Topical Encyclopedia
Battling, in the biblical context, often refers to the physical, spiritual, and moral struggles faced by individuals and nations. The Bible presents battling as a multifaceted concept, encompassing literal warfare, spiritual warfare, and personal struggles against sin and temptation.
Physical WarfareThe Old Testament is replete with accounts of physical battles, often involving the Israelites as they sought to claim and defend the Promised Land. These battles were not merely political or territorial but were seen as divinely ordained missions. For instance, in the Book of Joshua, the Israelites are commanded to conquer Canaan.
Joshua 1:9 states, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." This verse underscores the belief that God was actively involved in the battles of His people, providing them with strength and courage.
The account of David and Goliath in
1 Samuel 17 is another iconic example of physical battling. David's victory over Goliath is not just a tale of military triumph but a demonstration of faith in God's power. David declares in
1 Samuel 17:47 , "And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands."
Spiritual WarfareThe New Testament shifts the focus from physical battles to spiritual warfare. Believers are called to recognize the spiritual forces at work in the world and to engage in battle against them.
Ephesians 6:12 articulates this struggle: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
To equip believers for this spiritual battle, Paul instructs them to put on the "full armor of God" (
Ephesians 6:11), which includes truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God. This metaphorical armor empowers Christians to stand firm against the devil's schemes and to persevere in faith.
Moral and Personal StrugglesBattling also encompasses the personal and moral struggles that individuals face in their daily lives. The Apostle Paul speaks candidly about his own internal battles in
Romans 7:19 : "For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do." This passage highlights the ongoing struggle against sin that believers experience, emphasizing the need for reliance on God's grace and strength.
James 4:7 offers guidance for overcoming these personal battles: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." This verse encourages believers to actively resist temptation and to seek God's help in their struggles.
Divine Assistance in BattleThroughout the Bible, the theme of divine assistance in battle is prevalent. God is portrayed as a warrior who fights on behalf of His people.
Exodus 14:14 reassures the Israelites, "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." This assurance of divine intervention is a recurring theme, providing comfort and confidence to those engaged in various forms of battling.
In summary, battling in the Bible encompasses a range of struggles, from physical warfare to spiritual and moral conflicts. Believers are called to engage in these battles with faith, relying on God's strength and guidance to overcome the challenges they face.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Battle.
Library
Death to Sin's Penalty is the Way Out into a Life of Justification...
... It is as impossible as it would be to pass from to-day into to-morrow except
through the night. Yourbattling is abattling against God....
The Love of Rameses
... "War!" he exclaimed. "Now, by thebattling hosts of Set, never have I met a foe
so worthy the overcoming. Listen! Dost thou know that I have sorrows?...
Introductory.
... The defenders of Christianity were searching out evidences, andbattling with deistical
objections, while they slackened in their fight against the more...
Publishers' Preface to the Second Revised Edition.
... those whose lives are consecrated to the task of teaching young hearts to love God,
of recalling the wanderer to the paths of his duty, ofbattling with the...
There is a Presumption in Favor of the Bible
... But when we stand upon the same seashore on a stormy night, hear the roaring of
the breakers and the howling wind, see the boatsbattling with the angry waves...
Examples of a Similar Kind from the New.
... He taught likewise that fasts are to be the weapons forbattling with the more direful
demons: [1064] for what wonder if the same operation is the instrument...
The Hymnwriter
... This lovely, childlike hymn, the first to appear from Grundtvig's pen, was written
in the fall of 1810 when its author was stillbattling with despair and his...
The Impossibility of Renewal.
... In one of the greatest and most strange of human books the argument is sometimes
said "to veil itself," and the sustained image of a manbattling with the...
The Properties of Sanctifying Grace
... knowledge of this matter will precede them when they depart this life, because then
the judgment will be pronounced, while now we are stillbattling, and it is...
A Selection from the Notices of Mr. Robertson's Sermons, and of...
... heart, in the well-disciplined mind of the true Christian, in his noble scorn of
all lies, of all things mean and crooked, in his bravebattling for right...
Thesaurus
Battling (1 Occurrence)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Battle. Multi-Version
Concordance
Battling (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 30:32 And in every
...Battles (8 Occurrences)
Bavai (1 Occurrence)
Horn (108 Occurrences)
... See ALTAR. (3) The common figurative use of "horn" is taken from the image ofbattling
animals (literal use in Daniel 8:7, etc.) to denote aggressive strength....
Resources
What can we learn from the account of David and Goliath? | GotQuestions.orgWhat can I do when I am under spiritual attack? | GotQuestions.orgWho was John Owen? | GotQuestions.orgBattling: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus