Attacks Will Come

Verse of the day: 1 Samuel 7:7, Now when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

The Israelites gathered at Mizpah in repentance for their sinful ways and sins against the Lord, and were ready to serve the Lord only. It was in the process of their turning back to Him that the enemy launched their attack. This, dear brothers and sisters, is a pattern that will play out time and time again when we decide to get right with our Lord. The last thing our enemy wants if for any of us to repent, confess, and get back to praying and studying God’s Word. 1 Peter 5:8-9 warns us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” The Philistines felt threatened by Israel’s gathering and decided that this would be the best time to launch their attack. There is nothing that makes the devils more apprehensive than when they see Christians doing all they can to get right with the Lord. The Apostle Peter told us that along with being sober and vigilant, we are to resist the devil. How do we resist Satan and his demons? Peter gave us the answer in the previous verses. 1 Peter 5:6-7 say, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” We, in and of ourselves, do not have the strength or wisdom to engage the devils directly, and quite frankly, it is not our place. The battle belongs to the Lord, and that is the reason we are told to humble ourselves “under the mighty hand of God”. I cringe when I hear Christians “rebuking” the devil. How is it that we are so arrogant to think that we can rebuke Satan, when the Arc Angel Michael, his equal, would not rebuke him? People who teach this falsehood are spoken of by Jude. Verses 9-10 of the Book of Jude clearly tell us, “Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’ 10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.” James confirms what Peter says in James 4:7-10, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” The devils are not intimidated by us, but will launch their attacks against us when they see us drawing near to our God, because they know that repentant, prayed up, students and practitioners of God’s Word are dangerous opponents. It is Christ they fear, and the best defense we have in times of the devils’ attacks is to draw as near to Christ as possible. Note that even though Israel was genuinely seeking God, He did not stop the Philistines’ advances toward them. Why would God allow this? Why would He allow the devils to attack us when we are drawing near to Him? The simple answer is that He uses their attacks as an opportunity to show us His power and might. God did exactly that when He led Israel to the edge of the Red Sea when Pharaoh pursued them. It was at the Red Sea that God demonstrated His great, unmatched, power. We read in verses 10-14 of this chapter, that God subdued the Philistines. He confused their advances and Israel saw victory. Jesus promised that we too will overcome, in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” The path to victory will not always look the way we think it should, because God will not always stop the devils’ attacks, but rest assured that in Christ we will always have the victory and the Lord will always be glorified.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).