The Greatest Battle Strategy

Based on Judges 19-21, Luke 7:31-50

"And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up first."
Judges 20:18.

Israel was going to have to fight against one of the tribes of Israel-Benjamin. Israel wanted to separate themselves from the sins which those of the house of Benjamin were committing. This desire for separation was a noble act, because in this separation, they desired to be closer to God. All along the way, the children of Israel sought The Lord for every step they were to take...and that is the greatest battle strategy: praying & seeking God!!

Even with this strategy, it doesn't mean we are perfect & saved from failure-we are going to mess up sometimes. We may not experience success on the first try. God may be trying to strengthen us through the overcoming of our failures & weaknesses. It may be the way that we build that strong alliance & reliance upon God! Israel was told Judah should go up first in battle, but they lost. Instead of turning away from God, they sought Him even more:

"And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day. (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until even, and asked counsel of the Lord , saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the Lord said, Go up against him.)" Judges 20:22‭-‬23.

Israel then experienced their second defeat! What was going wrong!? The strategy was correct, but they needed more of it! As the saying goes, "More prayer, more power!" And that's exactly what they did, and they fasted as well:

"Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord , and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord . And the children of Israel enquired of the Lord , (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the Lord said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand." Judges 20:26‭-‬28.

"Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." Matthew 17:21.

This kind of people, God's people, the victorious people, don't go out to win against the enemy without the greatest battle strategy! That's prayer, and fasting accompanied with it makes an even greater impact as we prepare ourselves for God to intervene in our lives in a mighty way! Through this battle strategy, God gave the Israelites a strategy which would defeat the enemy!

"And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment." Luke 7:37‭-‬38.

This same strategy was practiced by this woman. She came near to Jesus pouring out her all. Everything ounce of perfume, every tear, every care in the world...she gave it all to Jesus! She was tired of herself. She wanted to win & overcome. She wanted to draw close to The One who loved her most...in doing this, her sins were forgiven-and that's the greatest battle to overcome! The one within ourselves! So thankful that Jesus has been our all in all, since the time of the battles of the Israelites to this woman to now.

In the end, it's not about the battle we are facing as much as it is about facing Jesus in prayer & loving Him with a whole heart. We have already won the battle through prayer!!