Entering the Battle

# 164 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 13:1-4, “Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, 2 Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the mountains of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent away, every man to his tent. 3 And Jonathan attacked the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear!" 4 Now all Israel heard it said that Saul had attacked a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel had also become an abomination to the Philistines. And the people were called together to Saul at Gilgal.” As we begin a new chapter, the Holy Spirit sets the scene for a very important event. These circumstances would lead to Saul offering the unlawful sacrifice which would cost him dearly. In this chapter we meet Saul's son Jonathon for the first time. Jonathon is given 1000 men and Saul orders them to attack the Philistines that were in Geba. He defeats them, but it was a little like poking a beehive. The Philistines get riled up. The Israelites literally became a stench to their nostrils, and they begin to amass for war. Saul blows the trumpet, that is, he calls all the able-bodied Israelites to come to Gilgal to prepare for battle. Is there a lesson here for us today? I think the lesson for us is the simple reminder that we too are engaged in a spiritual battle with an enraged enemy. In Re 12:17, we read, “And the dragon (the devil) was enraged with the woman, (the church) and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. This is the reality, we are at war, we need to hear the trumpet and get into the battle, remembering that, “we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,” (2 Cor 10:3) The Word of God, the Spirit, and prayer are what we need to enter the fray and have victory in our daily battles.