Battleground

Have you ever heard the saying “choosing your battles?”  Victories come when someone knows which battle is worth fighting and which battleground is best to fight on.  Do you know when to keep your mouth shut? You might have the attitude; well. I just can’t let that pass but remember even if you’re fighting good battles sometimes it’s best to pick the time and place. I have a pastor friend of mine that told me this. He and his Church members had worked hard on inviting people to a Special service and when that Sunday had arrived it was a great turn out. Then he said I couldn’t believe what happen that Morning he told me that all was going so good; the choir the songs all was great. Then all of a sudden a young man in the choir asked if he could say a few things. This was not strange because others from time to time would ask and they would always say encouraging words and praise the Lord for His goodness. This young man began to resign all of the things he was doing and began to bring up things that he should never have said; this all happened before the Pastor could get him stopped. Here was a young man who didn't know when and where to choose his battles. King David was a veteran at fighting battles and he understood that it was important to be sure that you’re fighting the right battles. In 2 Samuel 5 we read in 2Samuel  5:18  The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

2Samuel 5:19  And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

David took the time to ask the Lord about the battle and God told him to go and told him that He would deliver the Philistines into their hands. Later we read almost the same thing happening again.

2Samuel 5:22  And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

What is David going to do? I mean; he has been here before and he had asked the Lord what to do. Yes, He told him and there was a victory. Why waste his time asking the Lord again what he should do, I mean after all He is just going to tell him to do the same thing was  He not? No, we read once again that David inquired of the Lord. 

2Samuel 5:23  And when David enquired of the LORD This time we read this:  Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. Same inquiry, looks like the same thing happening again but this time the answer is different 

2Samuel 5:24  And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

2Samuel 5:25  And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.  What can we learn from this? All battles, even if they appear the same may not be and we must seek the Lord and let Him lead us into the battle at the right  time. Sometimes it’s best to keep your mouth shut and do nothing and other times it’s time to move quickly. We must pray and seek the Lord in every area of our lives.  

Proverbs3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Proverbs 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Learn to Trust the Lord for He is never wrong and He will not only choose the battle but the battleground too.