"This is the LORD's battle" — I Samuel 17:47

"This is the LORD's battle"

— I Samuel 17:47 NLT

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" (I 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.

A battle does not have to be a military battle. In this troubled world of ours battles can break out in any area of life. However, there are two basic kinds of battle. There are the Lord's battles 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 or is it something else? Is this a battle that the Lord has decided to get involved in so that His Kingdom will advance or is it just something that we have stirred up and want to happen?

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 battles all over the world and in every area of life and they do nothing more than take life to ever and ever lower levels of goodness and grace. Getting involved in battles like that is a waste of time, talent, 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 and the armies of heaven engage in battle all over the world and in every area of life they take life to ever and ever higher levels of goodness and grace. Getting involved in battles like that 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.

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