“He trains my hands for battle” (II Samuel 22:35a, NLT). Before we move off this passage, I wanted to add one more important comment. God “trains (our) hands for battle” because He expects to be in the fight. What fight? Combating the enemy. Bringing God’s Kingdom to a lost and dying world.
No true believer accepts Jesus Christ just to get his ticket into heaven punched. No true believer is going to sit on the sidelines and watch others war against evil and share the Good News. No true believer is going to sit on their haunches and expect the Lord to do all His fighting for Him.
Yes, when we can’t go on, He’ll fight for us. But until that point, He’ll fight with us in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the One Who Stands Alongside Us. As Ephesians 6:12 reminds, we’re in a battle: “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
“He strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow. You have given me Your shield of victory” (II Samuel 22:35b-36a, NLT).
“He strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.” If you’ve ever tried your hand at archery, you know it takes some muscle to draw back the string on a wooden bow. Imagine a bow made of bronze. David was saying that God gave him supernatural strength against his enemies.
“You have given me Your shield of victory.” You’re gonna love this one. Note David’s exact wording here: “You have given me Your shield of victory.” Over and over in David’s psalms, he claims God as “my shield.” David may have taken possession of that “shield,” but he wanted to make it crystal clear where it had come from: God and God alone. He was the One who gave David victory after victory in both his military engagements and his personal battles.
In Ephesians 6, we read: “Put on every piece of God’s armor… the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (verses 13a, 14b-17).
Paul speaks of “the shield of faith.” When we look at David’s “shield of victory” and Paul’s “shield of faith,” we begin to see the perfect intertwining: faith is our “shield of victory;” therefore, our victory comes only through faith.
You may or may not be familiar with the old hymn, “Faith Is the Victory,” but take a look at some of its words: “Salvation’s helmet on each head, with truth all girt about, the earth shall tremble ’neath our tread, and echo with our shout. Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory! O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.”
Child of God, you are an overcomer. With Jesus Christ as your “Shield of Victory,” you cannot be defeated in any endeavor He has called you to. Have faith. Don’t look at the problems around you; look to the One who gives you victory.
Copyright © 2013
Judy Woodward Bates
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