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Again, in I Sam. 17:, the youthful David, who declared that "the battle is the
Lord's", was actually preparing at that very moment to go out and meet the champion of
the Philistines in single combat.
It is evident, therefore, that, while the battle is indeed the Lord's, and it is He alone
Who gives victory and deliverance, it is equally true that He calls us into association with
Himself. We must "go forward". The salvation of the Lord is "with", and not
independent of, His believing people, and, as in David's case, while we acknowledge at
all times our utter dependence upon the Lord, there is also need for unflinching courage.
Another similar association of "faith" and "works" is found in the record of the battle
with Amalek, in Exod. 17: Joshua was bidden to "fight with Amalek" and Moses
undertook to "stand" on the top of the hill with the rod of God in his hand.
"And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when
he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed" (Exod. 17: 11).
While re recognize the supreme importance given here to the place filled by Moses--a
type of the glorious intercession of Christ on high--we must not shut our eyes to the fact
that it does not say that "Moses prevailed" or that "Moses fought". There is no
suggestion that, had Joshua or Israel refused to fight, the extended rod of Moses would
have prevailed by itself.
These examples will perhaps suffice to illustrate the nature of the principle that
underlies the spiritual conflict--a conflict in which the redeemed of the Lord have a
definite part to play, assigned to them by the Captain of their salvation.
#8.
"There's a War On."
Its effect upon the liberty of the subject.
pp. 71, 72
Having reviewed the teaching of the Scriptures regarding the existence and character
of the conflict of the ages, we now apply the lessons we may learn to the affairs of daily
Christian life and experience.
A skeptical objection, which we occasionally met, to the belief that a wise and
beneficent Deity still holds sway over this world, may be illustrated by the following
conversation, which has been recorded elsewhere. The speakers were two seafaring men,
the one a Commander in the Royal Navy and the other a Captain in the Merchant Service.
Said the Commander, "If there be a God, what a mess He has made of His world. Look at
my ship. Every plank is scrubbed white; every piece of brass shines; every man is at his
post; I have made a far better job of my ship, than your God has made of His world".
"Yes", replied the Captain, "but tell me, WHAT WILL YOUR SHIP LOOK LIKE WHEN
THERE'S A WAR ON AND YOUR SHIP HAS BEEN IN ACTION?"