Love in War

“My God in his steadfast love will meet me;
    God will let me look in triumph on my enemies...

Each evening they come back,
    howling like dogs
    and prowling about the city…

I will sing of your strength;
    I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
    and a refuge in the day of my distress.
O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
    for you, O God, are my fortress,
    the God who shows me steadfast love.”

“Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
    who trains my hands for war,
    and my fingers for battle;
he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
    my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
    who subdues peoples under me.” Psalm 59:10,17; 144:1-2

From the biting bitter, bark, and snarl of battle, it seems at first out of place that David names the Lord alongside as his steadfast love. Love his artillery? His defense? His strategy? His ammunition? There is a sense that David feels so deeply loved, and is so bound in loving back his Lord, that this steadfast love is both stability and modus operandi. It defines and defends him in every distress.

As it did for David, God’s steadfast love meets us in our days of trouble and supplies sustaining power for every earthly challenge. While love may seem inconsistent with war, it actually is what sustains and fuels hope for victory in the midst. It encamps round about us and lifts our heads to love Him back. It is our helmet, by which we plan and proceed. It dictates civil battle, keeping watch over heart motivation and impulse. It uplifts and fortifies when we are weary, and shields us in temptation. It love keeps fear at bay. (Psalm 3:3)

The Lord’s steadfast love holds our hearts stable and strong when pressures and sorrows encroach and all around is crumbling. His love is the best place to position ourselves, the highest place to go, the deepest place to rest. Do we consider how much, and how, He loves? In every fight with our flesh, every pull to immorality, every tease to resentment, every won’t to hate, every allure of empty things, His love prevails. He is nigh, guarding, training, keeping. (Psalm 86:15)

The next time a bullet of criticism chafes, or condemnation pounds, or regret erodes, will we cling to His steadfast love? When a battle of the will or with temptation strangles and pulls, will we remember to find refuge in his steadfast love? When others attack, accosting with doubt or shame or caustic treatment, can we hold high God’s steadfast love, and meet the enemy with arms and words that convey it?

“Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
The Lord of Love his name,
His steadfast love our fame;
and he must win the battle.” ~Martin Luther (1529) (and PEB)

Lord, help me hide in, hold onto, and lift high Your steadfast love in every battle to mark and bring glory to the victory You secure.