Be Strong
Reflective Reading: 1Chronicles 19
In 1 Chronicles 19 we encounter the story of David sending messengers to the prince of the Ammonites to console him after his father the king had died. The Prince, after receiving some bad advice from his friends, treated David’s messengers shamefully, sending them back with their beards shaved and clothes cut above their waste line. David’s response to this shameful treatment was a declaration of war.
Not much has changed in the Middle East over the last four thousand years. To give you a little background, the Ammonites are the modern-day Jordanians. Their capital city is Amman, named after Ben Ammi, the incestual son of Lot, the father of the Ammonites. The prince of the Ammonites realizes that he made a big mistake. To counter this mistake, rather than humbling himself and asking forgiveness, Israel and the Jordanians and the Iranians and the Syrians start sending ballistic missiles at each other! Like I said, nothing has changed with these easily provoked relatives. This reminds me of Proverbs 13:10—
“Only by pride comes contentions, but with the well advised is wisdom.”
Obviously, they weren’t sending ballistic missiles back then, but they did send tens of thousands of chariots and warriors. Believing that David was going to react with a vindictive spirit, the prince plans to strike first. Knowing that David and his mighty men are not going down easily, he hires proxies to help him fight against Israel. Again, nothing has changed in the Middle East. After hiring mercenaries from Mesopotamia (western Iran), Syria, and Lebanon (isn’t that interesting in light of today?!), Israel is surrounded. Armies advancing from the North, the north-east, and the east.
Joab, David’s commander has a plan, but based on numbers, Israel is about to be slaughtered. Joab’s plan is simple. He is going to take some of his best warriors to fight against the Syrians from the north and give the rest of the men of valor to his brother Abishai to fight the Ammonites coming from the east. Joab says to his brother:
“If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will help you” (I Chronincles 19:12).
What do you do when you are so outnumbered and defeat appears inevitable? Joab’s plan is threefold. I would like to share his plan found in I Chronicles 19:3 from the King James Version of the Bible and the English Standard Version:
“Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight” (KJV).
“Be strong, and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him” (ESV).
This threefold plan is one of the best military plans found in history. The three essentials are:
Be of good courage
Behave yourself valiantly in front of others
Trust God to bring this battle to a final resolution according to his best judgment
To fight any battle requires courage. When the children of Israel first come over the Jordan to the Promised Land, God tells Joshua, “Be strong and courageous!” He doesn’t tell him this just once but three times!
“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:5-9, KJV).
Notice how God frames the Word of God (Book of the Law) with “Be strong and courageous.” This is where real courage comes from. Real courage comes from truth and knowing that you are fighting for a just and righteous cause. Without God’s truth, you are fighting battles that are vain and no eternal value.
As soon as God’s Word puts wind in our sails we cannot remain in the harbor. It’s time to act and act publicly. There’s a timidity today that alarms me. When God speaks to us with his truth and calls us to act, we must not remain timid and silent. The Apostle Paul writes to young Timothy:
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord…” (2 Timothy 1:7, 8a).
Sharing what God is teaching you is so important. David writes in Psalm 19,
“The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”
That speaks volumes! Sharing God’s testimonies will change you from being “simple” (thoughtless, naïve, gullible, easily enticed) to wise! Therefore, be strong and courageous and share what God is teaching you. This was second part of Joab’s strategy—Behave yourself valiantly in front of others!
Lastly, no matter the outcome, when you do act valiantly, trust that God will bring the outcome that he desires. This is important. Let’s say that you are a timid Christian and you share a testimony based on your sprouting courage. Let’s say that it didn’t go so well. You felt like crawling under a rock and hiding for the rest of your life. This response is because of pride. You didn’t really trust God to bring this to his desired end. Even if you failed in your delivery, that’s alright. That was God’s training ground. It’s time to get back up on that horse and try again…and again…and again!
“Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight” (KJV).
Never give up! Be strong and courteous.
Sincerely,
Mark Hamby
M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min
Recommended Reading:
The Fishmonger Ages 9+
