Where to Take a Stand

Today’s Bible Reading:  2 Samuel 2; 1 Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14

Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:

Topic: Spiritual Warfare

SCRIPTURE:  1 Chronicles 11:13-14

¹³…At a place where there was a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines. ¹⁴ But they took their stand in the middle of the field. They defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory. (1 Chron 11:13-14 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

A barley field seems an unlikely place to defend so valiantly. At first these Israelite troops, led by Eleazar (one of David’s top three mighty men), retreated from the Philistines. But for some reason, right in the middle of a lowly barley field, Eleazer is led to take a stand. Why the barley field? It probably wasn’t because this field was particularly valuable. A wheat field or a vineyard or an olive grove would have been considered more valuable, but it was in a barley field that “the Lord brought about a great victory.” 

APPLICATION:

It is important to note that it was the Lord that gave the victory. So the question becomes, where in one’s life does the Lord say to take a stand? What is your barley field? Where is the place the Lord can bring you victory over the enemy that pursues you? When the Lord reveals that place—the place where he commands you to draw a line and say to the enemy, “Here! And no further!” take courage, be resolute, and realize your triumph in His name.

PRAYER:

Lord, show me the battlefield of Your choosing. I submit to Your leading and trust You for victory. Through Christ. Amen.  –AP