SQUEEZED
1 Kings 20:26 And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Benhadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
1 Kings 20:27 And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.
1 Kings 20:28 And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Notice the scripture says at the return of the year. If you read the whole chapter, Israel had already won a miraculous victory over the Syrians, but here they are again.
The Lord may have given you a mighty victory over the devil, but he will return to fight another day. Don't think because you have had a victory, you can take a spiritual holiday. Our adversary is not so easily defeated. He may change his direction of attack, but he will return. But, you can still have victory.
I think part of the battle the present day church fights is a struggle of not putting limits on God. We struggle because we limit God and He is UNLIMITED.
The Syrians thought that God was a God of the hilltops, but not a God of the valleys. They saw Him as limited. God showed them that He is still God no matter where you are.
We hear much said today by Christians, and even Pastors and leaders, that times have changed and you just can't have revival like you used to. But, God is a God of all ages.
The darkness of our present world can not smother the Light of the Gospel out.
Changing times are not an excuse for a crippled church. Jesus said, "Ye are the light of the world."
But getting back to our lesson. I'll admit that I am harder for the devil to deal with when I am on the hilltop with a shout in my heart and glory in my soul. Maybe that's why Nehemiah 8:10 says, The joy of the Lord is your strength."
Just like Syria thought they would try Israel again when they were in the valley, the devil will try you and me whenever he thinks he has an advantage. And, friend, life's journey is going to have some hills and valleys. It's down in that valley that the adversary will try to put the squeeze on you.
How many have ever felt squeezed?
Let me show you something in the book of Job chapter 1. The devil squeezed Job. He put the pressure on him.
Job 1:20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Job 1:22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Job didn't sin with his mouth. Satan was trying to squeeze the hope and trust that Job had in God out of him, but when he squeezed Job, all that came out was worship and blessing toward God.
When all the devil can squeeze out of you is worship and praise, he won't squeeze you very long.
We could mention Paul and Silas in the lowest part of the prison. All the devil squeezed out of them was prayer and a song of praise. It wasn't long until that jail began to shake.
Our text said Israel looked like two little flock of kids against the Syrians. The Syrians filled the country. It must have looked discouraging to Israel, but they believed God.
Can I tell you an imaginary story? It is just a story, but it has a lesson. It is not from the Bible, just a story.
One day it was advertised that the devil had been having hard times and he was having a sale. He was selling some of his tools.
On the day of the sale the tools were marked and priced for public inspection. They were a treacherous and ugly lot of implements: Hatred, Envy, Jealousy, Lying, Pride, Doubt, etc. But lying apart from all the rest was a very harmless looking tool. It was very worn, but priced higher than all the rest.
"What is the name of this tool and why is it priced so high", someone asked.
"Oh", said the devil, "that is discouragement. It is more useful to me than all the others, because with it I can pry open and get inside a person's heart. When I can't get near them with the other tools, I use discouragement."
The point I am trying to make is that Satan, like the Syrians, knows that you are a much tougher opponent when you are on the hilltop. He is hoping for an easier battle by attacking you when you are in the valley. Sadly he has been right in many cases, because he has used the tool of discouragement to steal the victory of the Lord from our hearts.
Brothers and sisters, God makes a very important announcement to Israel. He assures Israel the victory. He sends his prophet to tell his people, "I am not just the God of the hilltops. I am also the God of the valleys."
I want to say to you today that even when the battle is raging around you it doesn't mean it has to be raging within you.
Jesus told the disciples all the things that would come to pass in the last days, then He said, "See that ye be not troubled."
God's Word says in Romans 8:37, Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
Let me give you this advise. The path out of your valley begins when you surrender your circumstance to the Lord.
I Peter 5:7 says, Casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you.
Psalm 55:22 says, Cast your burden on the Lord and He shall sustain you, He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Israel stood before their enemy like two little flocks of kids, they looked helpless and hopeless. The enemy spread out around them and covered the country. But God was on Israel's side, and God gave Israel the victory.
Be encouraged today. God is reminding us that, as He said in His Word, He is the God of the hilltops and He is also God of the valleys. Friend, He is God of everything in between.
Have you asked Him to be God in your life? Have you asked Him to be God over your circumstance?
God gave man something that He didn't give all creatures. He gave man a free will.
Israel could have given up that day and been defeated.
You and I can continue to fight our own battles until our strength is gone, or we can turn loose our praise and worship and give the battle to the Lord.
Ask yourself this question. When the enemy has me in the squeeze, what does he squeeze out; praise, worship, songs of Zion or hopelessness, doubts, and despair?
