Ammonites and Syrians Defeated

 

1 Chronicles 19:10-19

 

March 27, 2023

 

Ammonites and Syrians Defeated

When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians.  The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and they were arrayed against the Ammonites.  And he said, “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.  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.”  So, Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians for battle, and they fled before him.  And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, Joab's brother, and entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head.  And when it was told to David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to them and drew up his forces against them. And when David set the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.  And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 7,000 chariots and 40,000-foot soldiers, and put to death also Shophach the commander of their army.  And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So, the Syrians were not willing to save the Ammonite.

The end game of being full of self is always lost and King Hanun was, and it cost him dearly.  But it also cost others, who were not only enemies of Israel but Israel’s God.  They came with a great army and Joab understood he was outgunned and the enemy was both in his front and rear, not a fun place to find himself.

 

But Joab had some men, who had proven themselves in battle, they were called in the Scriptures, mighty men.  These men had been gifted by God to be great warriors, and fear of man was not in their DNA.  The only thing these men feared was the God whose king they served.

 

Could it be that we who are followers of Christ, are not going to enter the battle without a guarantee of victory?  That is not what Joab did, he used his best resources and said the following; “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.  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.”   Wake up it is time for battle, not with guns, but with the sword of the Lord, with the mighty gift of prayer, not with a guarantee of victory, but like Joab, as the Lord sees fit.  Many of you often pray, and you should, not my will but your will, be done.

 

Joab had been a witness to God fighting for Israel, could it be you and I who have forgotten this truth, the victory is not ours, it is the Lord’s.  If you're so foolish, as to believe that God has quit fighting our battles, go to Israel and talk with the ones that were involved in the six-day war, they will tell you they were outgunned, but God shot down planes when they had run out of bullets.

 

Yes, our God is a Warrior, He is mighty, and only He can save our Nation, so be diligent, steady, and earnest with your prayers.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice