The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. Exodus 15:3–10 “God is love,” John tells us (1 John 4:8). “The Lord is a man of war,” Moses says. Is this a contradiction? No, because although God is indeed love, there are forces all around us which are anything but lovely or loveable. And God wages war against these forces as surely as He waged war against Pharaoh. That is why when you study the Old Testament, you’ll see violence in virtually every book. And because the Old Testament is a picture book illustrating physically what we’re to do spiritually, we’re to be violent as well (Matthew 11:12). How? We’re to do battle violently in prayer against the spiritual forces that seek to deceive, defile, and destroy those around us. Wife, did you do battle in prayer for your husband today? Did you pray passionately that the forces of the Enemy would not gain a toehold in his life? Dad, did you do what Job did, who energetically sacrificed for each of his children before the break of day lest they sin against the Lord? (Job 1:5). Did you pray earnestly lest they fall prey to the Enemy who seeks to derail and destroy them spiritually? “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” James tells us (5:16). Praying, “Lord, help everyone to be nice,” is neither effective nor fervent, and it doesn’t make much of an impact. God is a man of war, but He’s a gentleman nonetheless, and therefore, won’t force His way into any situation. He will wait for an invitation (Revelation 3:20). The question is, are we actively, fervently, and passionately opening the door to Him and bidding Him to come in? ~Jon Courson
Posted on: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 02:58:55 +0000
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