Like a Mighty Army…
From the Field October 3, 2016
Like a Mighty Army Moves the Church of God
The Commander of the Armies of the Lord
gave victory to Joshua and Israel at Jericho. It was by earthly military standards a bizarre strategy to gain victory; marching around the city(not assailing it), blowing on rams’ horns(not sending flights of arrows across the walls and battering them as well), shouting a great shout(not putting up scaling ladders and clambering up and over). The reason it worked is that God said to do this and Joshua and the people obeyed. “When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold a man stood before him with His drawn sword in His hand; and Joshua went to Him and said to Him, ‘Are you for us, or for our adversaries?’ And He said, ‘No; but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.’ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and worshiped…” Joshua 5:13-14
The drawn sword for us is the Word of God in use. It is still God Himself who comes to us and we seek to obey what He says. It may seem strange to our sinful ears. We might even question it. But He is THE Commander and He is against our adversaries. He gives the marching orders. And it is not just His streaming banners that forward go; He goes with His Word. “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war…He is clad in a robe dipped in blood and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed Him on white horses. From His mouth issues a sharp sword…” Rev. 19:13-15
Do we have the drawn sword that whenever and wherever we are we are willing to speak the Word. As Paul tells us in Ephesians that the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. When it is communicated, the Spirit comes with that sword to pierce not to kill but to give life where there is death and darkness. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Heb. 4:12
“Christ the royal Master, Leads against the foe…”
One of German strategist Carl von Clausewitz’ axioms was, “Blood is the price of victory.” Of course what he meant was that to throw off Napoleon’s yoke would require many a man’s sacrificing his life. We look at that saying and think so meaningfully of Christ on the cross. The worst tyrant’s yoke has been cast aside. Our victory cost God His Son. Can we do less than our all for Him and His kingdom in thankful appreciation for His victory for us? In our day and age we see a lot of self-absorption, people concerned about numero uno and little else. What a difference with our Christ! All others He placed ahead of Himself. Scripture’s direction is clear for us – Follow His example. “Have this mind among yourselves, which you have in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant…He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death…” Phil. 2:5-8
Brothers we are treading where the saints have trod…