Tag: there are more with us than with him

3.e. “But with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”

2 Chronicles 32:1  After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself. And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem, he planned with his officers and his mighty men to stop the water of the springs that were outside the city; and they helped him. A great many people were gathered, and they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?” He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it, and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance. And he set combat commanders over the people and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

2 Kings 6:16    He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Romans 8:31     What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

1 John 4:4     Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

The battles we face in life come at us from many different angles.  They come at us spiritually, relationally, financially, physically, and mentally.  For the most part, we do not get to pick when this battle line forms against us.  But surely as we breathe these battle lines will form over and over again in our lifetime.  No matter how well prepared we are to face them we can never truly know the fierceness that it will come.  Sometimes these battles come at us with a single front and other times it has multiple fronts.

How do we face these battles?  How do we stand strong? How do we stand courageous? Where do we get the strength to endure?   If we run headlong into these battles in our own strength, will, power, and might we will fail for sure but not for a lack of trying. Psalms 33:16-17 “The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.”  All of the battles that can and will come into our life, if taken head-on by us, will end poorly.

Here are scriptures of faith, hope, and the power of God.  Let these be grounded in your heart, mind, and soul, for in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ we anchor our faith and hope.  He is able to do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine.

2 Chronicles 20:15 – And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle [is] not yours, but God’s.

Ephesians 6:12 – For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].

1 Samuel 17:47 – And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle [is] the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.

Zechariah 4:6 – Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

2 Chronicles 32:7 – Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that [is] with him: for [there be] more with us than with him:

2 Corinthians 4:8 – [We are] troubled on every side, yet not distressed; [we are] perplexed, but not in despair;

Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

119. Do not be afraid. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome,

2 Samuel 10:6   When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob, 12,000 men. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men. And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate, and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.

When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians. The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.” So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

Numbers 13:20    Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.

Deuteronomy 31:6    Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Joshua 1:6-7    Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.  Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

2 Chronicles 32:7    “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him.

Nehemiah 4:14    And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

Hebrews 13:6    So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

1 Chronicles 19:13     Be strong, and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him.”

1 Corinthians 16:13    Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

We chase after many things to comfort our fears.  In this chase and seeking hopefully we come to an end and we see the folly of it.  Who is able by their chasing after what the world has to offer has any more lasting comfort than before?  It is God who has all things in control.  It is God who has plans and purposes greater than our thoughts could ever imagine.  It is God who heals, strengthens, encourages, and gives power or not.  He gives and He takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.  Who is able to start or stop things God has put into motion?  The answer is no one.

Some will deny God exists and will latch onto false hopes.  Others will deny God is in control and will latch on to false hopes.  And then there are those who don’t deny God’s in control but who can’t seem to trust that He is.  Blessed is the man who with his whole heart, mind, and soul humbly severs, honors, follows, relies on, trusts in, and obeys God.  He will stand firm.  He will have courage and strength of God.  He will not fear the unknown but rather will give the outcome into the very hands of Jesus and find refuge, hope, peace and rest.