“And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle.”

Our verse for today comes from the biblical story of David and Goliath. David had gone down from the camp of the Israelite army into the valley of Elah to meet the Philistine giant Goliath and engage him in battle. In faith David said to Goliath, “Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head,” (1 Samuel 17:46). David had faith because he knew whose battle it was. He knew that the struggle between the Philistine army and the Israelite army was the Lord’s battle and the Lord would fight for him.

This verse does not have to apply to a military battle only. In this troubled world of ours, battles can break out in any area of life; however, there are two basic kinds of battle. There is the Lord’s battle and there is every other battle. Before we descend into the valley of Elah we should ask ourselves first: whose battle is this? Is this a battle that the Lord wants to fight so that His Kingdom will advance or is it something that men have stirred up for their own glory?

It is important to ask ourselves this question, because there isn’t anything more vain and fruitless than to engage in a battle that has nothing to do with the Kingdom of God. Satan and his minions stir up strife all over the world in order to discourage men and take the culture to ever lower levels of goodness and grace. Getting involved in battles like that is a waste of time and energy. Getting involved in battles like that does not inspire anyone to rise up in the faith of David.

On the other hand, there isn’t anything more meaningful and fruitful than to engage in a battle that has everything to do with the Kingdom of God. When God helped a shepherd boy defeat a mighty warrior over nine feet tall (!), it encouraged the entire Israelite army to victory over the Philistines that day. When God and the armies of heaven engage in battle with us they take life to ever and ever higher levels of goodness and grace. Getting involved in battles against the forces of evil is a profitable use of time, talent, and energy. Getting involved in battles like that can inspire one to rise up in the faith of David and glorify God.

Today, then, ask yourself. Whose battle is this?

By John Huisman, friend of Bible League International