Run to the Battle

     In my many times reading I Samuel 17, the very familiar story of David and Goliath, I had never really noticed verse 48, until this week. "As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him." It has caused me to reevaluate my prayer time with our mothers of prodigals prayer group. I have pictured in my mind, standing next to Jesus between our prodigals and the forces of evil coming against them. I knew I had no strength of my own to protect them, but I wanted to be standing in prayer next to Jesus as He fought for them. Now I am rethinking that idea, maybe Jesus is not standing braced for Satan's attack. Maybe He is running to the battle line, and in order to be next to Him, I need to be running too. Exactly how that works out in my prayer life, I am just beginning to explore.
     The important factor in applying any verse is how it fits with scripture as a whole. I believe running into battle is Christlike because the God who saved us is anything but passive. He provided our redemption. He chose us before He even created the Earth. He seeks us. He calls us. He gives us the faith to believe. And He is the one who keeps us safely in his hand until He takes us to heaven. God is not waiting to see if we want to take Him up on his offer of salvation. He makes it happen through thousands of seemingly random circumstances.
    Jesus' earthly ministry demonstrated his willingness to battle the Jewish leadership. In John's gospel especially, Jesus goes out of His way to heal on the Sabbath, knowing it would provoke the Pharisees. He didn't tell those in need to come back tomorrow. He didn't wait for someone to ask Him about the Sabbath so He could secretly slam the Scribes. Our gentle, but just, Savior sometimes ran headlong into danger.

     

 The Devil defies us,

      as he does our King

      God's Word is our stone

      and prayer is our sling.

      The battle continues,

      though the war has been won.

      To stand with our Savior,

      His people must run.