The Battle Is the Lord's
By Uriah Smith
THERE are said to be two ways of handling the same text. One is to take those declarations concerning the Lord's might, and power, and his promises to help his people in all the trying crises into which they may be brought, and use them as narcotics to put one's self to sleep, and lull one's feelings into a state of indifference and carelessness in regard to the cause of the Lord in the earth. The other is to use them as stimulants, to nerve one's self to further energy, life, and activity in the cause of the Lord. We are all on a battle ground, engaged in a desperate conflict. The parties in this strife are pitted against each other, and are determined to carry on the contest to the finish. There is to be no flinching in the enterprise upon which we have entered. The stake for which we are wrestling is victory or death. We must either gain or lose; come off victors, or go down in defeat. The servants of the Lord, however, have this assurance to fall back upon: that the Lord does not depend upon what seems so potent in the eyes of men; it is not by sword nor by spear that his work is carried forward; for “the battle is the Lord's.” These words were spoken by David, when Israel had reached a great crisis in their conflict with the Philistines, and David was approaching a hand-to-hand conflict with Goliath, the leader of the opposing host. The parallel to show how the circumstances fit our own condition in our conflict with sin, is easily drawn. Israel represents the people of the Lord on one side, the Philistines, the enemy, on the other; Goliath, the leader of the powers of darkness, on one side, and David, a champion on the side of right, standing for the Lord and his truth. The Philistine champion came forth with much braggadocio and loud boasting, telling what an easy victory he would gain over his opponent, whom he treated with disdain, and looked down upon with contempt. David did not resort to those means which are of so much account in the eyes and estimation of men, but leaning on the Lord, and trusting in the power of faith, ran nimbly forward to meet his antagonist, the confident boaster, and defamer of the God of Israel. Here was David's strength. And he made use of these words: 'The Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands,' 'and all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not' with the means which men are so prone to regard as efficient and necessary to success; for 'the battle is the Lord's.' 1 Sam. 17: 42-47. Let no one, in studying this subject, be either so weak or so wicked as to yield to the suggestion of the enemy, and think, if he does not openly say, Well, if the battle is the Lord's, we need not do anything ourselves, but let him attend to it. So we might say about the harvest: If the harvest is the Lord's, we need do nothing about preparing the ground, and putting in the seed. We will leave that for the Lord to attend to. What kind of harvest could any one expect, under such circumstances? We see how David made use of the great truth that 'the battle is the Lord's.' He did not rest down on his oars, and fall into indifference and carelessness. But the thought that he could co-operate with the Lord fired his soul and nerved his arm to put in some of his most telling blows in behalf of the honor and cause of his Master. So the circumstances now call upon all the friends of the truth to contend earnestly for the faith in these trying and dangerous times. Paul sends forth a warning especially applicable to the present time: 'And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.' Rom. 13: 11. Let us, then, consider a moment what encouragement we are warranted to take from this great fact that 'the battle is the Lord's.' Look at the elements involved in this controversy. Among these are truth, righteousness, holiness, and love. And all these are highly esteemed by the Lord; and in behalf of all these principles, he will contend in the power of his might. He is fighting for his own principles. And in this respect, then, 'the battle is the Lord's.' His name and glory are the object of all our contention in this battle. It is for the honor of the Lord to see righteousness established in all the earth. It is a part of the Lord's prayer, that God's will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. And even of his individual disciples he says, 'Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.' John 15: 8. Thus men strike at God's honor when they oppose his work; and in this respect our conflict becomes the battle of the Lord. The Holy Ghost is all our strength. We fight only by his power. So the prophets of old encouraged the people: 'Behold, God himself is with us for our Captain.' 2 Chron. 13: 12. 'O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company . . . but our eyes are upon thee.' 2 Chron. 20: 12. Our great Captain has sent us upon this warfare. We are not free lances to act upon our own discretion, in our own way, and at our own charges. We are all soldiers under his command. 1 Tim. 6: 12. Take courage from the fact that the Lord has bound himself to engage in this controversy: the reward promised to his Son, the covenant of his grace, and the distinct promises of his Word, all make it his battle. The apostle says, 'And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.' Rom. 16: 20. When the victory is fully won, the glory will be God's alone. Ps. 98: 1. A part of the reward of the saints consists in singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. Rev. 15: 3. And when Moses sang his song of the deliverance from Egypt, typifying our redemption from this earth, the keynote of his exaltation was, 'I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously.' Ex. 15: 1.