CHANGING YOUR BATTLE STRATEGY
King David was victorious because He asked the Lord when and how to do battle. We learned in the last lesson that victory “broke out” when David inquired of the Lord. I find it interesting that the name of the twin boy who pushed past his brother was Perez. If you remember, his brother’s arm came out first and the midwife tied a scarlet thread around his wrist. However, Perez “broke through” to become the firstborn son of Tamar and Judah. Perez means “breaking forth.” (Zerah means “scarlet” – and there’s a whole sermon there relating to the scarlet cord Rahab hung from her window, giving us a picture of the blood of Jesus which is the only way to salvation). The meanings of names in Bible times were very important, as we see here.
There were some battlegrounds named for Perez. Last week we read about Baal Perazim, where victory broke forth for David. We’ll look at a couple more of these examples in future lessons. This week, we’ll look at how God gave David specific instructions when he inquired.
These stories were written for our example, because each of us is in a battle of our own. Our battles all look different, but we are engaged in spiritual warfare every day as we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. We have an enemy of our soul who came to kill, steal and destroy. But Jesus came to destroy the works of the evil one, and He came that we might have life more abundantly. Isn’t this a good reason to ask the Lord how to do battle? If you inquire, He will answer…and He may change your battle strategy. You just have to ask, listen, and obey.
I think you’ll get more out of these verses if you check them out in a few different versions. The Amplified Bible gives interesting insight into the Proverb readings, but I like the NIV for the verses in Exodus. God bless you as you apply God’s Word to your daily life.
READ 2 SAMUEL 5:23-25
1. This is the second time in this chapter David inquired of the Lord; how did God instruct him this time? What was the signal that assured him of victory over the Philistines?
READ EXODUS 28:29-30 (NIV explains it well)
2. Before the coming of Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, how did people of the Old Testament determine God’s will? Aaron was the high priest who represented the people before God. What different things did he bear over his heart? What were the means of making decisions called? (Use you Bible notes if necessary).
READ PROVERBS 16:3 (AMPLIFIED)
3. What will the Lord do for us when we commit everything to Him?
READ PROVERBS 16:33 (AMPLIFIED)
4. What assurance of God’s leading do we find here? What do these stories and proverbs say to you personally? Has God ever led you to change your battle strategy when you stopped to ask for help?
Jesus is our High Priest who represents us before the Father. He knows our names. In fact, scripture says He engraves them on the palms of His hands. He is our Mediator and guides us in every decision of life. Our God is Sovereign over the kingdoms of men. It might seem like the lot is cast and your circumstances are coincidental, but all the pieces of our lives from beginning to end are in His hand. God is in control. So keep asking for help…inquire of the Lord, my friends.
When the mulberry trees made a noise then it would be time for David to go and the LORD would be going before David – again David was victorious in his fight. Aaron had the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart when he went into prayer – he prayed before the LORD continually – when we dwell constantly upon the LORD and HIS works HE will always be with us at all times in our lives – I believe the LORD leads us in our lives if we put ourselves into HIS live completely – if we dwell in HIM each day of our lives – Yes – I have changed my ways of thinking sometimes and I know it was the LORD who did this for me – I ask HIM for HIS guidance at all times – help me to make my decisions and please LORD direct my life the way that YOU would have me to live it and let my heart be solely set upon HIM – HE has been so wonderful to me – another wonderful lesson and for the dwelling on for many days – I ask the LORD for HIS direction in my life every day – I just want to be more like HIM and help other people see the ways of the LORD – Thanks again – Karen – I have thought on both lesson 3 and 4 – so good.
A great reminder of how important it is to ask for the Lord to guide me through each day. When I make my plans without consulting Him, I can’t be surprised when I get into trouble.
Great lesson Karen. This doesn’t really classify as a “battle,” but it is an example of us inquiring of The Lord & Him instructing us. Just last week my husband called us while in CA on a business trip to let us know we had a decision to make….he had just learned of a job opportunity in OH…much closer to home than NV. We had NO idea what to do. The thought of relocating AGAIN was almost more than we could handle….but we also really want to be closer to home. So I spoke to my children (ages 12 & 14). Their response: Inquire of he Lord. So the 3 of us sat down & prayed, “Lord, we do not know what to do. We are leaving this decision in your hands. If You want us to go, fill all 4 of us with peace & joy and let everything go smoothly, pointing the way. If this is not Your plan for us, let each of us have no peace in it & close the doors of opportunity.” We then quit talking about it & went about our day. Within about 2 hours, one by one, we individually began to confess to one another that we had no peace…it didn’t feel right. And I was overjoyed to know God answered us so clearly and in the exact way we had asked of Him. His answer was so clear & left no room for doubt. Leading into my request for all 4 of us to have the same answer in our hearts was your story of when your son was getting married & he prayed that each person in the family would confirm they should marry…and you said that even a child confirmed it to him. Amazing! :)