COMFORT - 19Намуна

Day Five

How do you praise God in a time of war? In the middle of unpleasant times, the thought of praising God can seem absurd. Prayer in itself is difficult. So how did David accomplish praise during the battle, especially when it seems so super-human?

My stepfather was a U.S. Special Forces Army Ranger, 82nd Airborne in the Vietnam War. He told me many stories of his training, hardships, and firefights. One thing that stood out to me was his effort to be secure in every insecure environment. My stepfather trained in the jungles of the Ho Chi Minh during the war. His response -  “what better way to learn than when you’re in the middle of it” reflected the military rule of learning to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations.

The Psalms beckon us to see David in every uncomfortable situation. If we do a backtrack of his life, we will see that his older brothers did not take him seriously. David was anointed as king yet returned to the shepherd field, threatened by animals. He faced the giant, Goliath, who no one else could conquer. He was chased by Saul to the point of death, and David was hated by men because of the choices he made.

David has an extensive resume. I’m not sure I would like to have all of these levels of experience. One thing to note, however, is that in every circumstance David faced, he was still a shepherd boy. All of his training in the field prepared him for every battle that he would encounter. 

In Psalm 86, David raises a battle cry. He prays to God for his life. In search of comfort, when there seems to be none, listen to raw honesty.

“Give me a sign of Your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.” - Psalm 86:17

Wow. David does not hold back. He wrestles evil to the ground in prayer as he did the bear, the lion, and Goliath. Sometimes it takes the hard work of prayer to bring down the enemy. It’s not fun. It’s dirty, painful and, at the moment, it may feel like an eternal struggle. Here, we see David learning to be comfortable in unseemly situations. In his time of need, he chooses God to be his comfort. David uses the weapons of God’s Word, prayer, worship, and faith to battle his enemies.

When we pray in search of comfort, we see how God hears. He comes to our rescue in our discomfort. Even when we do not see it or feel it, that does not mean God is not there. And, that is just it. We should not pray or praise God based on our emotions or circumstances.  Instead, we must base our prayers and praise on His truth anchored in His word.

Psalm 91:4 proclaims, “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

I don’t know about you, but I will take shelter under any feather of God’s wings that I possibly can. One faithful quill from His stock is better than an army of soldiers. His truth is always with me, no matter how I may feel about the situation.

How often do you recall the events of God? Remembering His faithful works provides great comfort. David recalls the countless works and promises of God.  He remembers past kindnesses of God, and he heartily believes God will show him continued grace again in the future.

“Remember Your word to Your servant, for you have given me hope.” - Psalm 119:49

This shepherd boy calls God out on his word. He is telling him, “Okay God, You said, and did this before, so do it again.” This boldness speaks about our faith in God and testifies to Him and others what we believe.

We know how to find peace in the midst of the battles of life. We take refuge in prayer, while God teaches and strengthens us. While every conflict may be different, God’s presence and reinforcements are always faithful. 

When it comes to war, our first weapon of choice may not be prayer; however, without the use of it, we are vulnerable and unprotected. It is in those times that we are most at risk of being wounded or left for dead by the enemy.

Even in battle, our greatest weapon is worship. Throughout the Old Testament, God would position worshipers, singers, and musicians in the front, to march against the foe. He knew there is no defense against the praise of God. Those warriors found their comfort in uncomfortable circumstances by calling upon, and trusting in the help of God- and so can you.

Reflection:

How do you feel about war? It’s bloody, messy, costly, and dangerous. Spiritual war is similar. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world.” The world may come at us with a sword, a spear, and even a javelin, but we come in the name of the Lord (1 Samuel 17:45). In the midst of a fight, how can you use the weapons of prayer, worship, and God’s Word?

Prayer:

Almighty God and Victorious Warrior, thank You for hearing my prayer. Thank You for coming to my aid when I am attacked. All glory belongs to You and Your praise belongs at the front of the infantry. Thank You for not leaving me defenseless. As You train my hands for war and my fingers for battle, I boldly advance knowing I can do all things through You because of Your strength. As I see You triumph through the battles, help me to etch deep into my memory all that You are doing. Until Christ comes, I long for Your Kingdom and the victory that I will share with all the saints. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

We thank You, LORD, for those who have served on the front lines in the military, giving their lives for our freedom.  We also thank you LORD for those who have served on the front lines in the medical profession in an effort to care for both our health and safety.