READING: 1 Kings 8-9
Since the 1980s, many folks have written books about spiritual warfare. The strategies they promote are varied — some that are biblically sound, and many that are not. One basic understanding of warfare, though, is found in Solomon’s prayer in 1 Kings 8:44-51.
“If your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to the Lord toward the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, then hear in heaven their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause.
If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ ) if they repent with all their mind and with all their heart in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them for they are your people, and your heritage, which you brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace).”
First, God is the warrior who will “maintain the cause” of His people when they pray to Him and follow His lead. When He fights on behalf of His followers, no enemy can match His power.
Second, God allows His people to lose battles when they live in rebellion against Him. We have no promise of daily victory when we live in opposition to Him. As we’ve noted before in these devotions, the one we need to fear is not Satan — it’s God. When He brings judgment, we’re no match for His power.
Third, He still forgives us when we turn back to Him. He “maintains our cause” again, grants us mercy, and frees us from the enemy’s hold. That is, we come out of the battle as victors, but we do so as people who appreciate grace and mercy. Victory comes from our brokenness and repentance.
Fourth, He keeps His promises to His people. He graciously keeps His Word to a people who sometimes break their word to Him. Every victory we have is because of Him.
ACTION STEPS:
- Pray for someone you know who seems to be losing the battle because of his or her disobedience.
- In your intercession, ask God to bring that person to repentance — to free him or her from the enemy’s hold.
- Thank God that He keeps His promises.
PRAYER: “God, forgive me for when I take victory for granted. I pray now for _______________, who seems to be caught in the enemy’s snare. Please grant freedom.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Kings 10-11