Warrior
"The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name." (Exodus 15:3 NIV)
I love the way God's names magnify both His diversity and His consistency: He is so many different things, but He is also reliably so many of the same thing.
"Warrior"—with its implications of battle and fighting and strength and righteous wrath—stands in seeming contrast to gentler-sounding names like Song and Protector. But all God's names reinforce each other, for He can neither be less than He is nor other than He is.
The Shepherd is also the Warrior who will fight to protect His sheep.
The Quieter of His people is also the Warrior who shouts on their behalf.
The Singer is also the Warrior whose song is sometimes a battle cry.
Hear the Warrior's declaration to an assembly seeking His help in the face of an imminent attack by an intimidating enemy; it is still what He is saying to us today: "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s" (2 Chronicles 20:15b NIV).
One of my favorite hymn lines is from "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God": "The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him. His rage we can endure, for, lo, his doom is sure."
The enemy's doom is not in doubt. Whatever spiritual battle you're fighting right now is not ultimately yours but God's. And His victory—the spoils of which He allows you to savor—is sure, to the end.
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Song suggestion: "Triumphant Conqueror;" Aaron Shust, Corey Voss;
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I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to tell me what you really think. Years ago, I explained to my then-two-year-old that my appointment with a counselor was "sort of like going to a doctor who will help me be a better mommy." Without blinking, she replied, "You'd better go every day." All of which is just to say I've spent some time in the school of brutal honesty!