“But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.” 2 Samuel 23:12
What does it mean to take a stand of faith? What did it mean for Shammah, one of David’s mighty men, when the people fled before the Philistines? It meant first of all that he knew that he was alone in taking his stand. All the others of his countrymen were afraid, and believed the battle to be lost, therefore they fled before the enemy. Shammah came to a conclusion, and conviction. He would give no more ground to the enemy. He would not allow the enemy to come further. There was in that commitment primarily another one, and it was to stand in the name of the Lord, trusting Him alone and wholly. Shammah turned to face the foe, wielding all of his energy and strength, seized by the power of God to see the victory of the Lord. Scripture tells us that the place where he took his stand was just an ordinary place. It was a field of lentils. The issue was not where he stood but the whole-hearted, determined effort he committed himself to make, so that, though alone, God would be glorified in the defeat of his enemies. He stood, taking his stand. He defended the ground, not giving an inch, and he “slew the Philistines.” That which is the final seal of God’s pleasure in this servant of his is found in the statement: “…and the Lord wrought a great victory.” (2 Sam. 23:12) The victory was a great one because God was in it. God had found his man, as in the day when He chose David before Samuel, one that would trust Him, and fight for His glory and honor. The stand was clear, convincing, comprehensive, and complete. There was no turning back.
What is the stand that the believer in Christ is to take every day? The answer lies in the words: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matt. 16:24) The Scriptures tell us that the mercies of the Lord, “are new EVERY morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:23) These mercies of God are the same as those which the Apostle Paul would say were the basis, and reason, for offering one’s body to God as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service of worship.” (Romans 12:1-2) The Christian is called upon to face the reality, and “lay hold” upon it, that God’s mercies are new for him every morning. They do not diminish in their strength, purpose, presence, provision, and power. They are to be believed in, gripped by faith. Every morning, all the grace of God, according to His infinite mercy, is present so that the disciple of Christ can take his stand of faith. What specifically is this stand?
It is first a deliberate denial of oneself, a turning away from the preoccupation and consideration of oneself. It is the forgetting of oneself in order to be occupied with Christ. Someone asked David Livingstone, when once he had returned to England on furlough, “Dr. Livingstone, how is your soul?” Livingstone responded, “I had almost forgotten that I had a soul.” Here is a man who had learned to take up his position to forget himself every day, to be occupied with his King and Lord. The second thing is the taking up of one’s cross. In the Gospel of Luke, we find written that it is a daily cross. The cross is an instrument of death, by which one life is left, to embrace another. The true disciple loses his life, or dies to his old life, to embrace another. The cross means to lose one’s life daily, to live for Another. Thirdly, there is the following of Christ. How is this done daily? It is in the submission of the will to God to do His will, that the believer is strengthened to accomplish it. Following Christ is fellowship.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to stand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.