A GREAT VICTORY

I love Bible stories. I love them because they are exciting and mostly because they are true. I love to read how God worked in people's lives and circumstances. I also love to read the Word of God because no matter how many times I read it over and over again, something new stands out and speaks to me about God's character or purpose, or about mankind, or about how God is moving history to His final conclusion.
I have been reading through Samuel and was much encouraged by 2 Samuel 23.11-12. "And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the Lord worked a great victory." First of all you have to appreciate the name of the hero in this story, Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. But above all the courage of Shammah is so amazing. The men fled from the Philistines, but Shammah took his stand in the midst of the plot of Lentils. Shammah was not looking for victory to keep the Lentil field for Israel. Like David before Goliath, Shammah was standing for the Glory of God against the enemies of the Lord. Shammah gave everything he had and would have given his very life in standing for his Lord and the Glory of God if needed. Then, and here is the best part of the story, God worked a victory. No actually, God worked a GREAT victory.

God honors the courage of those who make a stand for Him. The "and" result may be death. The "and" result may appear as failure for the moment. But as sure as God is God, the "and" result will by the working of God in a great victory. Some victories are evident at once. Shammah was recognized by David as one of his mighty men. Other victories will only be evident in eternity. God is the one who decides when the story, our story, will come to an end and be fully told. We are called to take our stand against the enemies of God. As Ephesians 6 exhorts us, "stand against", "withstand", "stand firm", "stand therefore".
I rejoice at the thought of one man, Jesus, standing against his enemy, Satan, to win the greatest victory of all, redemption for those who have faith in Jesus Christ, eternal life with God. What a GREAT VICTORY. Glory to God.
Christian you have your orders from God, "take a stand" for God's Glory and God's name against the enemies of God. Tell the Gospel, live the truth, expect the victory of God.