When David went to see his brothers in the battle line fighting against the Philistines he asked them, “Is there a cause” ? (I Samuel 17:29). What is the battle that must be fought he asks of his brethren. They reprimanded him for even asking after such things, but he persisted. He would go and fight against the one who threatened Israel. Finding audience with King Saul, he told him that he feared not such a man for the same God who protected him from the bear and the lion would give him the victory over Goliath. In verses 38, 39 we read that Saul questioned the possibility of this young man’s skill against so awesome a foe. Yet, there was no other answer to the situation at this time so the King gave David his armour. If he was willing to go and fight then he must have the best protection. The king’s armour, helmet, breastplate, and sword were fitted to David but he was quick to remove it. He told the King “I have not proved them”. His God would be his armour, a fortress against the enemy of Israel. With a steady walk, staff in hand, sling shot by his side he went and kneeled in the brook where living waters flow and took five smooth stones. The rock of salvation was in his hand; what foe had he to fear? David was not challenging Goliath alone. He marched into battle with the “Lord of Hosts”, marching with the regiment of angels whose power was from on high. Ps. 46:7 “the Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of our refuge” (“our refuge”- Heb. “a high place for us”). David’s aim was right because his sights were set on things above, and not on those things below. Israel was able to turn from mourning to the song of victory. With one strike their enemy fell into the dust of the earth.
When the season is right we must go out to do battle. If we are going to make progress in our journey to the kingdom as pilgrims on the earth, then there will come a time, with the Stone that is placed in our hand, for us to contend with the enemy, the power of sin. It’s not with the armour of men, their wisdom and understanding that we do this, but rather with the armour that God supplies, the wisdom from above.
The Apostle Paul uses military language when he says, “This charge (command) I commit unto thee son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them might war a good warfare.”
To those in the Ecclesia at Ephesus he wrote, “Put on the whole armour of God.” Ephesians 6:10-20. He then goes on to say, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood,” rather against a more insidious enemy, “rulers of the darkness of this world.” The word ‘Wrestle’ (Greek-“Pale”) is a term borrowed from the Olympic games in which two contestants fought until one overpowered the other, gouging out his eyes. One has to blind the enemy, or be blinded. Confidence and courage can be our strength when we realize that we are not fighting alone, for we have he who has gone before us, even Jesus Christ the captain of our faith. We march in that regiment made up of ranks of the faithful ones from all generations. Apostle Paul speaks of his brethren in this way, “my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow soldier.” (Philippians 2:25).
Timothy must condition himself, keeping his body under subjection, likened to an athlete who must remain in the race for life no matter how long it is. “And if any one enters competitive games, he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully, following the rules laid down.” (Amplified Bible) II Timothy 2:5.
From the cry, the race is on; we observe the runner fully committed to completing the race and being crowned the winner. His whole body bent forward, every muscle conditioned to press forward to that goal. Eyes focused on one thing, light of foot and wearing the lightest clothes so that nothing hampers his progress. The Apostle Paul may have watched the games, and if not, I am sure that he saw many times the athlete preparing himself in the ring, time given over to familiarizing himself with the rules; “Girding up his loins” so he might, when the flag is dropped, out distance the enemy. From such observation he drew the parallel of the disciple having taken the baton of the gospel from the One who has gone before him and now he must strive for the crown even as those young ones racing in Rome or Athens run as if for their lives. “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all.” (I Corinthians 9:24-27). For those who enter the race they wear the name of the club they belong to. Some wear a name — the symbol of the company they advertise, who have “proven” and found them suitable; for those who take up the race for Christ they must wear his name on their hearts — when the crown is given to the victors there will be no difficulty selecting them from the crowd for they will be found having the name of the “captain of Faith” on them.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One