Standing On God's Ground

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STANDING ON GOD'S GROUND
Devotion for April 18, 2011


"He [Eleazar] was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines. And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance."
I Chronicles 11:13, 14.

The Bible records one of the exploits of David's mightiest men. The Philistines were assembled against Israel, and God's people were fleeing from the enemy. Eleazar was one of those who "set themselves in the midst of that parcel," and the Lord gave a great victory. The courage of these brave and loyal men of war should encourage us all. Many of God's people were afraid of the enemy and chose to run rather than fight, but not Eleazar. He defended God's ground and delivered it from the Philistines.

Our history of Bible-believing Baptists is replete with the testimonies of those who have bravely stood for right and truth. Rather than cower down to those who used intimidation and terror in seeking to cause God's people to recant their faith in Christ, they courageously stood for the Lord. They, by the multitude, preferred punishment and even death rather than the shame and disgrace of denying the Word of God. They chose death over the easier road of compromise. Like Eleazar, we need those in our day who choose to stand rather than flee.

Our nation is in a period of great debate over moral values and the place of God and truth in our society. There are great efforts being shown to redefine marriage and to sanction homosexual unions. The value of life itself has been in great question with the legal permission to abort millions of unborn children. The Word of God, which was so instrumental in the founding of this great nation, will be removed from public view if the liberal lawyers and politicians have their way. Legal attempts are being tested that would seek to silence the voices of preachers who speak out against these sins from their pulpits.

This ground that is being challenged by the modern day Philistines is God's ground. God established the home, and He is the giver of life. God's Word is to be reverenced and obeyed. This nation has been blessed because of our faith in God. Let's take courage from those in our past and set ourselves with confidence to defend God's ground.