The New Normal

Maybe you’ve heard the famous “freedom” speech by Mel Gibson’s character, William Wallace, in the epic Braveheart..(watch it below). If so, then you remember him stirring his countryman to fight for what was right..their freedom.

In 2 Samuel 10 we see a similar picture. After a gesture of compassion from King David to an opposing country’s grieving leader, the people of Ammon embarrass and humiliate David’s couriers. This angers King David. And he will repay the Ammonites for disgracing his men, and ultimately himself and God.

So he sent Joab, the leader of David’s “mighty men”, to take care of business.

I love stories where you see someone stand up for what is right. I guess that’s why Braveheart ranks so high on my favorite movies list. And like William Wallace, Joab makes a stirring, and revealingly honest, speech:

Be courageous! Let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. May the LORD’s will be done. (v12)

Three important points to note (taken from EnduringWord.com):

1. Be courageous!: Courage and strength are not matters of feeling and circumstance. They are matters of choice, especially when God makes His strength available to us. We can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might(Ephesians 6:10).
2. Let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God.: Joab called them to remember all they had to lose. If they lost this battle they would lose both their people and their cities. This was a battle bigger than themselves, and the army of the mighty men had to remember that.
3. May the Lord’s will be done.: Joab wisely prepared for the battle to the best of his ability and worked hard for the victory. At the same time, he knew that the outcome was ultimately in God’s hands.

Who will you stand up for today?
Will you be courageous?
Will you fight for something bigger than yourself?
And through it all, can you remember that the outcome is ultimately in the hands of the Might Warrior?