After Gideon and his little army of 300 men had watched the LORD deliver the army of the Midianites into their hands by causing them to turn on themselves and kill each other (Jdg 7:22), Gideon and his men went after Zebah and Zalmunna, the two kings of Midian, faint, yet pursuing them (Jdg 8:4). What a picture this is of the Christian life!: God wrought a great victory over our chief adversary and destroyed “him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb 2:14) by allowing him to orchestrate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ which ended up being his own destruction, in which Jesus, “having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Col 2:15), which was God’s plan all along, but of which it was said, “none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1Co 2:8). But after Jesus destroyed the devil and spoiled his principalities and powers, we still have to wrestle “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph 6:12). Even after Jesus won the victory over sin (Heb 1:3), we still have to fight sin and “mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection…” (Col 3:5).
We have to be like Gideon and his men in this battle against the devil and our own flesh, and keep fighting, though we be faint, yet pursuing. We have to “fight the good fight of faith,” and “lay hold on eternal life” (1Ti 6:12). We should run this race of life so as to obtain the prize (1Co 9:24), and do it diligently as our apostle Paul did when he said, “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:” (1Co 9:26). We must “not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal 6:9).
During those times you feel weary while fighting the good fight of faith, just remember old Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite who “arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword”, and the result was that “the LORD wrought a great victory that day” (2Sa 23:10). Do you feel like you have no might? Do you feel faint in this fight to keep the faith? Just cling to the promises of God when He says to you, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” (Isa 43:2).
You may feel faint and not sure you can continue, but “the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary” (Isa 40:28); and of your God it is said: “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isa 40:29-31).
So, my brethren, wait on the Lord and continue to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phi 3:14). Strive to be able to say on your death bed at the end of a long life of serving God, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day…” (2Ti 4:7-8).
Like the men of Gideon, just keep on keeping on, though faint, yet pursuing.
