Sermon for Saturday
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. Ephesians 6:13
Have you ever had an evil day? If not, brace yourself; one is coming! Every one of us have one or two days in our lives when we are under the worst assaults of the devil, when everything goes wrong, when the bottom falls out of everything, when we see no escape from helplessness and hopelessness. Our Bible records such an evil day in the life of a godly man named Job. The devil had deprived him of his possessions, his family, and his health. None of us has ever experienced such an evil day. Even his wife was urging him to curse God for allowing him to suffer so much. But even sitting in his ash heap amid his miserable comforters, Job stood tall in his confidence in God. If Job could withstand in such an evil day, surely God will enable us to do the same.
One of my favourite Bible characters is Shammah, one of King David’s mighty men, who defended a field of lentils against a troop of Philistines (2 Samuel 23:11,12). When everyone else had fled, Shammah stood and defended the field. Nobody else stood, but he did. Running away like the others would have been easier, but he stood. And God wrought a great victory that day. No victory is ever accomplished by running away. And no victory is possible unless we stand. Even in the worst of days, standing, and not running away, is always the best approach, as long as we have the armour that we need.
History tells us that in the year 1314, the Scottish forces under King Robert Bruce were able to defeat a much larger English army under King Edward II at Bannockburn because of the Scots’ ability to stand. The English cavalry proved no match for the Scottish shiltrons, which were groups of soldiers standing in an impregnable circle with long spears. Before the battle, Robert dismissed all of the soldiers who did not have on all the armour that was required. Protected by their armour and their shiltrons, the Scots outlasted and outmanoeuvered the frustrated English. That could surely have been an evil day for the Scots, with such a large English army moving against them. Their ability to stand made the difference, and the song Flower of Scotland commemorates their victory today.
Our text opens a portion that lists the various items that the Christian warrior requires. And our text calls on us to use the whole armour. If we fail to use one part or another we leave ourselves open to the enemy’s attacks. But if we use the whole armour, and if we stand, we allow God to give us the victory. Even in an evil day. -Jim MacIntosh