Strength Defined

Long ago, people came to this land in search of something. Some were looking for religious freedom, some were looking for adventure, but there were many looking for fortune, in a word: Gold. The travelers devised many schemes for getting the gold that North America had to offer; one way was to trade for it. Explorers came from all over the world, many to take advantage of the natives who lived here. The foreigners traded glass beads for gold, convincing the natives of their "great value". In reality, the natives were trading something of great value for something shiny that really didn't have much worth at all. Hold that thought....

The men we read about in this portion of scripture were a special breed. They were the army of David. They fought hard, and courageously! They had faces like lions, and were swift as gazelles! I've enjoyed reading the many accounts of bravery and strength in these battles. These men were united, for a cause. Verse 33 of chapter 12 says that they were "not double-hearted". I love that!!! They had a heart for justice and for God! As Natalie reminded us earlier this week, unity is not something we create, it's something we preserve. This army had a common purpose that caused them to lock arms in battle together. And "they would not break rank". No matter what happened, the men would not turn and run from the brothers at their sides! It makes my skin tingle to think of such love and respect. Those men of Zebulun were fierce!

I think of this army when I think of you, my sisters, as we journey together. I think of all the girls I come in contact with, day to day. It breaks my heart to see young women around me selling off their gold for worthless beads that the enemy offers. Oh, that we would be a people of great integrity! To stand firm in our faith and lift our sister up! It's a war we wage in this world, and it's not for the faint of heart. But for God only, let's unify our hearts to the cause of Christ. Don't accept the commerce of this world, bartering your eternal soul for the temporary and fleeting things this world has to offer. Choose to live pure and godly lives, and encourage the younger women around you to do the same. Store up true treasure! Don't let that young girl in your life trade her gold for the glitter Satan offers her. "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose his soul?" Stand in the gap, and don't break rank!

So here we are, David is about to be made king. His men are ecstatic, on top of the world, eating and celebrating together for days. David is looking to start his kingdom off right, by setting priorities straight. He prays to God and decides to bring the Ark back home. What better way to show that God is first in his kingdom? Well, we know how the story goes......the cattle, the cart, the forgotten instruction, and the death of Uzzah. David's motive was right, his motions were wrong. He followed the ways of the Philistines, and not the way of God. Knowing what we know now, about the location of the temple........how interesting is it that the cart stumbled on the exact location of the threshing floor!?!??!! Oh, the history we are oblivious to, happening all around us every day.

Speaking of being oblivious.......here's David. He's just realized that, "Oh? God has CHOSEN me to be king....like of His people!!!" The king of Tyre is blessing David greatly with gifts of cedar and men who were experienced in masonry and carpentry, and David is just putting it all together.......he's chosen. A sherpherd, the runt of the litter, God will work through him to build the greatest kingdom the world has seen. When the Philistines saw what was going on, they sought to kill David. David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go up against the Philistines?" God delivered them into His peoples' hands. Then the Philistines came up again. David did another thing......strange it seems to some, but while things are going so well, he inquires of the Lord AGAIN. Really? Yes. Even when things are going well, keep praying. He doesn't always do things the same way, and we need to be in tune with His plan. He was not double-hearted, but he was totally sold out to God.

What is the secret to great strength? Singleness of heart. Unified. David and his men were a formidable force, indeed, but fully relied on God. They were nothing without Him! Their strength came from knowing that one thing. Oh, Father, may we continue to seek You! ....to see You work in a mighty way around us. May we be victorious in You, over our enemies and over this world and over all it has to offer.