When The Harvest Field Becomes A Battlefield

WHEN THE HARVEST FIELD BECOMES A BATTLEFIELD

1 Chronicles 11:12-14

Sunday morning, December 7th, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor that caught the United States completely off guard. In less than two hours, Japanese airmen destroyed two U.S. battleships and badly damaged six others. 2,330 American lives were lost during the attack on Pearl Harbor and another 1,145 were wounded. A major part of Japan's strategy was the element of surprise. The goal of the Japanese on that morning was complete annihilation.

As warriors in the army of God, we must be ever cognizant of the reality that we have an adversary who has a similar goal in mind. Peter tells us that our adversary, the Devil, “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). For this reason, it is imperative that we remain “sober and vigilant”.

Our vicious and scheming enemy does not signal beforehand when, where, or how he will attack. Those of us who belong to Jesus have likely experienced times of great peace and abundant joy and then seemingly out of nowhere we endure a major and unexpected spiritual attack. I am not talking about a brief moment of difficulty, rather I am referring to times of tribulation that are so intense that it makes us question the faith that we possess in the Lord Jesus.

God’s Word warns us that spiritual attacks will come, but it also tells us that victory is possible and it shows us how it can be achieved. Peter instructed the saints to “Resist (Satan), steadfast in the faith…” (1 Peter 5:9a). James said “submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you”. (James 4:7)

A great illustration of the victory that is possible for the valiant Christian is found in our selected text. These verses chronicle a battle that transpired between one of David’s mighty men named “Eleazar” and many members of the Philistine army.

1 Chronicles 11:12 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Aho-hite, who was one of the three mighty men. 13 He was with David at Pas-da-mmim. Now there the Philistines were gathered for battle, and there was a piece of ground full of barley. So the people fled from the Philistines. 14 But they stationed themselves in the middle of that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

- We find a few more significant details about this battle in 2 Samuel 23.

2 Samuel 23:9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Aho-hite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. 10 He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder.

Eleazar is listed among several mighty men who were “with David”. We are not given an exact timeline of this battle, and based on the context of this chapter it seems likely that at this point in time, David was stationed at the Cave of Adullam and not physically present with Eleazar. (v15). Regardless, it is evident that Eleazar was “with David” in the sense that he was loyal to him when the majority turned away.

It was at Pas-da-mmim that the Philistines plotted an attack in a field ripe with barley. Though the “men of Israel retreated”, Eleazar planted his feet, gripped his sword, and fought the Philistines until “his hand was weary”. This mighty warrior fought so long and valiantly that when the battle was over “his hand stuck to the sword”. Though he faced seemingly unbeatable odds, in the end, Eleazer stood tall because “The Lord brought about a great victory that day”.

We are told that this battle occurred at a time when the field was “full of barley”. This was good news for the people of Israel; however, the Philistines saw this as a prime opportunity to launch an attack.

There are times in the Christian life when we are walking closely with the Lord, we are serving Him, obeying Him, and producing spiritual fruit. Our lives are consumed with good things and we are focused on the work that we have been called to accomplish for the glory of the Lord. Metaphorically speaking we are in the midst of a harvest field; and then it happens; the enemy launches a surprising and powerful attack and we find ourselves in the midst of an intense battle. It is important for us to know how to respond to such an attack. For this reason I would like to examine several elements of this battle between Eleazar and the Philistines and preach on the subject “When The Harvest Field Becomes A Battlefield”.