Tag Archives: war

The God Who Fights for You

26 Monday Dec 2016

Posted by in Psalm 118, Psalms

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Reading:                                        Psalm 118

(Verses 8-14)

It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in humans.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them down.
They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them down.
They swarmed around me like bees,
but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them down.
I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the LORD helped me.
The LORD is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation (NIV).

Reflection

Psalm 118 is perhaps the most militant psalm in the Bible. The psalmist assumes a combative stance. He is ready to take on the world and everything his adversaries can toss at him. These are the words of a fighter: All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down. They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down.

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Ice crystals formed by wave action on the Ottawa River — photo by David Kitz

Some may find the aggressive words of this psalm offensive. To be frank, I prefer the more passive psalms that speak of quiet waters, grassy hills and star-filled night skies, but life is more than tranquil repose. It also includes moments of conflict and combat. As the author of Ecclesiastes reminds us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 9). There is a time to be conciliatory, but there also are times when we need to stand our ground and defend our faith and our way of life.

Joshua is a Bible character who exemplifies the attitude and intent of this psalm. He was a man on a mission. His mission, assigned to him by God, was the conquest of Canaan. If you read the Book of Joshua, you will discover that he pursued his mission with a ruthless passion that ultimately brought victory and success. In his farewell speech to the nation, Joshua had these words of advice: “The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. So be very careful to love the LORD your God” (Joshua 23:9-11).

The God of peace is also the God who fights for you. Very little in this life is accomplished without rugged determination and a fighting spirit. Joshua proved that great nation-changing things are possible when we move forward with courage and tap into the power of God.     

Response: Father God, there are battles that you want me to fight. Help me to personally tap into your power. Give me courage to stand for you and your truth though a thousand oppose me. Amen.

Your Turn: Are there great things that God has called you to accomplish? Is He fighting for you?

How Long, LORD?

21 Wednesday Sep 2016

Posted by in Psalm 94, Psalms

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Reading:                                          Psalm 94

Verses 1-7

The LORD is a God who avenges.
O God who avenges, shine forth.
Rise up, Judge of the earth;
pay back to the proud what they deserve.
How long, LORD, will the wicked,
how long will the wicked be jubilant?

They pour out arrogant words;
all the evildoers are full of boasting.
They crush your people, LORD;
they oppress your inheritance.
They slay the widow and the foreigner;
they murder the fatherless.
They say, “The LORD does not see;
the God of Jacob takes no notice” (NIV).

Reflection

As I gather my thoughts to write this post there are fresh reports that a ceasefire in the Syrian conflict has come to an end. Aid convoys have been bombed. Recriminations fly back and forth between the warring parties; each blames the other. Meanwhile, war rages on. People starve. Refugees flee. Bombs fall from the sky and children are killed and injured.

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While we enjoy peace in other lands war rages — photo by David Kitz

There is a present-day relevance to Psalm 94. Its words are an ongoing reality in war-torn Syria. How long, LORD, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant? They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. They crush your people, LORD; they oppress your inheritance. They slay the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless. 

The Syrian conflict is now into its fifth year with no end in sight and many people are asking, ”How long, LORD?”  

There is so much evil in the world. Evil expresses itself most graphically during war. There are those who would like to blame God for war, but that makes no sense. Human pride, greed and cunning lead to war. Human intransigence keeps it going. We can and should pray for God to show mercy and bring peace, but ultimately human hearts must change to bring an end to war.

We are right to pray for an end to murderous regimes. Essentially that is what the psalmist is praying. Is there more we can do? Emergency aid to war-torn regions is always needed. We can open our hearts and our wallets to provide some help. When an entire nation falls into the hands of murderous thieves are there a few good Samaritans who are willing to help?

Sometimes there are no easy answers in this difficult world.

Response: LORD God, thank you for the peace and security I enjoy. I don’t want to take my peace and prosperity for granted. Show me how I can be a help in this troubled world. Amen.

Your Turn: Should we be concerned about foreign conflicts or only pay attention to things at home?

Not Strength and Weapons

06 Wednesday Jul 2016

Posted by in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms

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Their strength and weapons were not what won the land and gave them victory! You loved them and fought with your powerful arm and your shining glory (Psalm 44:3, CEV).

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Daffodil path, Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is land.

What is the secret to victory in war? In modern warfare often the answer boils down to superior weapons. Superior weapons are the product of superior technology, so whoever has the best technology can be assured of victory. Right?

Don’t count on it. In the final years of the Second World War, Germany had developed fighter jets that were far superior to the turboprops the allies were flying. Similarly, German guided missiles were raining destruction down onto London. But despite these superior weapons, Germany lost the war.

Apparently, according to today’s verse from the Psalms, when it comes to war, God has the final say on who wins.

Their strength and weapons were not what won the land and gave them victory! You loved them and fought with your powerful arm and your shining glory (Psalm 44:3, CEV).

The secret to victory in war is knowing who is on your side. If the LORD is on your side, the path to victory is certain. The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name (Exodus 15:3, NIV).

Response: LORD God, in the spiritual warfare that I face daily, I desperately need you on my side. You are my strength against powerful spiritual enemies. But with you my victory is assured. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you enlisted the Lord to fight for you or are you fighting with him?

Turning Back on the Day of Battle

10 Friday Jun 2016

Posted by in Psalm 78, Psalms

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Reading:                                          Psalm 78

Verses 9-16

The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows,
turned back on the day of battle;  

they did not keep God’s covenant
and refused to live by his law.
They forgot what he had done,
the wonders he had shown them.
He did miracles in the sight of their ancestors
in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.
He divided the sea and led them through;
he made the water stand up like a wall.
He guided them with the cloud by day
and with light from the fire all night.

 He split the rocks in the wilderness
and gave them water as abundant as the seas;
he brought streams out of a rocky crag
and made water flow down like rivers (NIV).

Reflection

Today’s reading from Psalm 78 discusses the cowardly behavior of the men of Ephraim. Though they were well-armed, they turned back on the day of battle. There are numerous instances in the annals of war, when a superior force was overwhelmed by fighters who were fewer in number, poorly equipped or both. Why does that happen?

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Abandoned armour — David Kitz

Undoubtedly, armchair generals can provide a list of reasons for the poor performance of “superior forces” in a variety of historic battles. In every instance, the psychology or spirit of the troops is a contributing factor to their success or failure in war. In the case of the men of Ephraim, the psalmist tells us they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law. They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them. How could this forgetfulness lead to defeat in battle?

Actually, Christian men are daily defeated in battle because they refuse to live by God’s commands and they forget that God is all-powerful. Soldiers who do not obey orders can’t be counted on in the day of battle. An army that knows its proud history is likely to rise to the occasion, rather than slink off in retreat. It has often been said that past performance is the best predictor of future results.

In the daily battles of life, how are you performing? Are you keeping God’s covenant and obeying the orders of Jesus, our commander-in-chief? Do you realize He is victorious over death, hell and the grave? He’s no second-class wimp. Compared to our Lord, Satan is the second-class wimp, and when you come under the Lord’s command you are on the winning side; so live like it and act like it. He is the miracle worker. Today, the first miracle He is working on is the transformation of your life and mine. Are you up for the challenge, or like the men of Ephraim will you turn back on the day of battle?

Response: LORD God, today I accept the challenge to follow you with all my mind, heart, soul and strength. Give me ears to hear and obey your commands. I pray in Jesus’ all-powerful name. Amen.

Your Turn: Why is daily obedience so crucial to the advancement of the kingdom of God?

Swords instead of Tongues

06 Monday Jun 2016

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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I live among lions, who gobble down people! They have spears and arrows instead of teeth, and they have sharp swords instead of tongues (Psalm 57:4, CEV).

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Abandoned Farmyard – photo courtesy of Donald Adam

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is the power of the tongue.

What is the most destructive organ of the human body? Some might think it’s the clenched fist. But the fist clenches in response to what the tongue says. The tongue is the force that unleashes the fist and the guns of war. Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us of this truth.

I live among lions, who gobble down people! They have spears and arrows instead of teeth, and they have sharp swords instead of tongues (Psalm 57:4, CEV).

Spears and arrows are set in motion by the tongue. James reminds us of the fearsome power of the tongue. It takes only a spark to start a forest fire! The tongue is like a spark. It is an evil power that dirties the rest of the body and sets a person’s entire life on fire with flames that come from hell itself (James 3:5-6).

We desperately need to gain control of our tongues.

Response: LORD God, through the power of your Holy Spirit I set a guard on my lips. Help me to use my tongue to bring goodness, truth and encouragement today. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you often regret the words you speak? Do you need to clean up your conversation? Has God helped you gain control of your tongue?

Goodness and Peace

01 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

≈ 1 Comment

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Love and loyalty will come together; goodness and peace will unite (Psalm 85:10, CEV).

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Monarch Butterfly — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is goodness.

Do you pay attention to the news? At times it can be quite discouraging listening to a daily barrage of reports about violence, suffering and war. Then there’s that other feature of the news: politicians and world leaders arguing about—you guessed it—violence, suffering and war.

It can leave you wondering if there is any goodness left in our world.

That’s why I find today’s verse from the Psalms so comforting. Love and loyalty will come together; goodness and peace will unite (Psalm 85:10, CEV).

There’s a promise in that verse. This is something that will happen. We have God’s word on it. I want to be part of it.

Response: LORD God, give me faith to believe your word. Grant me hope so that I can see you at work. Give me grace to be an instrument of peace and love in a world of discord. Amen.

Your Turn: How can you be an instrument of peace this week?

The Plans of Nations

20 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by in Psalm 33, Psalms

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Reading:                                     Psalm 33

(Verses 10-15)

The LORD foils the plans of the nations;     

he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,     

the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,     

the people he chose for his inheritance.

From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind;

from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—

he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. (NIV)

 

Reflection

I confess I am a bit of a history buff. I am currently reading The War that Ended Peace by Margaret MacMillan. The subtitle is The Road to 1914. As you might guess, it highlights the causes of World War I. Throughout, the author meticulously points out that war was not inevitable. A change in course by any of the key players in the years leading up to 1914 could have prevented this monumental catastrophe. Each nation had plans and objectives that they considered in their best interest. Quite naturally the pursuit of those plans led to conflict with neighbouring nations with opposing objectives.

What does the psalmist say about national objectives? The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Nations pursue their own perceived national interest. Despite the rhetoric we sometimes hear, they do not pursue the plans and purposes of the LORD. For political leaders national self-interest trumps the purposes of God. In fact the purposes of God are seldom considered. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Was it God’s plan and purpose to have millions of Christian believers go to their slaughter in World War I? Many atheists purport that this is what we believe. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are responsible for our own actions. God does not cause war. Humans cause war and they carry it out. Why should we suddenly blame God for what we have engineered through our own dogged stupidity? Blaming God for our own arrogant idiocy is the pinnacle of irresponsibility, yet we do it all the time, both on a national and a personal level. Most often we are the author of our own disaster. We fail to pull back and change course before it’s too late.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.

Response: LORD God, thank you for choosing me to be to be one of your people. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to you, my Father. You watch over me. You, O LORD are my inheritance. Amen.

Your Turn: How does personal conflict escalate? Do you blame God rather than yourself?