Lesson 233: “Standing on the Promises”
While watching a feature on “Wild Kingdom” of at herd of giant water buffalo grazing across the vast grassland, a tiny bird nesting on the ground caught my attention. Since I only saw the show “in part” I am not sure in what country they were filming; perhaps Africa? Amazing as the huge buffalo were to me, this little bird was more so. Seems they (I think they were plover birds) lay their eggs on the ground, exposed to all the impending dangers of the stomping hooves of the wild animals. One misstep of the buffalo and the eggs would have been scrambled, maybe even killing the protective mother in the process. What would you call this? Bravery; Stupidity; Nature; or just guarding the only thing that means anything to you in your life?
There is a similar story in the bible (Samuel 23:8-39). Listed here in these scriptures are the mighty men of King David and some of their battles and victories. Adino killed 800 Philistines at one time with his spear; Elazar rose up against the Philistines until his hand was weary and it stuck to his sword and the Lord gave him a great victory. Abishai killed 300; Benaiah killed not only lion-like men but a lion in the midst of a pit and killed an Egyptian with the Egyptian’s own spear. There is another warrior whose story, like the little bird, stands out from the rest and his name was Shammah. “When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory” (2 Sam. 23:11-12).
I don’t think Shammah was actually too worried about starving if the Philistines took possession of the bean patch. I believe that he had just “had enough”! Enough of the pushing and shoving off of his own land! Enough of the taking of his property and personal possessions! The Philistines had gone too far and Shammah said; “no more”! He turned into the face of the enemies and stood his ground and “the Lord wrought a great victory”! Notice two very important things in this story. Shammah stood ALONE after everyone else had fled and it was GOD who won the battle.
In our spiritual battles we sometimes have to stand alone. When things get tough or even when we hold to our convictions, people flee. This “alone place” is where the devil wants you and he will strike with all the forces of hell. With no one around to hold you up in prayer, he will shout his lies in your face just like he did Eve when he told her to eat from the Tree; just like he assured King David that no one would know if he “met” with Bathsheba; just like he told Peter he would be killed if he admitted to know Christ. When you are alone with that craving for an extra piece of pie or just one more drink of alcohol, he is there to tell you it will not hurt your body. Young ladies, when you are alone with your boy friend, straining against temptation to have sex before marriage, Satan will tell you that no one will ever know. When you are praying and worshiping God in the midst of unbelievers he will stand before God and shout you down, resist you and accuse you of living “too filthy” to stand before God. Satan did this to Joshua in Zechariah 3:1-3. As we continue to read verse 5 we see where the Angel of the Lord stood by, spoke up for Joshua and in verse 6, related that the Lord of Hosts said; “if you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts and I will give you a place among these STANDING here” (verse 7).
When you feel you are standing alone, take heart! The Lord is standing with you, strengthening you and will deliver you out of the mouth of the lion (2 Tim. 4:17). Jesus said that He would never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5) but He is not going to chase you down, but rather He says; “Come to me” (Matt. 11:28).
. We are also told where to and where not to stand. “Do not stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers” (Ps. 1:1); “stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13); “because it is by faith you stand firm” (2 Cor. 1:24). To take your stand against the devil’s schemes, God has furnished all Christians with His armor (Eph. 6:10-18). Again I assure you that you will not be standing alone; “The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (2 Chro. 16:9). He is able to make you stand (Rom. 14:4b) but He also looks for “a man among you to stand in the gab” (Eze. 22:30) and wrestle in prayer for a fellow servant of Christ, that they may stand firm in the will of God (Col. 4:12).
The sin gaps in a Christian’s life are the devil’s footholds (Eph. 4:27). This gap could be anything from offering a smoke to a minor to selling a truckload of dope to school children; from a tiny rift in a relationship to a bitter divorce. The devil will take anything you leave open and unguarded for him to destroy. “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us” (Rom. 8:31)? Get on your knees and fill the gaps with prayer! Guard your lentil field with all the power and strength God has given you (Phil. 4:13, 2 Cor. 10:4). You are not the one that will have to flee if you stand your ground and resist the devil (1 Pet. 5:9). Each one of us will stand and give account to God (Rom. 14:12), so take a stand for Him now that you may be blameless on the Day of the Lord.
STAND YOUR GROUND