1 Chronicles 19:8 says, And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. When David heard that the people of Ammon were coming to fight a war with Israel, in spite of his being sympathetic to them at the loss of their king, he didn't run and hide. He sent Joab and a host of mighty to meet them. We are in a battle against Satan and his forces of evil today as Christians, and we don't need to run away and hide. We need to be mighty men and women of God and face them head-on. Verse nine adds, And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field. The people of Ammon started the war with their kings present in the field. The forces of evil today, along with those who are the main leaders, will always be ready to engage us as followers of Christ in battle. We are not called on to start the war, but we are called on to be prepared for it. Verse ten continues, Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians. When Joab saw how the war was going to be waged against him, by being attacked front and rear, he chose the best men of Israel and went against the Syrians. We may be attacked from every side spiritual, but we should never run away in fear, but stand firm in our battle against evil. Verse eleven states, And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon. Joab didn't try to fight all the enemy by himself but divided his forces. putting some under the leadership of his brother, Abishai, who faced the forces of Ammon. We should never think that we are the only one capable of leading God's people in battle but must willing share the responsibility with others. Verse twelve adds, And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee. Joab told Abishai that if the Syrians proved to be too strong for him to defeat, that Abisahi was to come help him, and if the Ammonites proved to be too strong for Abishai to defeat that he would come to aid him. We need to be ready to help other Christians who might be in danger of being overcome by the forces of evil. If we see this happening, we need to come to their aid and visa-versa. Verse thirteen continues, Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the Lord do that which is good in his sight. Joab called on Abishai and all the troops to be of good cheer and act valiantly for their people and their God and to do what was right in His sight. This is all we can ever do, even if we are defeated in battle in this world. Verse fourteen adds, So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him. When Joab and his forces went against the Syrians, they fled. They were just hired soldiers and may have thought it really wasn't worth the fight, but for whatever reason, they didn't want to fight against Joab and his forces, so they fled. Sometimes, just standing for God will be enough to cause some of our enemies to flee, because they aren't totally invested in the fight to start with. Verse fifteen says, And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem. When the Ammonites saw the Syrians fleeing, they fled also. They were looking for strength in numbers, but they suddenly didn't have the numbers on their side, so they gave up the fight. We will likely never have the numbers on our side as Christians, but if we are acting under the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit, sometimes those who oppose God are going to give up without a fight. Verse sixteen adds, And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them. When the Syrians saw that they were losing, they sent for reinforcements. They were not going to totally give up without a fight, because it would have made them look bad to the rest of those around them. We should never expect our enemies to just give up completely until the return of Jesus Christ in victory. Verse seventeen continues, And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him. When David heard about this, he led all his army to fight them. As Christians, we need to all be engaged in the battle against evil today, no matter how powerful the forces of evil might be. Verse eighteen states, But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host. In the battle, the Syrians once more fled, and seven thousand of them who fought in chariots were killed, along with forty-thousand-foot soldiers. All our enemies are already spiritually defeated, no matter how many of them there may be, so we just have to stand firm in our faith when we face them. Verse nineteen adds, And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more. When the king of Syria saw that his army was losing, he made peace with David and became his servant and never again helped the Ammonites. Those who do not believe in God will likely never become His servants, but at times they are willing to live more at peace with Christians.
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