The Warrior and Defender

Exodus 15:2–3 CSB

2 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. 3 The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.

So far in this series we have discussed

Week 1 - God is the all-powerful Creator

Week 2 - The all knowing yet knowable God

Week 3 - The Holy judge and Gracious Lord.

We often talk about God’s love. We talk about God’s longsuffering mercy. But what about those times when God’s people are under attack. What about those times when the enemy rises up against God’s children, both spiritually and physically. What about those times when we need help?

Maybe your hear today and you are discouraged. Maybe your feel like the evil people are rising up against us and no one is there to stop it. Maybe you are asking the same question as the Psalmist.

Psalm 2:1–3 CSB

1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and his Anointed One: 3 “Let’s tear off their chains and throw their ropes off of us.”

Psalm 2:4 CSB

4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them.

I want you to know our God is a warrior and He is coming back to wage war on evil.

Last week we visited this idea of God as a holy judge and intimately connected to this characteristic is God as a warrior.

Today we are going to discuss a almost never talked about aspect of God’s character and nature. Our God is a warrior and a defender.

I. Who does God defend?

Lets look at a description of those who Yahweh defends.

Psalm 91:14–16 (CSB)

14 Because he has his heart set on me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows my name.

15 When he calls out to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor.

16 I will satisfy him with a long life and show him my salvation.

In this passage we hear God speaking. God identifies whom he protects.

A. Those who set their hearts on Him.

Psalm 91:14 (CSB)

14 Because he has his heart set on me, I will deliver him...

The word “set” means to attach. Those who have attached their hearts on Him. This is an O.T. expression of salvation. Those whose hearts love the Lord.

B. Those who know His name.

Psalm 91:14 (CSB)

...I will protect him because he knows my name.

The word “know” has a much weightier meaning in that culture then it does to us. It isn’t simply knowing a label.

In the ancient culture a persons name was a declaration of their character.

How often do we see in the O.T. a persons name was a description of their character.

So to know His name in this sense was to have experienced His character. Those that are assured of his Character call out to Him in times of trouble.

Listen to this quote from Charles Spurgeon:

A well-grounded assurance is the most active worker in the field, the most valiant warrior in the battle, and the most patient sufferer in the furnace. There are none so active as the assured.

Charles Spurgeon

When you are assured your God is with you and will defend you the result is astounding. It will results in brave activity for the Kingdom.

Which brings us to the next point, He will answer.

C. Those who call out to Him.

Psalm 91:15 (CSB)

15 When he calls out to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor.

Why would anyone call out to him if they hadn't heard of His character.

The word “call” has the idea to summon. In other words, it has with it the idea that God is near enough to hear. Again we see this intimacy between the heart of the person calling out and the God that is being called too.

II. The Result: God Defends His own.

Psalm 91:15–16 CSB

15 When he calls out to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor. 16 I will satisfy him with a long life and show him my salvation.

But what happens when God doesn’t appear to rescue us when right when we think we need him?

Experience teaches us that God doesn’t always immediately solve all of our troubles.

In stark contrast to much modern preaching, He doesn’t always immediately rescue the persecuted. He doesn’t always immediately pull us out of the fire, calm the storm, or kill the giants, does he?

This is the problem with some modern preaching and teaching. It can cause disillusionment or misunderstanding of God’s purposes and will.

To answer this question we will look to the book of James.

During the time James was written many Christians were living in poverty and facing persecution. They were living through extended times of difficulty.

Some ,no doubt, had begun to feel that God had abandoned them and left them to their enemies. The church was discouraged and many were thinking of walking away. After all if God would not fight His enemies on their behalf, than what is the point of going on?

Did you know that God has human enemies?

James 4:6 CSB

6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Hidden in the context of this passage we see a clear example of God’s grace and yet his fierce expectations.

The word “resist” means to actively fight against. Now with that knowledge in mind. Lets zoom out a little bit.

James 4:4–10 CSB

4 You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. 5 Or do you think it’s without reason that the Scripture says: The spirit he made to dwell in us envies intensely? 6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. 7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

III. Those who choose the world system over His Love are His enemies.

James 4:4 CSB

4 You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God.

But Pastor Brett, doesn’t God love everyone? Yes he has extended his love through Jesus Christ to even His enemies.

Jesus Christ brought the terms of peace. But to refuse his love to refuse his son. It is an act of war.

Philippians 3:18 CSB

18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Romans 5:10 CSB

10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

1 Corinthians 15:25 CSB

25 For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet.

If you reject Christ scripture tells us you are under his wrath and you are His enemy.

IV. Those who persecute the saints will face the fierce wrath of God.

Jeremiah 20:11 CSB

11 But the Lord is with me like a violent warrior. Therefore, my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. Since they have not succeeded, they will be utterly shamed, an everlasting humiliation that will never be forgotten.

Zephaniah 3:17 CSB

17 The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight in you with singing.”

So then why does God not do something immediately?

Why does it seem like in this world he is allowing evil people to win?

James 5:7 CSB

7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.

Because God has a plan that will bear fruit and bring Him glory.

But do not be deceived Jesus first came like a lamb but upon his return her comes back as a lion and wages war against all those who refused to accept his rule and reign.

Revelation 19:6–20 CSB

6 Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying, Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns! 7 Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself. 8 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.” 10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who hold firmly to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” 11 Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. 14 The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. 15 A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. 16 And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying high overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of military commanders, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great.” 19 Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and against his army. 20 But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with it the false prophet, who had performed the signs in its presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image with these signs. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

Revelation 21:1–5 CSB

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. 5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”

Our God is a Warrior and our God will win over evil! So do not fear what you see taking place. Understand that God will return and make everything right.

Exodus 15:3 CSB

3 The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.