By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
THURSDAY – April 24, 2025
THEME: PROMISE #68 – IT’S NOT YOURS TO FIGHT; IT’S THE LORD’S
SCRIPTURE: 2 Chronicles 20:15
“And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
REFLECTIONS
Amazingly, every sphere of life is fraught with challenges that can be disheartening, intimidating, and frightening. Nevertheless, this is the environment into which we are born to survive and make an impact. While some navigate conveniently with the help of God, others struggle a little more and differently. In all this, we trace our source of strength to God, the Creator. We are dear to Him, having been made in His likeness. Thus, His interest in us as individuals cannot be fully comprehended, but the essence is that He cares and seeks to bless us.
Promise #68 convincingly presents the concept of us being the Lord’s; therefore, all our life’s battles conclude with Him. Those who acknowledge Him will surely have their paths directed by Him, and any battle along that path belongs to the Lord. We should gather hope in our daily struggles with the understanding that the battle is the LORD’s! When King Jehoshaphat faced deep trouble from Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir, who were coming to attack Judah, he gathered the people, called on God, and reminded Him of the great wonders He had performed in the lives of His people. He admitted they had no strength and, like grasshoppers, could not confront the giants of the allied nations, but he emphasized that “our eyes are on You.” In that moment of great anguish and need, Jahaziel, under the unction of the Holy Spirit, proclaimed God’s promise in 2 Chronicles 20:15, “And he said, ‘Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
In verse 17, he revealed the battle strategy to the people. He stated, “You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” Do not panic; witness what God will do. Beloved, what has kept you sleepless, worried, stressed, unhappy, troubled, confused, despaired, distraught, overwhelmed, and lonely? Is it a strained relationship, disappointment from a trusted one, financial challenges, accommodation issues, legal encumbrances, family feuds, prolonged poor health, marital matters, betrayal by a confidant, not being appreciated for your kind deeds, or the impact of the loss of a dear one? What is your challenge? The victory chorus is “the battle is not yours, but God’s.” You cannot fight a battle that is not yours, but the One to whom it belongs will.
Remember that this understanding—that the battle is not ours but the Lord’s—is fundamental to our trust in God. About 167 years earlier, David faced Goliath, the Philistine giant, and he reminded himself of this truth in 1 Samuel 17:47, “Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” Today, the very problem that bogs you down cannot stand in the presence of your mighty God. Why do you want to fight a battle that is not yours in the first place, and secondly, one that is mightier than your strength? Beloved, situate the promise for today with Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” Life is war, but God is the Lord of war.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 534 – “Will Your Anchor Hold?”
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God, who stands in to fight your battles; appreciate His lovingkindness and call on Him.
– Pray for your loved ones who are burdened by various issues, for young people struggling to develop edifying relationships, and for children facing peer pressure.
– Pray for those in war zones and young people taking unapproved routes to seek greener pastures.
– Pray for the nation’s leadership to serve God in development; pray for equity, justice, and mercy; pray for those who guide others to Christ.
–
