GOD IS A MAN OF WAR
Part 1

“The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name”
(Exodus 15:6).

“Really?” I hear you say. “I thought God was a God of love and mercy.” Yes, He is totally. One hundred percent. But the Scriptures reveal that He is also a “man of war.” God shows such patience and lovingkindness as He waits for all to come to repentance, but there is a day coming when He will rise up, He will roar, He will bring all His enemies into subjection unto Him, and He will bring justice to the earth.

The Scriptures speak a lot about battles and warfare. I found 12 different Hebrew words that relate to God as a warrior, and which also relate to His people. Shall we look at them?

 1.     GIBBOR

The Hebrew word for war is gibbor and means “a warrior, champion, chief, a strong, valiant man.” In Moses’ song of victory over the Egyptians, Exodus 15:3 tells us that God arose as a “man of war” to accomplish this miraculous victory.

Jeremiah 32:18 describes God as “the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name.” The word “mighty” is also gibbor.

This word is also used to describe valiant men. God used this word when He chose David. Psalm 89:19 says: “I have laid help upon one that is mighty (gibbor): I have exalted one chosen out of the people I have found David my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him.” Many translations say: “I raised a warrior.”

God didn’t look for someone who would say the right things to keep people happy. No. He looked for a man who was real, a man with heart after His heart. He looked for a fighter, a warrior! He looked for a man who was not afraid to go out to war and conquer his enemies.

2.     MILCHAMAH

This Hebrew word is a common word for war in the Bible and it is used 315 times. It is translated battle 151 times, war 158 times, and fight six times, apart from a few other words. It means “fighting, engagement in battle, warfare, a warrior.”

It is also used to describe God in Psalm 24:8: “Who is this king of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle (milchamah)?”

How did God deliver the Israelites from the mighty power of Egypt? Deuteronomy 4:34 tells us: “Hath God attempted to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war (milchamah), and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God di for you in Egypt before your eyes?”

Isaiah 42:13: “The LORD shall go forth s a mighty man (gibbor), he shall stir up jealously like a man of war (milchamah): he shall cry,  yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.”

Exodus 17:16 says: “The LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with

Amalek from generation to generation.”

Amalek represents evil and wickedness in the Bible. God fights against it in every generation. We must also fight with Him against all evil. Every generation must fight evil until the day comes when all evil is brought into subjection to Jesus Christ, who is King of kings and Lord of lords. Therefore, each new generation had to learn the art of war—how to fight in battle and how to conquer the enemy (Judges 3:1-3).

We as parents must know the art of war against the enemy and we must also teach our children.

God’s battles are our battles, and our battles are His battles!

The Bible tells us that David’s battles were the Lord’s battles (1 Samuel 18:17 and 25:28).

Another amazing thing we learn is that they had to go out to battle in the presence of the Lord. They didn’t go out on their own. They went out with God—in His presence. He ordered the battle. He went before them, and He helped them in their battles.

Numbers 32:20, 21, 29: “If ye will go armed before the LORD to war, and will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD . . . every man armed to battle, before the LORD . . .”

The phrase “before the LORD” literally  means “with God’s face upon you” or “in the LORD’S presence” as it is translated in God’s Word translation. God does not turn His eye away from war but is in the battle with us.

PRAYER:

“Thank  you, dear Father, that You are a “man of war.” You are Conqueror. I thank You that You don’t leave me in the lurch when I face my battles but You fight my battles with me. Lord God, I also want to help fight Your battles against sin and evil. Help me to never go AWOL but to always be ready to fight the “battles of the Lord.” Save me, Oh God, from ever siding with the enemy. Help me to always stand true to You and fight and against all evil and deception. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I belong to the kingdom  of God and therefore I am in a war against the kingdom of darkness. I cannot lay down my sword until Jesus comes!

 

 

Did you know, I am now doing a podcast for you each week called FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS w/ Nancy Campbell? I know you will be blessed and encouraged. Go to www.aboverubies.org and you’ll see the icon. Or go to http://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com