2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Listen you, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat, Thus said the LORD to you… I. These words imply THAT THE CAUSE IS THE CAUSE OF GOD. While the Christian life is undoubtedly a personal matter, it is well to look away from our interest and remember that God's cause is chiefly concerned in the conflict of life. 1. Individually. The Divine ideal for each man is the perfection of each man's character, and therefore he makes the successful prosecution of the warfare for this end his own. 2. What is true of the individual is also true of the race. A redeemed and regenerated world is the idea of God. Our .conflict, therefore, for these ends against the evil of sin and the corruption of the world is a battle of God. II. These words imply THAT THE METHOD OF VICTORY IS DIVINE. If the cause is God's, the forces we employ and the mode of our warfare must also be His. The Koran might be accompanied with the sword, but not the gospel. Its weapon was a Cross, and in that sign it triumphed. So in all the battle of life he who would win the victory for God must use the Divine armour. Eloquence, learning, wealth, and even physical force, have contributed at times to the success of the Church, but quite as often they have been hindrances. The method of Jesus is meekness and truth, the Word ever spoken, the life quietly lived, and the testimony borne and the faith kept clear and strong in the darkest and most distressful hour. How often in the conflict of life we try to fight the battle in our own way! We seek to conquer indwelling sin, to overcome the attack of the enemy who would destroy us, by some methods of our own. We always fail. III. IF THE BATTLE BE GOD'S, THEN WE MAY BE CONFIDENT THAT THE END WILL BE THE DIVINE END. 1. How many good people are greatly distressed about their final salvation. But salvation is a condition of mind and heart — a present trust and submission to God, each moment assured, and therefore assurance for the next moment. Leave the end with God. It will be God's triumph. 2. In respect of the final outcome of the conflict between good and evil, in the Church and the world, let us believe that God will take care of the issues, and that all will be well. Let us leave our doubts, and our forebodings, and our mistrustings with Him. (Llewelyn D. Bevan, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. |
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