“Blessed be the Lord, my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.” Psalm 144:1
In Psalm 18, David speaks of the warfare in which he was engaged. He wrote: “It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect…He teaches my hands to war, so that a bow of steel (bronze) is broken by mine arms.” (v. 32, 34) In a song of triumph, another psalmist writes indirectly of this warfare, and its weapons: “Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hand.” (Ps. 149:6) Throughout the Psalms, and the Old Testament, we find mentioned, and described, a warfare that exists on this earth, between men, but more significantly between man and God. David, as well as the Old Testament saints, had very real physical enemies, who were motivated by a raging hatred of Israel, and anything that pertained to the “…Lord and against His anointed.” We find in the history of Israel, especially from the beginning of the conquest of Canaan, a physical and spiritual conflict that was not only very real, but which was often accompanied by great suffering and loss. At the same time, as reflected in the physical world in the case of the conquest of Jericho, and subsequent victories, we discover that God intervenes in the affairs of men, to brake the bow and the spear, to cause chariot wheels to come off of chariots, to send fear into the hearts of the enemy. All this is to reveal to men that He is Lord of the universe, the King of creation, and the Sovereign Ruler over the kingdoms of men. There is a very real warfare going on, here on earth. That which we see, and hear of wars, and rumors of wars, is the manifestation of the conflict, a very real power struggle by the powers of darkness actively, opposing all that is of God and the body of Christ, the church. What a glorious, terrible proclamation it was when Jesus voiced His victory over all the powers of sin and darkness, by declaring: “It is finished.” In those powerful words, the irrevocable, perpetual and unchanging victory of Christ over sin, its deadly consequences, and over all the power of Satan, was victoriously proclaimed for all to hear. Christ, by His sacrifice, spoiled all “principalities and powers,” of darkness, making an open show of them, triumphing over them.” (Col. 2:16) Christ’s victory was absolute, and complete on that day. His resurrection from the dead, sealed the testimony of that perfect victory. What then of the church, which was born at Pentecost? Is it not time for the church, Christ’s body, to overcome the strongholds of the enemy, to cast down imaginations, and every high and lofty thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, brining into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ?” (2 Cor. 10:4,5) Jesus, in speaking of the church, declared: “…I will build My church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18) To every one of the seven churches which Christ addressed in the book of the Revelation, He concluded by saying: “…to him that overcometh.” The church, and every member of it, is called to be engaged in this warfare, one victory of which has already been won, over all the power of the enemy. The question becomes, “How then are we to war?”
Paul, in writing to the Ephesians speaks of the “sword of the Spirit” being the word of God. In the book of second Corinthians, he speaks of the “weapons of our warfare” not being carnal, but spiritual, “…mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” (2 Cor. 10:4) David relied wholly upon God to teach him how to use his sword. He also trusted Him fully to strengthen him for the battle. How much more should the Christian, who has been given powerful and effective weapons, trust God wholly to fight the good fight, and that effectively.
Dear Father, Give us to be good soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ, taught well, strengthened fully, to conquer, praising God continually. In Jesus’ name, Amen.