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of skill or equipment, but it was not so with these men of valour; they were "able" to
bear buckler and sword, they could "shoot" with the bow, and were "skilful in war", an
expression that covers discipline, instruction and familiarity with the arts of war. Men so
equipped and so trained might be excused if they felt that crying to the Lord in battle was
a thing to be ashamed of, yet here, in the record of battle, it seems to have come as the
crown and climax of their previous preparation. Recounting the peculiar experiences of
the past, the Psalmist sings:
"We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work Thou didst
in their days, in the times of old . . . . . they got not the land in possession by their own
sword, neither did their own arm save them; but Thy right hand, and Thine arm, and the
light of Thy countenance, because Thou hadst a favour unto them. Thou art my King,
O God; command deliverances for Jacob. Through Thee will we push down our
enemies, through Thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. For I will
not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me" (Psa. 44: 1-6).
In all these things there is need to strike a balance. Trust in the Lord does not mean
foolhardiness, exposure to unnecessary risks, bravado, or even the failure to take
reasonable precautions, measures, or equipment that is to be avoided. Fear has been
implanted as a danger signal, and need not necessarily be antagonistic to faith. For
instance, we lost count of the number of times we have had to break off the writing of
this series and take cover during the recent war. The case of Noah is a classic example of
the combination of faith and fear, trust and reasonable care.
"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear,
prepared an ark to the saving of his house" (Heb. 11: 7).
So it is written of these sons of Reuben, "They were helped . . . . . for they cried . . . . .
He was intreated . . . . . they put their trust in Him".
This however is not all. God is a God of truth, and is righteous and holy. However
perfect the equipment, the discipline, the valour; however fervent the cry, and however
deep the trust, one other thing is wanted to complete the case. "There fell down many
slain, because the war was of God" (I Chron. 5: 22).
Private quarrels, the invasion of the rights of others, the war prompted by greed or
vainglory, cannot thus be entitled, nor come under this pledge of deliverance. For us,
to-day, these terms, both of battle and equipment, need translating into their spiritual
equivalents. We to-day wrestle, not with flesh and blood, but with foes who are spiritual;
the weapons of our warfare are spiritual also, and in this battle prayer and trust are
essential. The girdle is truth; the helmet, salvation; the breastplate, righteousness; the
shield, faith; and the sword, the Word of God. We too must "put on" the Divine
equipment; we, too, must be men of valour, and then, in the battle which we know to be
"of God", our cry will be heard, help will be forthcoming, and He will be entreated of us,
for we too shall be found trusting in Him.