I Chronicles 14:14,15
‘David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the baka-shrubs. When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the baka-shrubs, then you shall go out to battle, for God will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”‘
This is great. God is giving military advise. If this were done in today’s culture, some would cry, “Separation of church and state”. Others couldn’t imagine a powerful God that could do this. They see Jesus as holding lambs and being gentle with children. They don’t fear or are ignorant of God.
We, as believers, know we are to ask God for guidance. Proverbs 3:5,6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” David is modeling for us how we are to involve God in all of our lives.
Some would mock us for thinking it. Their shame can influence us to be quiet. We have to learn to fear God and not man. We hear from David again in Psalm 118:6, “The LORD is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” This is a great mindset. Their shame will come. We have to learn to ignore it.
Paul introduces a phrase in Ephesians 6:6, “Not with eyeservice, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart”. We are to be God pleasers, not men pleasers. It’s nice to do both, but at times we have to choose one. Lord, help to fear You and not man.
God wants us to be involved in all of our lives. The big and the small. Revelation 3:20 comes to mind; “Behold I stand at the door and know. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and sup with him and he with Me.” Our lives have many rooms. We are to learn to let Jesus into all of them. It takes time. I don’t think we’ll ever being done with the remodeling of our lives.
This is amazing that God cares for us so much that He wants to have access to all of us. Most could care less about the small details of us. Most would be bored by them. Not God. Matthew 12:20 says of Jesus, “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not quench, until He leads justice to victory.” Who cares about a bent branch? God does, at least in us. He gently and patiently waits and works on us. That is awesome.
Going to war is a big deal. He wants to be part of our big plans. We are to pray about them before we begin. We are to look for His guidance in the process. We are to look for His timing as well. It may be a yes, just not yet.
Lord, thank You, that You care about all of us. Even the tiny details that couldn’t hold the interest of most. He cares.