Saturday, December 15

ELEAZER

2 Samuel 23:9-10; 1 Chronicles 11:12

Truly, David is a great and mighty king, and his people love him and serve him with all their hearts and lives! Do you see that David is a picture of Jesus Christ, a living “prophecy,” to teach us more of who our Lord is? How then could it be that one, such as I, Eleazer, an obscure warrior, could be called to battle for and with him? How great is His mercy and grace as He chooses us, “the foolish things of the world to confound the wise,…the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught the things that are; that no flesh should glory in His presence.”(1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

Oh, it’s true, I was strong once. I felt myself to be a mighty warrior for the Kingdom of God. The great love which God had birthed in my heart at salvation pressed me “to do many exploits” for my Beloved Savior. I found myself busy with bold and fervent things I never would have done before—prayer, private and corporate, verbal witness, detailed Bible study—but my King insisted that it all pass through His fire. His fan is in His hand and He purges His floor and burns up all the chaff of fleshly works. I was left with a pile of cold, ugly ashes, AND a purified heart on fire for Him! Only then could His call to battle be truly heard and responded to in purity, in power, and in the Holy Spirit, as given at Pentecost. As His Spirit floods in and through me, I, Eleazer, now find myself in the hottest battle of my life. THERE are the Philistines—the enemies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who defy the living God to produce His holiness in them, and who are gathered to take the King’s land for themselves. They want the land, with it’s promises and provisions, and the assurance of peace for eternity, but they will not submit to the King. They are prepared for war against God’s servants with great multitudes and mighty weapons. THERE is the field of barley—the besieged territory belonging to my King, even His own carnal church in the midst of this evil world. And THERE am I. I have nothing but the armor of Christ, the provision of the power of the Holy Spirit, and the Divine promise of victory in Jesus.

What more could be needed to fight and win this battle in league with my Holy King? Only one thing—my absolute surrender to His perfect indwelling—THEN He will enable me to stand, even when I’m weary and all others have fled the battle front. He alone will give power and grace to continue until my hand cleaves to the sword and the spoil of the battle—even His Grace—is won for all those who failed in their own strength. No need for us to judge or to save, only to remain in the Battle in full communion with our Blessed King. The Victory is sure, and the Victory is His!

~ Cindy Warren