What some call fighting, may not be fighting at all. When David came to the Valley of Elah, Israel’s army and the Philistine army had been lining up in battle array for 40 straight days preparing to engage in a battle. Up until the 40th day, no swords had been drawn, no blood had been spilt, and who would be victorious was still to be determined. Even on the 40th day, Israel’s army marched to their positions acting as though they were going to fight, but there was no fighting in the battle.
“Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel [were] in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took [the things] and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle.“ I Samuel 17:19-20
Israel was prepared to fight with each man armored up and lined up, but no one took a step towards the enemy. They went out to the battlefield pumping each other up, “shouting for the battle,” but still there was no action. What Israel’s army was doing is what many churches and Christians do today. We get in our worship services and shout and get all worked up preparing for battle with the enemy. We lift our hands and shout and we talk about the armor and how the battle belongs to the Lord, but we learn to live with the Goliaths. We might wonder how long the stalemate would have gone on before David showed up. The real fighting against the enemy only began when David showed up. And as disciples of Christ, we must know that we are no match for the enemy. We must also know that fighting against the enemy begins when Jesus shows up in our prayers and praise and He gives us the victory over our enemy. He knows how the enemy stops us in our tracks and how we can’t move forward in life until He shows up. So if you are in a battle today and find yourself lining up, dressed in your armor, invite Jesus to come. Stand and wait on Jesus to come. Give Him praise for the victory! Spiritual fighting only begins when the King of Kings shows up. Don’t go out against your enemy no matter how spiritually charged you are, only Jesus can defeat him.