In pitch black of night, I threw covers over my head. Sweaty palm signal internal fear. I felt throbbing heartbeat in between short, hallow breaths. My tense body stiffened and shivered.
Under blankets, eyes wide open, I couldn’t see the hands in front of me.
“What’s wrong, Honey?”
“I’m scared.”
My mom beckoned me from under the covers but the weight of fear held me hostage.
“I’m scared of Darth Vader.”
Slowly she pried my tiny fingers off the blankets and turned on the light.
“Whenever you are scared, you can call on the name of the Lord.”
The first passage I ever learned was Psalm 91:11.
“He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways.”
This was the first of many 911 calls made to Melek Yahweh Tsabaot.
King, LORD of Hosts.
Many before my time have dialed 911, but from the caller’s perspective no one picked up the phone.
Habakkuk, upon seeing the violence in his days and stale hearts of God’s people, lamented, “How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” (Habakkuk 1:2)
David, in anguished heart and destitute soul, earnestly pleaded for deliverance, “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1)
Job, begging for an ear from Heaven, complains "I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me.” (Job 30:20)
In underestimating the Sovereign Lord who has dominion over all, we mistakenly feel like our prayers fall just short of Heaven’s doorstep, never making it inside the throne room.
Feelings of defeat and anguish overshadow acknowledging our King, Lord of Hosts as having unmatched authority, supreme dominion and power over everything seen and unseen. This same authority extends to every circumstance, trial and even our enemies.
Read Psalm 103:20-21.
God’s heavenly host of armies is innumerable and they are always ready to rescue, minister and intervene at His command. Legions of angels can be mobilized to fight on our behalf and in ordained time, they do.
The problem is we don’t see God’s battlefield.
We only see the insurmountable obstacles set before us and the overwhelming sense that the battle has been lost.
Like David, Job and Habakkuk, we too can wonder where is God in all this?
God’s response to Habakkuk sums it up best. “I am going to do something that even if I told you, you wouldn’t believe.” Habakkuk 1:6
You are not being left alone on the battlefield of your struggle.
You are certainly not forgotten.
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…” Isaiah 49:15-16
UNLIKELY INSTRUCTIONS IN WARFARE
As Supreme Commander in Chief, God provides distinct instruction on how we are to engage.
Read Zechariah 4:6. What does the Lord of Hosts tell us to put our trust in?
Read Exodus 14:14. What assurance do we have when faced with opposition?
Heavenly Hosts are indeed being summoned to the front lines. Run to the tower of Melek Yahweh Tsabaot, King Lord of Hosts, and wait securely. In assurance and comfort, trust you will encounter victory because the battle is His and it’s already won.
RENOWN is a 4-week Bible study series.This week, we are studying God of Power. View an overview of weekly lessons, begin session 1 or subscribe now to receive via email or rss feeder.
