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I’ve spoken several times as of late, regarding the strange place we, or at least I seem to be in. During a period of reflection recently, I had a bit of a realization that I’d like to share with you today – particularly if you find yourself in a similar circumstance.
In antiquity, for the better part of four-hundred years, the phalanx (fay-lanks) reigned as the predominate military throughout the known world. God has used the phalanx multiple times as an analogy to illustrate something or reinforce a principle, and He has done so once again. It’s true that all analogies break down at some point, but I have been surprised at how much I’ve been able to glean from this one.
For the uninitiated, the phalanx was a formation of soldiers wherein the soldiers formed ranks, spear and shields in hand, forming a wall that was both defensive, forming a shield wall of sorts, and offensive, with all spears pointing forward as they advanced. The spears were generally long enough that, three or four ranks of soldiers had enough reach to allow them to provide further offensive deterrent, allowing more spears to be present up front than shield.
The real brilliance of this strategy was that the ranks could be cycled. As battle wore on and those at the front became weary, the front rank could cycle backward, allowing those behind them to take up the foremost position – they could then fall all the way to the back, allowing the embattled a momentary rest, and the unit to consistently present fresh troops to the fray.
As this strange season has unfolded, the Lord has been showing me that I – and many others – have been up-front on several fronts at once. It isn’t that those matters we contend for are lost, or even that we’re being taken out of the fight; it’s that we’re being cycled, not side-lined… If you find yourself in a similar position, or with similar feelings – take heart; we’re not out of the fight, and God is not slow concerning His promise. No one ever promised us the fight would be easy, only that it would be worth it.
In the meantime, if you’ve been cycled back, keep that spear high and pointed at the enemy. Keep praying, keep believing and keep holding onto the Word of the Living God – the battle, after all, is His.
Until next time,
חזק ואמץ – Chazak V’Ematz – Be Strong and of Good Courage!
שלום עליכם – Shalom Aleichem – Peace Be Upon You