The LORD is a man of war

"Jesus Christ Conquers"

As I’ve read God’s Word this morning I’ve become overwhelmed with the reality that the LORD fights for His people. After the Israelites safely crossed through the Red Sea (Ex. 14) and Pharaoh and the Egyptian army was conquered in their futile pursuit, Moses and the people sang a song of praise to the LORD. Verse 3 of chapter 15 is a strong statement, “The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His name.”

This is made very clear, especially in the Torah (also known as the Pentateuch or Law of Moses. The first 5 books of the Bible) and the book of Joshua, that YHWH is the Divine Warrior who fights for His people. The idea that the LORD is the One who fights for His people is presented over and over (Deut. 1:30, 3:22; Ex. 14:14, 25; Josh. 10:14, 42; 23:3, 10).

The question quickly arises that if the LORD is the One who fights for His Bride, the Church, as He did for Israel, what role do we play? Do we just stand with our hands in our pockets and watch? Or do we participate in some way? Proverbs 21:31 says:

“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.”

We are called to be prepared; to make the horse ready. We are called to seek the LORD, to pray, and to trust Him but ultimately find peace and rest in the fact that the outcome of the battle doesn’t rely on our shabby efforts but on the LORD, the Divine Warrior, who will conquer the foes of His Bride! Psalm 20:7 says:

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

As much as we prepare the “horse” for battle, we do not trust in it. Our trust lies solely in the work of the LORD. Exodus 14:14 tells us to just “be silent”; basically to get ready, sit back and watch because YHWH will not fail. What a liberating truth it is that the battle doesn’t rely on our efforts!

This truth is probably most clearly seen in 2 Chronicles 20 as King Jehoshaphat prays for the deliverance of Judah in the face of attack from their enemies. I won’t take the time here, but I encourage you to go read the entire chapter and see that “the battle is not yours but God’s” (v. 15).

This brings us full circle to the ultimate triumph we have in Christ. The greatest battle ever fought was on the Cross where Christ conquered all of His and our enemies by making a public spectacle of them (Colossians 2:15). Praise be to the only true God who has conquered all through Christ! Let us find rest in the LORD, the Divine Warrior, who fights for us. He knows we are but dust and doesn’t expect us to fight our own battles.

Let us see that “You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf” (2 Chr. 20:17).