Morning, June 8
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
1 Chronicles 5:22
"There fell down many slain, because the war was of God."
1 Chronicles 5:22
Warrior, fighting under the banner of the Lord Jesus, observe this
verse with holy joy, for as it was in the days of old so is it now, if
the war be of God the victory is sure. The sons of Reuben, and the
Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh could barely muster five and
forty thousand fighting men, and yet in their war with the Hagarites,
they slew "men, an hundred thousand," "for they cried to God in the
battle, and he was entreated of them, because they put their trust in
him." The Lord saveth not by many nor by few; it is ours to go forth in
Jehovah's name if we be but a handful of men, for the Lord of Hosts is
with us for our Captain. They did not neglect buckler, and sword, and
bow, neither did they place their trust in these weapons; we must use
all fitting means, but our confidence must rest in the Lord alone, for
he is the sword and the shield of his people. The great reason of their
extraordinary success lay in the fact that "the war was of God."
Beloved, in fighting with sin without and within, with error doctrinal
or practical, with spiritual wickedness in high places or low places,
with devils and the devil's allies, you are waging Jehovah's war, and
unless he himself can be worsted, you need not fear defeat. Quail not
before superior numbers, shrink not from difficulties or
impossibilities, flinch not at wounds or death, smite with the
two-edged sword of the Spirit, and the slain shall lie in heaps. The
battle is the Lord's and he will deliver his enemies into our hands.
With steadfast foot, strong hand, dauntless heart, and flaming zeal,
rush to the conflict, and the hosts of evil shall fly like chaff before
the gale.
Stand up! stand up for Jesus!
The strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle,
The next the victor's song:
To him that overcometh,
A crown of life shall be;
He with the King of glory
Shall reign eternally.