When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon. And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth Him good. (2 Sam. 10:9-12)
When the king of Ammon died, David sent condolences through ambassadors to Ammon, whom the new king mistreated and embarrassed. He received bad advice from his counselors and when David ignored the insult and hid his men the Ammonites gathered themselves with the Syrians against the Israelites. David sent his army and the two top generals arranged a plan to defend Israel and to support one another against this opposing force. Both men put their trust in the LORD to accomplish their goal and give them victory, not as a divided force but as two prongs of a unified front, which would respond to the stronger army which came against them. The LORD was with them not only to defeat the Ammonites and Syrians, but neither was strong against the army of Israel but were routed. When the Syrians tried to regroup, David came out and finished the battle and overcame the enemies of the people of Israel.
David sought to extend a word of sympathy to the people of Ammon in the death of their king. The new king shamed the ambassadors on the bad counsel of his advisors and went to war with Israel and recruited the Syrians to join him in opposing Israel. God directed the generals of Israel in their battle plans and overcame the armies of Ammon and Syria. Syria’s attempt to recover and come again against Israel was also soundly defeated. The men of Israel and the leadership of the army and of Israel followed God and stood strong against their enemies as David not only conquered all who opposed Israel and The LORD God of Israel but also expanded his country and protected his people by the hand of the LORD.
Christians are to have a plan but always trust in the LORD. He may change the plans of men, but He will not be defeated, nor will He ever leave us nor forsake us. He is our victory and He will fight for us, going into the battles we face before us. He has already won the victory over sin and death and offers whosoever will liberty and forgiveness, not to sin more, but true freedom from sin and guilt. His burden is light and we can walk victorious with Him and in Him who is our victory. As people of God, those who are born again by faith in Jesus Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, we need not fear the enemy, but stand strong together in the strength of the LORD and support one another in the battles we face. When we lift each other up in times of trouble and stand strong in the unity of the Spirit and in the bonds of love as children of our Heavenly Father, nothing can stand against us, not because we are strong, but because our Father and our God is mighty and Sovereign and works to show Himself strong on the behalf of those who love Him and keep His Word. He has commanded and commissioned His people to reach the lost, teach the nations, and preach His Word in ministry, missions, and discipleship as His body doing His work until He is done with us.
Until that day, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
David sought to extend a word of sympathy to the people of Ammon in the death of their king. The new king shamed the ambassadors on the bad counsel of his advisors and went to war with Israel and recruited the Syrians to join him in opposing Israel. God directed the generals of Israel in their battle plans and overcame the armies of Ammon and Syria. Syria’s attempt to recover and come again against Israel was also soundly defeated. The men of Israel and the leadership of the army and of Israel followed God and stood strong against their enemies as David not only conquered all who opposed Israel and The LORD God of Israel but also expanded his country and protected his people by the hand of the LORD.
Christians are to have a plan but always trust in the LORD. He may change the plans of men, but He will not be defeated, nor will He ever leave us nor forsake us. He is our victory and He will fight for us, going into the battles we face before us. He has already won the victory over sin and death and offers whosoever will liberty and forgiveness, not to sin more, but true freedom from sin and guilt. His burden is light and we can walk victorious with Him and in Him who is our victory. As people of God, those who are born again by faith in Jesus Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, we need not fear the enemy, but stand strong together in the strength of the LORD and support one another in the battles we face. When we lift each other up in times of trouble and stand strong in the unity of the Spirit and in the bonds of love as children of our Heavenly Father, nothing can stand against us, not because we are strong, but because our Father and our God is mighty and Sovereign and works to show Himself strong on the behalf of those who love Him and keep His Word. He has commanded and commissioned His people to reach the lost, teach the nations, and preach His Word in ministry, missions, and discipleship as His body doing His work until He is done with us.
Until that day, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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