300 - 8/7/2007

We serve a mighty God. We serve a powerful God. We serve the one true God of wonder. He alone was worthy to atone for our sins, and He alone is worthy of our praise and worship. How do you honor God? How do you give Him the glory He deserves, for all He’s done in your life and all He’s done for everybody?

I recently saw the movie 300, a bloody tale of how a garrison of just 300 Spartan soldiers were able to hold back thousands of Persian soldiers from invading ancient Greece. This great accomplishment comes right out of the history books, though the movie itself is very “Hollywood.” My point is, the Spartans lived for glory on the battlefield, and for earning honor in battle.

Another popular movie that I love is Gladiator, in which the main character would often dispatch the soldiers (and then the gladiators) in his command with the words, “Strength and Honor.” In fact, I know men who were so inspired by this story that when parting, they will repeat to each other, “Strength and Honor.” Like the Spartans, these gladiators valued strength, honor, and glory.

But, I ask, whose strength? Whose honor? Whose glory?

Their own? Who were these people that the glory they earned on one battlefield should earn more attention than the Glory of God, which has been proven on countless battlefields? Why should their story captivate our thoughts above God’s glory? Of course movies are secular and will focus on 300 Greek soldiers and not on generations of God’s followers. But as Christians, we should make an effort to maintain our focus and be less impressed with the feats of man than we are with the miracles of God.

This morning as I was listening to the song, “Not to Us” by Chris Tomlin, with a chorus that repeats, “Not to us, but to Your name be the glory,” I was reminded of the story of Gideon in the book of Judges.

Gideon was a normal man, not trained as a warrior. God asked him to take 32,000 soldiers and conquer the Midianites. But God said to him in Judges 7:2, “…You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So 22,000 men left, while 10,000 remained.”

God wanted to reduce the number of Israel’s soldiers to put the odds in favor of the Midianites. This was the only sure way to prove that the victory in battle was because of God’s power, not the soldiers’. Then God told Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there” (7:4). While they were drinking, God told Gideon to separate the ones who drank from their hands from the soldiers who got down on their knees to drink. Three hundred soldiers drank from their hands, the rest who got down on their knees to drink were asked to leave.

That left 300 Israelite soldiers to conquer thousands of Midianites. Cue faith in God and glory for God, please.

The movie “300” focused on 300 Greek soldiers; the glory of so few defeating so many, while encouraging each other with ideas of their own honor and glory. The story of Gideon also used 300 soldiers to illustrate the glory of victory against all odds, but focused on just one person's strength – God’s. Those soldiers encouraged each other as they ran into battle by saying, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” That battle cry reminds me of the one that the Angel warriors use in Frank Peretti novels, “For the saints of God and for the Lamb!” Both battle cries give honor and glory to the only One who truly deserves it.

Now if we keep in mind that often the Lord’s army can be an army of one – you – then perhaps the challenges and battles in your life are no longer obstacles, they are in fact opportunities. They can be situations God has set up to maximize the glory He has earned in delivering you from them. It may be that, like Gideon’s army, God has orchestrated unfavorable conditions in your life to demonstrate His power when delivering you from them. So let Him. Be obedient, trust Him.

I know in these situations, I often find myself whining when I should be encouraged. I mope about circumstances not going my way when I should try to contain the excitement from waiting in anticipation to see what God’s going to do next. I should wait to see how God will "prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies." I should be reminded and inspired to put my faith in the One who is all powerful and the one who is my friend.

Glory to God in the highest!