Scripture:
I Chronicles 5:19-22 NKJV
[19] They made war with the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. [20] And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer because they put their trust in Him. [21] Then they took away their livestock—fifty thousand of their camels, two hundred and fifty thousand of their sheep, and two thousand of their donkeys—also one hundred thousand of their men; [22] for many fell dead, because the war was God’s. And they dwelt in their place until the captivity.
Observation:
The 2 books of Chronicles are mostly long lines of King David’s family lineage. The books focus more on Judah and tend to leave Israel out of the picture for the most part. However, there are brief intermissions where short defining moments are described. For example, Jabez and his prayer to the LORD are in 1st Chronicles chapter 4, verses 9 and 10. However, the writer tends to stay focused on a future hope of a messianic king and a restored temple. The description of the battle here in chapter 5, starting in verse 19, is an indication of just that. Although verse 19 doesn’t seem to have much information in it other than who they were fighting, verse 20 quickly draws attention to where it needs to be. The statement, “they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to GOD in battle. HE heeded their prayer because they put their trust in HIM. As I read that, I had to take a big breath, thinking about the power and authority that was held in that very statement. I’m hoping that as you read it this morning, the same overwhelming feeling of security came over you. What verse 21 says to me is that those in the kingdom of Judah were made very wealthy at the expense of their enemy. Camels and livestock in large numbers were received as plunder. But that brings us to another very important aspect of these few short verses. In verse 22, the writer continues to bring our focus back to the reason the battle was won and who obtained the victory. By saying, “for many fell dead, because the war was GOD’S and they dwelt there until the captivity.” This is another defining moment for Judah, and an indication that when they keep their focus on the Father, nothing can stop them, but when they start to focus on what they can do for themselves, that’s when trouble strikes.
Application:
Have you ever noticed that when you take matters into your own hands, things tend to go very bad really fast? It’s kind of the story of my life, and I’m sure most of us can relate. I can’t tell you how many situations I have gotten myself into that turned into a desperate cry for help from the only one who could do anything about it. As I was reading this, the Holy Spirit started talking to me. Pointing out the little details. For example, they were already in the battle when they cried out to GOD, but HE still answered their desperate cry, and the war was won. When we find ourselves in over our heads, what do we do? Do we look out at the battle, or do we look up to the heavenly Father? The one who has already given us victory. One of my points today is this: HE hears our desperate cries. HE hears you when you are in a jail cell, HE hears you when your heart is hurting, HE hears you in the middle of the battle, and it seems like all hope is lost. HE hears you. I just feel like we need to know that. I feel like that needs to be written on our hearts because it can be overlooked when our emotions run high or when life is hitting us hard, and we can’t seem to find a breath. We need to know HE hears us. The war is not ours. Here is a question I have from what I read. I wonder what would have happened if, before they had gotten into the battle, they had lifted their prayers to the Father. It seems to be easier to remember that we need HIM when our back is against the wall and we can’t seem to see a way out, and honestly, over and over in the Bible, we see these kinds of situations arise. I remember when my daughter was a toddler. She had just learned how to walk really well, so running was the next step. We were standing outside the church, I got saved at, having a conversation with one of the members, and my daughter was running around us. There was a hill on the side of the church, and she had decided to run down it. Of course, I was right behind her because she could not see the hidden danger of running down the hill, not knowing how to run well yet. As her legs started to get away from her and she began to lose her step… I was right there to catch her before any damage was done. The love of the heavenly Father is just like that. She didn’t even know she was in trouble, and honestly never did because at just the right time, she was swooped up into my arms and saved from the catastrophic event that could have happened. As we look to GOD for our protection and provision, we can rest assured that HE will do just that. Drawing our application to the last verse, what happens when we continually forget that the ear is GOD’S? I would have to say that the natural consequences of that start getting worse and worse. The statement that is coming to mind is, ” they dwelt there until the captivity.” This brings me to Jeremiah chapter 29 verses 10 through 13. When we continue to forget to bring GOD into the very center of our lives, HE will allow us to see the natural consequences of that. Judah was brought to captivity in Babylon so that they would learn to seek GOD with all their hearts rather than just when they need HIM. Matthew, chapter 6 and verse 33, one of my favorites. It reminds me of my priority. To seek the kingdom and GOD’S righteousness first. Knowing that HE will take care of the rest. My point is this if we come to GOD with all our hearts, the desperate cries will become fewer and further apart because HIS word will be the light to our path and the lamp to our feet. When we give the very first position to the father, the battle is won before we approach it. It’s not our fight. Placing HIM first wins the fight with just one stone, one sound of the war cry, one brake of the pot so that HIS light can shine, one step forward with your staff in the air. The war is HIS as long as we let HIM have it. You can continue to try to fight it on your own, but know that only leads to desperate cries for help… that HE will answer, but my thought is, why not let HIM have the whole thing. HE has been fighting battles with the enemy longer than anyone on earth. Surrender your will to GOD and let HIS victory be the one you walk in.
Prayer:
Father, we know that you fight much better than we do. You can see every vantage point. Help us to bring all of our lives to the throne. So that we don’t fight our own battles. We trust that you are bigger, stronger, and smarter, then not only us but our enemy as well. We trust that you are fighting for us and would rather give you the fight before it starts. However, we know that you hear our desperate cries as well, so if there is someone reading this who finds themselves in a spot where they need you, we pray for their deliverance as well. We know that like a good Father you will come to our rescue. We love you, and we love the way you train us to keep our focus on you. We want you to be the very center of our lives. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray, amen.