1 Chronicles 5:22
Warrior, fighting under the banner of the Lord Jesus, observe
this verse with holy joy, for as it was in the days of old so is
it now, if the war be of God the victory is sure. The sons of
Reuben, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh could
barely muster five and forty thousand fighting men, and yet in
their war with the Hagarites, they slew "men, an hundred
thousand," "for they cried to God in the battle, and He was
entreated of them, because they put their trust in Him." The
Lord saveth not by many nor by few; it is ours to go forth in
Jehovah's name if we be but a handful of men, for the Lord of
Hosts is with us for our Captain. They did not neglect buckler,
and sword, and bow, neither did they place their trust in these
weapons; we must use all fitting means, but our confidence must
rest in the Lord alone, for He is the sword and the shield of
His people. The great reason of their extraordinary success lay
in the fact that "the war was of God." Beloved, in fighting with
sin without and within, with error doctrinal or practical, with
spiritual wickedness in high places or low places, with devils
and the devil's allies, you are waging Jehovah's war, and unless
He himself can be worsted, you need not fear defeat. Quail not
before superior numbers, shrink not from difficulties or
impossibilities, flinch not at wounds or death, smite with the
two-edged sword of the Spirit, and the slain shall lie in heaps.
The battle is the Lord's and He will deliver His enemies into
our hands. With steadfast foot, strong hand, dauntless heart,
and flaming zeal, rush to the conflict, and the hosts of evil
shall fly like chaff before the gale.
Stand up! stand up for Jesus! To him that overcometh,
The strife will not be long; A crown of life shall be;
This day the noise of battle, He with the King of glory
The next the victor's song: Shall reign eternally.