This is How we Fight our Battles
“And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him.“ (1 Chronicles 5:20)
Like the people of God in 1 Chronicles, we will face physical and spiritual battles in our lives. But we do not have to fight these battles alone or with our own power. When we pray, the battle becomes the Lord’s. Concerning prayer, E.M. Bounds observed, “Prayer is the greatest of all forces, because it honors God and brings Him into active aid.”
It’s important to note that the battles that are recorded in our text were the battles of the Lord for two key reasons. First, the tribes of Israel were not just expanding their territory in the land of Israel for their sake, but they were doing so in obedience to God. The Lord brought them out of the bondage of Egypt and commanded them to take possession of the promise land by driving out its inhabitants. While doing so, they were both an instrument of God’s judgment upon the idolatrous people of the land and also protecting themselves and coming generations from becoming idolaters.
Secondly, the battle was the Lord because, as I stated earlier, prayer brings God’s activity into our lives. In the previous chapter, God’s word also records how prayer brought God’s activity to bear in Jabez’s life: ”Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.” (1 Chronicles 4:10)
We see here that Jabez’s prayer also involved territory. And like the tribes of Israel in 1 Chronicles 5, Jabez's prayer for God to enlarge his borders was not motivated by self-aggrandizement. As one commentator suggests, “Jabez called on God ‘when he was undertaking some great and dangerous service,” in particular, the conquest of the land of Canaan. Therefore, when he prayed “enlarge my territory,” it was to “drive out these wicked and cursed Canaanties, whom thou hast commanded us to root out, and therefore I justly beg and expect thy blessing in the execution of thy command.’ (Poole)
Adam Clarke quotes a Chaldean translation of this prayer, with the line, "and enlarge my borders with disciples." This, together with the scribal city associated with his name, indicates (but does not prove) that Jabez’s desire for more territory was not only to displace the wicked but also to advance the cause of godliness through the multiplication of disciples.” (Guzik)
A great lesson to learn about prayer here is that crying out to God is not ultimately about seeking Him to meet our earthly expectations, but about looking for God’s blessings to fulfill His plans. I really appreciate one Bible teacher’s insights here:
“Prayer is most powerful when we marry our needs to God’s divine purpose. Jesus teaches us to pray, ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ So weave your needs in with God’s kingdom as you pray. Always keep the Kingdom of God in mind. If you need finances, frame that in the context of the Kingdom. ‘God, I want to take care of my needs and also be a blessing to your Kingdom and to others.’ Get a Kingdom vision. If you are praying for health, weave that to God’s Kingdom. ‘God, I am asking for new health and strength so that I can use that strength to glorify your name, to serve your people, and praise your name.’” Chris Ritter
Jesus promised that when we put God’s kingdom first, God will take care of our needs (Matthew 6:33). And He will do so while at the same time fulling His larger redemptive plan for the world.
This is how we fight our battles. We call on the Lord to help us overcome the challenges we face so that we can fulfill His ultimate plans for our lives and advance His kingdom to the glory of His name.
Pray so that the battle becomes the Lord’s.
In your service,
Pastor Marco
Like the people of God in 1 Chronicles, we will face physical and spiritual battles in our lives. But we do not have to fight these battles alone or with our own power. When we pray, the battle becomes the Lord’s. Concerning prayer, E.M. Bounds observed, “Prayer is the greatest of all forces, because it honors God and brings Him into active aid.”
It’s important to note that the battles that are recorded in our text were the battles of the Lord for two key reasons. First, the tribes of Israel were not just expanding their territory in the land of Israel for their sake, but they were doing so in obedience to God. The Lord brought them out of the bondage of Egypt and commanded them to take possession of the promise land by driving out its inhabitants. While doing so, they were both an instrument of God’s judgment upon the idolatrous people of the land and also protecting themselves and coming generations from becoming idolaters.
Secondly, the battle was the Lord because, as I stated earlier, prayer brings God’s activity into our lives. In the previous chapter, God’s word also records how prayer brought God’s activity to bear in Jabez’s life: ”Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.” (1 Chronicles 4:10)
We see here that Jabez’s prayer also involved territory. And like the tribes of Israel in 1 Chronicles 5, Jabez's prayer for God to enlarge his borders was not motivated by self-aggrandizement. As one commentator suggests, “Jabez called on God ‘when he was undertaking some great and dangerous service,” in particular, the conquest of the land of Canaan. Therefore, when he prayed “enlarge my territory,” it was to “drive out these wicked and cursed Canaanties, whom thou hast commanded us to root out, and therefore I justly beg and expect thy blessing in the execution of thy command.’ (Poole)
Adam Clarke quotes a Chaldean translation of this prayer, with the line, "and enlarge my borders with disciples." This, together with the scribal city associated with his name, indicates (but does not prove) that Jabez’s desire for more territory was not only to displace the wicked but also to advance the cause of godliness through the multiplication of disciples.” (Guzik)
A great lesson to learn about prayer here is that crying out to God is not ultimately about seeking Him to meet our earthly expectations, but about looking for God’s blessings to fulfill His plans. I really appreciate one Bible teacher’s insights here:
“Prayer is most powerful when we marry our needs to God’s divine purpose. Jesus teaches us to pray, ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ So weave your needs in with God’s kingdom as you pray. Always keep the Kingdom of God in mind. If you need finances, frame that in the context of the Kingdom. ‘God, I want to take care of my needs and also be a blessing to your Kingdom and to others.’ Get a Kingdom vision. If you are praying for health, weave that to God’s Kingdom. ‘God, I am asking for new health and strength so that I can use that strength to glorify your name, to serve your people, and praise your name.’” Chris Ritter
Jesus promised that when we put God’s kingdom first, God will take care of our needs (Matthew 6:33). And He will do so while at the same time fulling His larger redemptive plan for the world.
This is how we fight our battles. We call on the Lord to help us overcome the challenges we face so that we can fulfill His ultimate plans for our lives and advance His kingdom to the glory of His name.
Pray so that the battle becomes the Lord’s.
In your service,
Pastor Marco