“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places”
Ephesians 6:12
Judges 7:15 – 8:21 speaks about Gideon and his men fighting the Medianites. Under the God guided leadership of Gideon, they use trumpets, say, “The sword of the Lord and Gideon” and the lamps (after breaking the pitchers).
These have a spiritual significance. Whenever we struggle or wrestle with the darkness of the world, the believers can use the trumpet which denotes worship or praise of God. The sword refers to the word of God which is a double edged sword. Lamp refers to the power of God which dwells in our body.
When believers fight a battle, they should rely on the strength of God and not on their own strength or the worldly powers. Joshua and his men broke the walls of Jericho by praising God (Joshua 5:14, 6:15). Praising God has tremendous strength in breaking walls both internal and external. Worshipping Him helps in healing the inner wounds and makes reconciliation with our fellow human beings possible. It gives us the spiritual strength to take a step towards mending relationships. Psalm 149:6 underscores the presence of praise in our mouths.
Believers need to be firm in the word of God. This helps us to overcome temptations and live a victorious life. Every time we conquer temptations we prove to be the children of God and warriors against sin. Christ clearly says “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4). He overcame temptations only by using the word of God. Psalms 149:6 says “Let the high praises of God be in the mouth and a two edged sword in their hand”.
The presence of the Holy Spirit in us makes us strong and powerful. We are made of clay – weak and fragile. If we are the temple of the Holy Spirit as it is said in I Corinthians 3:16, we have the power of God in us through the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit warns us against sin and helps us in leading a victorious life.
When the followers of Gideon broke the pitchers they could carry the lamps in their hands. I Peter 2:24 says “We might die for sins and live for righteousness”. This is possible only with the presence of the Holy Spirit in us. We can imagine Gideon’s followers with shouts in their mouths, trumpets in their right hands, lamps in their left hands which helped them in their battle against the Medianites. In our battle against the rulers of darkness, the spiritual wickedness and the powers of the world we are exhorted to use the spiritual weapons like praise and worship, word of God and the power of God through the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, Help us to lead a worthy and victorious life which is pleasing to you by using the weapons thou hast given us through your word, Amen.