Military Preparedness

Psalm 18:30-36

          Militaries around the world and throughout history have trained for conflict. Because evil resides in the heart of each and every one of us, conflicts will happen. And despite our best human efforts they get out of control. In our day and age there are those who want to start conflicts, create chaos, stir up rivalries, and stoke hatred. Their goal is the breakdown of society. They want the power structures demolished so that they can come in and take over.

          No matter how much we want peace here on earth it won’t happen until the Prince of Peace returns. We might be able to negotiate a temporary halt to conflict, but because the source of conflicts lay within us, peace won’t be permanent until we all are at peace with the LORD.

          David, the writer of our psalm, has been on the receiving end of unwanted conflict. The type of conflict ranged from a very personal vendetta held by the current King of Israel, Saul, to military conflicts with neighboring peoples who were displaced when the Jews were delivered from Egypt and given the Promised Land. For some strange reason they didn’t want to give up their land without a fight. And because the processes wasn’t completed as the LORD commanded, there were episodic battles with those remnants.

          This psalm is written after the battle with Saul had ended and David was again free from mortal threat. David didn’t take credit for his own deliverance. In fact, he bends over backwards giving the LORD credit for what happened. He had been empty, used up, worn out and the LORD intervened. David gives all the glory to the LORD.

          In today’s section of this psalm we see many references to military connected things. David was, after all, a might military leader and fighter in his own right. During those years he was in hiding from Saul’s murderous threats, David gathered around him the strongest and fiercest warriors. He, with the leading of the LORD, was able to defeat many an enemy. Military leaders, even in today’s military, study these battles to learn the application of battle techniques and strategies.

          David gives credit to the LORD for protection. The LORD is his shield and protection. The LORD is the only God who can do these kinds of interventions. He provides strength as a weapon and security along the way. If we have learned anything in our current conflicts it is that getting from place to place can be the most dangerous part of the mission. With the proliferation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) travel became very dangerous and deadly. Ambushes have happened all down through time. David was both the object of ambush and the operating force in ambushing his enemies.

          One of the greatest concerns of any military is the condition of the soldier’s feet. If their feet fail, the army fails. So having feet like a deer, that never seem to fail and can take them securely to any height, would be a great advantage. David is of course not speaking of literal feet of a deer, but of the stability, endurance and reliability of the LORD’s strength.

          Most military tasks require the use of hands and arms. So having strength in these areas is crucial to military effectiveness. But strength alone is not enough. The strength must be trained for the specific battle tasks that will be undertaken. Pushups only build general strength in the upper body. Someone who loads ammunition must develop specific strengths and agilities to accomplish their task quickly and efficiently. That takes specific training, repetition under stress. David says that the LORD trained his hands for battle. Starting as a young boy, David had been presented with a series of challenges that required specific skills. These trained him for battle. A lion and a bear come to mind.

          And in the end David was saved and sustained by the LORD’s strength. He was provided a safe place to walk and the strength to walk it. And David gives the credit to the LORD. Many other rules of this world have taken credit for their rise to power and tight grip on it. But David recognized his rise as nothing other than the LORD’s favor on his life.

          To whom do you give credit for the achievements you have in your life? Does your heart yield?

Kingpin

Mark 3:27

      We have learned from the movies that the person with the biggest guns wins the gunfight. If it is hand to hand combat, the person who is the fastest with the best moves wins. We also learn that winning and losing fights depends on the plot line, much more than reality! How the enemy machine guns never hit our hero and how a rock thrown blindly around a corner can kill multiple people. Or that the villains in car accidents get killed and heroes survive.

      Jesus work and reputation have been attacked by His family and by the religious establishment. Both have heard about what Jesus was doing and came to a conclusion based on what they knew. And since they were missing some essential facts, they drew the wrong conclusions.

      The religious leaders have charged that Jesus was under the power of Satan and it was Satan’s power that enabled Him to be able to cast out demonic entities. Jesus showed that this just can’t happen.

      The religious leaders’ second charge against Jesus is that He is using someone else’s power to cast out demons, not His own. This is where the use of the word picture of the strong man comes into play. Jesus is talking about home invasion. You can’t break into the strong man’s house and get away with it. Their strength will overcome any intruder.

      If you think about the houses of drug dealers, at least the ones portrayed on TV and in the movies, they have multiple layers of security. They have security cameras and alarms, and big, muscular, gun-wielding thugs protecting them. At the low end houses, they have booby traps and explosives rigged to protect themselves. They also have escape routes planned and practiced. They usually also have some people with guns.

      In order to penetrate these houses you have to come with more power and strength. You have to bring battering rams, snipers, flash-bang grenades, insertion teams, body armor, armor protected vehicles, high-tech listening devices, and overwhelming manpower. You can’t beat a strong man unless you are stronger.

      That is Jesus’ point. Satan is the strong man. If Satan is being defeated, then someone stronger than him has arrived. Jesus is stronger than Satan, that is why He is able to defeat him and cast out demons.

      No matter what battle you are facing, Jesus is more powerful than the battle. Invite Him to be with you in that battle. Or get out of the battle and be with Him.

The Twenty-Plus-Seven’s

Psalm 27, 57, 87, 117, 147

We could all use a bit more confidence! Psalm 27 tells of an unexpected source of confidence. The writer, facing an advancing army, draws in close to the LORD and recognizes that from that position, he has nothing to fear. Imagine that, an army coming toward you and you are not afraid! He recognizes that in the LORD is safety (v5). That does not mean that we will live forever without any pain or suffering here on earth. We live in a world marred by sin, and we get the effects of that brokenness in our lives, even when we are Jesus-followers. Even the writer has to focus his attentions of trusting the LORD (v8), and on patience (v14).

 A steadfast heart is what we need when we feel overwhelmed (Ps 57:7). It is easy to get distracted and look at all the troubles coming our direction (vv4 & 6). Twice in this psalm (vv 5 & 11) the writer say “Be exalted, O God.” Of course we know that He already is exalted, but the writer doesn’t see it. He wants that exalted position to be made evident in his life and his world. Do you need Him to be exalted in that way in your life? I hope so!

In the life of Israel Jerusalem held a special spot (Ps 87). When someone was born there it held special significance. Even Israel’s enemies at times acknowledged the special place of Jerusalem (v4). I have several places that hold special significance in my spiritual life. Maastricht Holland, Oberusel Germany, Allison United Methodist Church, Baghdad International Airport. Each hosted an event at the LORD’s invitation where I encountered Christ in a new way. Each brought death for me and life in Christ. Each involved more surrender and more filling. I am open to more encounters.

Sometimes I wish the Psalmists had written down the music they sang with the psalms that they wrote. I want to hear their rendition Psalm 117. This two verse psalm keeps me focused. Everyone praise Him because of his faithful love toward us. It is a simple message. Let’s do it.

Do enjoy praising God? We should (Ps 147:1)! The writer lists some things that he sees that give him reason to praise the LORD (vv2-6 & 8-9). He delights in us when we put our hope in Him (v11). We shouldn’t trust in our own resources to live our lives. No earthly entity, including the government, is our source of security, though they do play a role. We are to trust in the LORD. He brings strength and peace (vv13-14).

The Ten-Plus-Eight’s

Psalm 18, 48, 78, 108, 138

Notice the piling up of terms of strength (Ps 18:2) used by the psalmist as he is in distress. It is good to know that no matter what kind of power you need in your time of distress, the LORD is the source of that strength. The writer was in death’s grip and the LORD brought him out (vv4-5). The enemy was right at his door, and the LORD moved heaven and earth in the rescue. Not only was rescue happening, but the LORD leads him to victory in battle (v37). The LORD wants us to be more than conquerors. We are supposed to be victors, not because of our own efforts, but because of the LORD’s presence in our lives (vv47-48).  

It is one thing to read about God’s working in the past, but it is another when you see that working yourself (Ps 48:8). Firsthand knowledge is so powerful. That doesn’t mean that we can’t believe unless we see, but that we as human beings sometimes want and need to see. And we have an obligation to tell the next generation of our experiences (vv12-13). We need to pass along what we know. We need to purposefully notice God’s grace and His working in our world and in our lives. We need to be active, not passive, in paying attention to His presence.

Psalm 78 highlights the cycle of sin, both of Israel’s sin and of our sin. Things have not changed much in the human heart over the millennia. This pattern is laid out clearly starting in verse 34. God would judge them (v34), they would turn back to Him (v34), serve Him for a time (v35), but then they would drift away (vv36-37), and God would give them time to repent (vv38-39), and judgment would come again. I would challenge you to look at the cycle in your life and take time to write it down, even if only in bullet format. Reflecting on your life can give you insight into specific triggers that trip you up and send you off course. Next time you might step over that bump and stay on course.

Is your heart steadfast in worship even when circumstances seem to be against you? In Psalm 108 we read of the determination to worship even when things aren’t going well. He starts with an act of his will; he will worship (vv1-5). He repeatedly says he will do certain things (vv1-3). He gives the reasons the LORD is worthy of worship (vv4-5). And then he shifts to asking for His help by recounting His words spoken in the past (vv7-9). He has only one option; humans can’t help (v12). God has given us the ability to do so many things, that sometimes we think we can do it on our own. That is a mistake.

Sometimes I feel like I am living right on the edge of life, having exhausted all my resources. In those moments, verses like Psalm 138:8 give voice to my heart. I am desperate enough to state that I feel abandoned by the LORD. I know that His love endures forever, but I feel like my case is the exception. I feel like I am alone. I plead that He not abandon me. Have you ever felt like the exception to the rule, that God’s love, forgiveness, grace, kindness, or patience will run out before you get what you need? You are not the exception. Draw in close, hold on tight, listen for the small whisper.