Trained for the Battle
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for war,
and my fingers for battle...
Psalm 144:1
No one understood war better than David. A man of martial bearing, David's courage was forged even when as a young boy he slew both a lion and a bear who sought to make a meal of Jesse's sheep. "...if he (a lion or bear) arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him," (I Samuel 17:35). Similarly, the Philistine champion Goliath was no match for David's sling and David's God. “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine," he said and promptly dispatched him. And who can forget how, after becoming king over Israel, David put to rout the Philistines at the Battle of the Valley of Rephaim saying, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood," (II Samuel 5:20).
In thinking about David and his victories and considering Psalm 144:1 I want to simply make three observations/applications for us and then finish with a surprising conclusion. David here is reflecting on his life as a warrior and I think it is helpful for us also to reflect on our lives as we fight the good fight of faith. The first observation is that there is a need to be prepared for battle. No one should enter into the fray unprepared. One needs to be properly equipped (Ephesians 6). One needs to be prepared for hardship (II Timothy 2:3). One needs to be ready to submit to authority (II Timothy 2:4). In this Psalm we are reminded of the need for proper, purposed, intentional training. The Apostle Paul encourages us that discipline is required to achieve effectiveness (I Corinthians 9:26-27).
A second observation to make is that it is the LORD who trained and prepared David for battle and we should recognize that it is the LORD who prepares us for battle too. He is our trainer. He is our teacher. In our era of self-sufficiency and "can-do" ethos, it is really urgent that we discard all man-centered approaches to the Christian life. We need to be cognizant of the fact that we need the LORD to train us. How does he do this? He very frequently trains us by discipline and trials. Hebrews 12:3 and following remind us that even though God's discipline is most often unpleasant in it's various forms, it is serving to "...yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Similarly trials in general form the training regiment for God's dear children. "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing," James 1:2-4.
The last observation is that the fact that God is faithful to train and equip his children for the warfare of the Christian life is reason for us to be grateful and thankful to him. Aren't you glad that God doesn't just throw us into the battle unprepared? He doesn't just say, "Here's a sword and here's some armor. Hope everything works out for you." Rather, as a good heavenly father, he sovereignly purposes and disposes all circumstances in our life so that when the day of battle comes we are prepared. Furthermore, he has given to us not just any sword to take into the fight, but rather the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.
But, having made three observations from verse 1, take a quick glance at verse 2 for one last surprise.
"he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples under me."
Yes, we understand that there is a need to be prepared for the battle. Yes we understand that God himself is the one who prepares us for the battle. But in verse 2, we find one final surprising fact, and that is that God himself goes with us into battle and he takes it upon himself to defend his people. In fact, it is he himself who fights our battles and yes has even already been victorious. "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him," Colossians 2:13-15.
So, are you ready with the Psalmist to return thanks to the Lord for preparing you for battle AND for going with you and for you into the fray? He is your fortress, your stronghold, and your Deliverer. Thank him today!