Christians and non-Christians have often powerful fortresses installed in their lives. In spite of all their efforts to get the situation to move forward, nothing gives. We will see in this story that when God promises something, the solution has already been put into place. Often it was there from the beginning. But it was hidden from our eyes. That is why we need to position ourselves before God and decide that it is time for these fortresses to be overthrown.
When Moses died (the man who saw the face of God) it seemed that all God’s power disappeared with him. And Joshua was left with the enormous task of leading the people of God against 7 nations more numerous and powerful than they. But Joshua had the confirmation from God of the promises made to Moses:
« 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. » (Joshua 1.3)
But this promise was not to conquer the world or to apply to any territory we covet. This is the mistake some Christians make.
Verse 4 describes the limits of the territory given to the people of Israel. And the promise was to be applied in the limit of this region.
« 5 No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life » v. 5
Do you have fortresses that won’t allow you to put a foot in the door?
But this is a real problem. Some forteresses remain imprenetrable.
There was a fortress called Jerusalem.
The sons of Juda had already attacked Jerusalem and set it on fire. (Judges 1.8)
21 But the Benjaminites (another tribe of Israel) did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem; so the Jebusites have lived in Jerusalem among the Benjaminites to this day. (Judges 1.21)
Other tribes had chosen the pacific coexistence which seems the most logical. But God reminds them that they must not « 2 make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land; tear down their altars.’ … they shall become adversaries to you, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” » (Judges 2.3)
What is the price of a compromise?
When we accept a compromise in a situation, God withdraws from us the power that allowed us to gain victory against nations who were more numerous and more powerful than us. Plus there is a danger of spiritual contamination that keeps us blocked in the situation.
(If we haven’t lost our faith at least the devil has neutralized us or rendered us non-productive in all our efforts.)
These nations tested the obedience of Israel to the commandments given by God. 5 So the Israelites lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; 6 and they took their daughters as wives for themselves, and their own daughters they gave to their sons, and they worshiped their gods … and they forgot the Lord (Judges 3.4-5)
Apparently, Juda took the part that was outside of the walls of the city and the Benjamites lived there. The fortress itself was impenetrable and was left under the control of the Jebusites.
Allowing the enemy to reinforce his position because of our unbelief.
By leaving the Jebusites behind the walls, allowed them to strengthen their position and take control of the region!
When we talk about ourselves, there are situations that we leave in place because we believe have no means to change things.
So when David finally became the king, his capital was Hebron. But he saw that Jerusalem was much more strategic because it was situated at the frontier of the two major tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Although 400 years had passed since they came into the promised land, they still had not found the way to take this fortress. They were living a compromise. David decided (by faith) to tackle this problem. By faith, for he didn’t have the war machines (catapults and towers) that later conquerors had.
Impenetrable fortresses in your life?
What kind of fortresses do you have in your life that has been there forever? What is forcing you to compromise because you have no means to take it?
We notice that David came with his whole army. He was not alone. There are battles where the people of God need to march together. Because when the situation affects (infects) one person, the whole body should feel concerned. Because, if the enemy can triumph over one person, he can easily disperse the people one by one. These are “Benchmark” situations. As a group, one has faith and another sees the solutions. And if they decide to win the battle here, all other battles become easier.
Today the battle against fortresses is different.
In the New Testament, Paul says «but we do not wage war according to human standards; 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. » (2 Corinthians 10.3-4)
Yes, with our spiritual eyes, we see what tries to counter the work of God. As long as we don’t contend for the spot, the enemy of our souls will establish fortresses to control us and prevent our progression. « 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. » (Ephesians 6.12)
Are you trusting in your fortresses or your God?
Since people find refuge behind the walls of their “certainties”, they often taunt you with their words. « “You will not come in here, even the blind and the lame will turn you back. » (2 Samuel 5.6)
Trusting walls of fortresses, or trusting God.
David had already shown his trust in God years before with Goliath. « You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. » (1 Samuel 17.45)
Of course, God tests our faith in small things before giving us bigger challenges to handle. David had to explain that he was up to the challenge because he had already been tested with a lion and a bear. « The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine. » (1 Samuel 17.37)
Remind you, no one else than David thought he was capable. King Saul thought he had a plan. Send a child against Goliath and make him look ridiculous in killing an inexperienced teenager. So he threw out a very spiritual, « Go and may God be with you ».
But of course, King Saul should have been the one to fight Goliath. Though he was head and shoulders bigger than the others he didn’t dare pick up the challenge. (1 Samuel 9.2)
Facing fortresses: Where faith is no longer a theory.
The fact is that Saul and the whole army were paralyzed by fear. And it has was 40 days like that. The one who lost the single combat (with his people) would become the slaves of the other nation. He should have believed that God was with him to win the battle. But fear paralyzes action.
The stakes were too high. First of all, you are playing by the enemy’s rules since the idea came from Goliath. But also it was evident that Goliath’s arm as well as his weapons we longer than those of Saul. They had already measured how long it was and Saul could not even get close before being pierced or cut in half.
5 He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 He had greaves of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron, and his shield-bearer went before him.”
Avoiding the battle against fortresses?
And of course, as long as he avoided the battle, that also pushed off the inevitable outcome. (become slaves).
But David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, thought “outside the box” like we would say today. He didn’t even need to get close. The attack could be done from a distance with his slingshot. (He put 5 stones in his shepherd’s bag in case Goliath’s brothers were around).
In this story, we see the difference between a faith that has been tested and a theoretical faith…
We have the power to make the decrees written in Heaven (the word of God) come down into our earthly situation by faith.
Applying the word of God to cancel the decrees of men
Getting back to the conquest of Jerusalem, David had simply decided to apply the word of God to this situation. After all even though the promise « Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you» was 400 years old, the decrees that come from heaven cancel the intentions and the decrees of men.
“I need a miracle !”, you say, and you are right. A miracle is where the spiritual laws from heaven replace and supersede natural law. What God himself has said takes the upper hand over the situation on the earth.
What makes your prayer credible?
God considered David’s prayer credible because he allowed God to test his faith in other circumstances. But he also had another secret. He was willing to bet his life (reputation) on it that God would be there to help. And he said it out loud so that not only Goliath heard it but also the fearful professional soldiers and the Philistines who thought that they had already won the battle.
“You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hand.”
Before Goliath and all the warriors assembled he announced their defeat and that he was going to cut off Goliath’s head. (1 Samuel 17.46-47). And he didn’t even have a sword!
Can our prayer against fortresses be considered seriously?
In the case of Jerusalem, the fortress that seemed invincible, there was no need for a proclamation. All they had to do was to take a spiritual position and position the whole army before the walls. This showed God they were serious about claiming the accomplishment of the promise. What extra step in your situation do you need to take to show God that you believe He has the power to do what He said (even if it was a long time ago)?
So something strange happened. They didn’t even need to fight!
David promised that the one who would find the solution against the Jebusites would become the chief prince in Israel. And Joab took up the challenge.
It took 400 years before they saw the solution.
Jerusalem was built on a plateau with cliffs all around. At the base, there were trees and bushes. They explored systematically behind the bushes and found a cleft in the rock. One of the men slipped inside and found it led to an underground spring that provided water to Jerusalem. The Jebusites had dug a « canal » and several men climbed it until they were inside the city. When they got there, they simply opened the gates for David’s army. And the » invincible » fortress was taken.
How did the enemy trap you into your thinking?
What is the fortress in your life that has been taunting you for so many years? What situation dominates you and prevents you from exercising your ministry? By what past error the enemy of your soul has used to neutralize you or push you into a compromise?
All of your life is an opportunity for God to test your faith to see if yes or no you will obey his ways rather than annul his commandments by your reasoning or human tradition. (Matthieu 15.3)
What is the « benchmark » situation through which the Spirit of God is making you walk at this time?
Often God makes you go through a “benchmark” situation like David with Goliath. Afterward, it is no longer a question of proclamation but taking a position.
« 17 This battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the Victory of the Lord on your behalf,» (2 Chronicles 20.17)
In the case of David, the solution had always been there. It was just that they didn’t approach the problem close enough to see the solution. With the promise (the Word of God) that gives faith, they could capture the fortress without even having to fight.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for these lessons from your Word. Teach us how to apply these principles in our situations.