Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Our Stronghold in War

PSALM 9:9-10 – The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”

 

THEME OF THE DAY:  OUR STRONGHOLD IN WAR.   There is a word repeated in today’s scripture that brings fresh air to an exhausted heart, strength for the battle-weary soul, and renewal to a mind flooded with anxieties, fears, and cares.  It is the noun stronghold. The word means a “strongly fortified defensive or military structure.”  Let’s make some encouraging applications in our walks with the Lord.

 

First, the Lord doesn’t provide a place of safety for us.  He is the stronghold, the fortified defensive or military structure for us.  He doesn’t just save us to slug out the Christian life on our own.  Nor does He give commands and expect us to go to battle alone.  The Commander in Chief of our souls goes to battle with us, leading and protecting us in every period of conflict. A great example is the instructions given to one of the greatest military commanders ever – Joshua, who also was quite fearful . . .

 

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant,  “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”  (Joshua 1:1-9).

 

Did we notice the amount of times the Lord encourages Joshua with the promise of His Presence as he leads God’s people?  God is saying to Joshua, “I am Your stronghold.  Don’t be afraid.”  And He says the same thing to us in our times of trouble and challenge as we fight the good fight.

 

Another application is in times of trouble, we will lose some battles. We will yield to temptation.  We will fall to the tactics of our flesh and the devil. Yet, God has promised “He will never leave or forsake us.”  Remember, the stronghold doesn’t fail. We do, the Lord Himself will pick us up to fight another battle.  He never abandons His soldiers, even those suffering self-inflicted wounds, on the spiritual battlefield!  May we learn to rely upon the Lord our stronghold.  He will be enough. Always.

 

PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for protecting me through the many dangers in this life.”

 

QUOTE: “The Lord is our stronghold and one that will never be penetrated by our enemies.”

 

In the affection of Christ Jesus,

 

Pastor Jim