2022

 With Veterans Day coming I figured we could take the time to ponder and be thankful for those who willingly put themselves in harms way to protect the ones they love. Except for the few days a year when we honor our veterans, most of us just do life without thinking of all the consequences and hardship those who serve and have served to better the people/nation around them. Such an unselfish service they willingly endure. You can say almost everyone has in their family or knows closely someone who has served or is currently serving in the military. Of course, you can be a police veteran, firefighter veteran, or any other longevity career, (even NFL veteran). But when we take the time on Veterans Day we mostly concentrate on those who serve in our military. That is where we will focus today.

  Throughout the Old Testament there were many battles/wars fought.

Israel Marches on the City of Jericho – Joshua 6

Joshua Leads Israel against the Five Amorite Kings – Joshua 10

Gideon’s 300 Rise Up against the Midianites – Judges 7–8:21

The Philistines Capture the Ark of Covenant – 1 Samuel 4:1–11

Saul Leads Israel against the Amalekites – 1 Samuel 15:1–9

The Battle of the Valley of Elah, David verses Goliath – 1 Samuel 17

 Those are just a few. but take time to read them. There are so many more. Could you imagine if we had today’s technology what those battles would have looked like. What about the men as they were leaving their loved ones, the emotions that must have been endured by the remaining families. It could have taken months or years before any info might of come about their survival or death. It makes me wonder how they celebrated or honored their ”veterans”.

  The Bible does not really have any direct passages for this topic, but there are some very interesting ones that we could apply.

John 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

  Those who serve and have served definitely fall under this verse. Especially the one who actually gave their life as we would be honoring Memorial Day. Of course, the Greatest veteran would be Jesus. He hung on the cross, died, and for three days went into hell on conquered it.

Revelation 1:18  I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

 We must also not count ourselves out as veterans. Each and every one of us are in a battle of good and evil. We have spiritual battles going on within us.

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.

We have to make sure we arm ourselves with the equipment to be able to ward of these battles.

Ephesians 6:

 (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (18) praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

We all have a part in this. We need to make sure we are equipped to handle these spiritual battles.

I will close with one last passage:

Psalm 27:

(1) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (2) When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, They stumbled and fell. (3) Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. (4) One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. (5) For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. (6) And now shall mine head be lifted up, Above mine enemies round about me: Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. (7) Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. (8) When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. (9) Hide not thy face far from me; Put not thy servant away in anger: Thou hast been my help; Leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. (10) When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take me up. (11) Teach me thy way, O LORD, And lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. (12) Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: For false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. (13) I had fainted, Unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. (14) Wait on the LORD: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.