“And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry.” 1 Samuel 17:20, ESV
Have you ever walked away from your every day job or your current task at hand, to join a bigger cause…a louder heart-cry? A few years ago, before I became a full-time minister, a brother of mine whom at the time was actually my pastor, called me early at work (I worked for Home Depot). “He’s dead…” was all I heard on the other line. I do not remember what I said next but moments later, I found myself, almost on auto-pilot, ripping up the highway to my pastor and friend’s home, almost 40 minutes away.
I arrived at the house and began the slow walk to their front door. I recognized cars parked along the curb as I passed, belonging to other pastors from our large, Pennsylvania church. Arriving at the front door, I didn’t hesitate to knock, but rather chose to enter quietly, where I found my brother and friend surrounded by my fellow brothers in ministry. No doubt they, too, dropped what they were doing to rush to the cry of our friends who all of the sudden, found themselves standing on unfamiliar ground – a battlefield trench that was dug just a few short, painful, minutes before. Their adopted son from Africa died in his sleep, found without breath of life in his crib, at the tender age of three, and at least one person in the home was whaling cries of pain and agony – a sound I pray no one has to hear.
The battlefield was there, in plain sight for all to see, and I considered myself prepared. My wife and I joined the many brothers and sisters that day, in this couple’s trench, to pray and seek peace and comfort from Jehovah Jireh (The God who Provides). Today, we still pray for that same peace and comfort…
This short and painful reminder begs the question again though… Have you ever left everything behind for that moment when the lines were drawn in the sand? Maybe it occurred when you first witnessed the carnage of destruction, desperately issued by fiery arrows, hell-bent on your friend’s demise? Like David, have you ever passed off your every day responsibility to another keeper of the flock, to attend larger, more important matters at hand? Men – this is precisely what it means to be a trench brother and it is my humbled opinion that our God and Creator wants nothing less than for us to rally together, under the banner of Jesus Christ, and march towards an already guaranteed victory (have you actually read the ending?!) with the guide-on of our Holy Spirit out in front, helping us to keep the cadence and pace.
David dove head first into a trench that was predestined for him. He didn’t hesitate. He did not balk. He didn’t stand there, staring at realities, trembling with fear, and turn tail and run. In fact, the Bible says that he, “…ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:48, ESV)
Men – we only have the promise of this breath we take…now. The next breath is not guaranteed. Choose how you will take that breath in wisely. Will you draw it in, expecting another, half-heartedly? Or will you draw upon the strength God provides in that breath, grab your sword and shield, and dive head first, like David, into your trench – not positive of the outcome – and not caring either way. We serve a Big God and I believe He made us for a time such as this! Let’s make war together!
Trench Brothers 