Christ: The Battle Bow
From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler. Zechariah 10:4
Introduction:
So far we have seen that Christ is the cornerstone. We have also seen that the Lord is the nail driven in a sure place. The cornerstone speaks of stability of a ruler or leader upon which the building or government rests. The Nail depicts dependability. Upon Messiah hangs the hope and trust of His people. He is the support for the nation being altogether dependable.
Now we shall see that the Lord Jesus is the battle bow.
I. He is the Battle Bow for deliverance. Look at Psalm 18:
"In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him-- the dark rain clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies, great bolts of lightning and routed them."
This passage reminds me of some fascinating ideas. Look at the description of how God responded to David's cry of distress.
First, when David cries in His distress to the Lord, God answers with some thunder. We should not be distressed by these manifestations of God's power. We should listen for the still small voice of God speaking to us through His Word. We can glory in God's mighty power. But listen for God's Word.
Second, a bully is someone stronger than I am. David told his enemies that he was sending for his big brother to deal with them. This is what David did when he cried out to the Lord in his distress. The bully is always ready to fight someone smaller. But when someone bigger defends us then the bully runs away. Likewise, when Satan comes to fight me, instead of fighting him in my own strength, I go to Christ, my older brother, and let Him handle the bully. When my battle bow comes, the enemy runs away. Christ wins the victory and I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me. He shoots out his arrows (Psalm 18), and frustrates them and routs them out of their strongholds. James 4:7 says, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
While Satan is alive and kicking, he is already a doomed and defeated enemy.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
II. He is the Battle Bow for Divine Judgment Isa 63:1-3; Rev. 19:11-16
The battle bow delineates all weapons of war and power. Messiah, Jesus is the military commander of His people who defeats the enemy, as well as the shepherd of His people. See Joshua 5:13.
Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"
"Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?" The commander of the Lord's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy."
Moses said that, "The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name." (Exodus 15:3) Every eye will see this when Jesus comes to rule on the earth.
"You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever. Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds. Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet. Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom." (Psalm45:2-6)
Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? "It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save." "Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress?" "I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come." (Isaiah 63:1-4)
The Apostle John describes this awesome attribute of the Lord. Focus on Revelation 19:11-16 now. Here is a picture of the return of Christ with His church to set up His Kingdom on the earth.
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
King Of Kings And Lord Of Lords.
The armies of heaven are all the righteous ones in glory, the holy angels who do His bidding and the Bride coming with the bridegroom to rule on the earth. Jude says, 14 "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones, to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him." They are dressed in fine linen white and clean. In other places in Revelation this fine linen stands for the righteousness of the saints.
"Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter ; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him." (Psalm 2:8-10)
III. He is the Battle Bow on the Throne
Now He changes his battle bow for a scepter of Iron.
He will rule them with a iron sceptor. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
King Of Kings And Lord Of Lords."
The LORD will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies. (Isaiah 42:13)
But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. (Jeremiah. 20:11)
With Christ as our Battle Bow we have nothing to fear.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:10-13)
I want you to notice that the armies of heaven are following but it is only Christ who has an offensive weapon. That is the sword that proceeds out of His mouth. It is Christ who does the fighting. We must put on the armor by faith but we must leave the battle for the Lord.
Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!" (Nehemiah 4:19-20)
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above with wisdom and power, and love
Our God is an awesome God
The Cornerstone
The Tent Peg
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