As a Christian you have many enemies like your flesh, the world, and the devil that are ready to attack you at any time. You must remain ‘strong and courageous’ and not ‘afraid or discouraged’ when it happens. Look at this scene when Israel was under attack by Assyria:
Then he encouraged them, saying, 7 “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria or before the large army that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. 8 He has only human strength, but we have Yahweh our God to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people relied on the words of King Hezekiah of Judah … 9 … (the) king of Assyria … sent his servants to Jerusalem … saying, 10 “… ‘Don’t you know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Have any of the national gods of the lands been able to deliver their land from my power? 14 Who among all the gods of these nations that my predecessors completely destroyed was able to deliver his people from my power, that your God should be able to do the same for you? 15 So now, don’t let Hezekiah deceive you, and don’t let him mislead you like this. Don’t believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my power or the power of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my power!’” 16 His servants said more against the Lord God and against His servant Hezekiah. 17 He also wrote letters to mock Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying against Him: Just like the national gods of the lands that did not deliver their people from my power, so Hezekiah’s God will not deliver His people from my power. 18 Then they called out loudly in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem, who were on the wall, to frighten and discourage them in order that he might capture the city … 20 King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed about this and cried out to heaven, 21 and the Lord sent an angel who annihilated every brave warrior, leader, and commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria returned in disgrace to his land. (2 Chr 32:7-8; 20-21)
Assyria had a huge army that was very successful devastating its enemies. Here, they were setting their sights on Israel and starting an attack. Even though facing a giant and powerful enemy, Israel’s king Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah told the people to be ‘strong and courageous’ and not ‘afraid or discouraged’.
The passage above shows several of Assyria’s tactics to weaken the enemy even before the first arrow was shot. Look at it again to see their verbal intimidation (Dt 32:9), written intimidation (Dt 32:17), psychological warfare (Dt 32:10a), and even spiritual attacks to undermine their faith (Dt 32:10b). All these had the purpose of frightening or discouraging them (Dt 32:18) to make them easy to defeat. Your enemies are similar. They will attack your mind and emotions through threats, intimidation, fear, and doubts. They will wage war against your faith in God. They will try to frighten you into a mistake or surrender. They will use tools like people, TV, politicians, celebrities, the news, the Internet, or social media.
Be on guard against the enemies’ mental and psychological attacks. Pay attention and recognize them when they come whether they are attacks on your faith, temptations to sin, or an attempt to pull you away from God.
When they come, be like the Israelites and turn to God in prayer for help. Remain ‘strong and courageous’. Sieges by enemies in ancient Biblical were long and punishing events meant to wear down and starve out the people. Attacks against you by the enemy are also not over in a few minutes. They can drag on for days or longer as you wrestle with your mind and urge to give in to sin. Your lifetime is one long siege of the enemy on your sinful flesh to get you to fall. “Be strong and courageous’ instead of ‘afraid or discouraged’ because God is with you and will fight for you! Look to Him, lean on Him, think of His Word, call a Christian friend for help, do everything you can to fight against your desire to give in or give up.
1 I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Ps 121:1-2)
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. (Ps 28:7)
3 The Lord your God is the One who will cross ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will drive them out. Joshua is the one who will cross ahead of you, as the Lord has said. 4 The Lord will deal with them as He did Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and their land when He destroyed them. 5 The Lord will deliver them over to you, and you must do to them exactly as I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Dt 31:3-7)
Think about it
What type of attacks has the enemy tried on you (bad self-thoughts, attacking your faith in God, intimidating you because of prior successes)?
What tools have your enemies used (People, derisive words, TV, internet)?
What emotions did your enemies prey upon (fear, lack of faith, insecurity, anger)?
What kinds of attacks are most successful against you?
How can you be ‘strong and courageous’ against those attacks and tactics? How can you learn from the passages above to win your future battles against your enemies?
