Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.
(
1 Samuel 17:1-3)
"And there was a valley between them."
1. The two armies were divided by a
Valley of Separation. On the one side were the heathen Philistines, and on the other side were the people of God. There was a valley that separated the two. There is a valley of separation between the people of God and the heathen. That valley of separation is called HOLINESS, which means 'separation'. There is a distinct difference between the people of God, and the people of the world. They spoke differently, worshipped different gods, had a different culture, a different law, a different way of life. There were some similarities, but they were two people, two nations, and a gulf was between the two. The prophet Zephaniah complains about Israelites being clothed with 'strange' or foreign apparel. Apparently, Israel even dressed differently than the other nations.
There was a difference between the people of God, and the heathen.
And there is a difference today. The two groups still exist, the saved and the lost, the children of God and the children of the devil, the people of God and the heathen. They don't talk the same, they don't act the same, they don't live the same, they don't look the same. There is a valley of separation, HOLINESS, that separates the people of God from the heathen.
Now, pay attention, because this isn't about being high and mighty and looking down on others. Every single one of us who are on the Lord's side were once on the other side! Every single one of us today numbered among the people of God were once heathen Philistines, children of the devil. So we need to remember where we came from, and what God brought us OUT of. But there is a valley of separation between the people of God and the world.
Interestingly, the real difference between the Philistines and Israel wasn't any of those other outwardly visible things. Those differences existed, for certain, but you know that any Philistine probably could have changed clothes, spoken in the Hebrew dialect, crossed over the valley and mingled among the Israelites, and probably would have blended right on in. You see, the external, outward visible differences, while existing, aren't
definitive. A Philistine could have dressed like an Israelite, talked like an Israelite, swear to the God of Israel in everyone's hearing. And to the outward appearance, they would appear to be Israelites. But there was one thing they couldn't fake:
Circumcision. An Israelite was circumcised, the Philistines were not. Outward differences existed, but those didn't really PROVE anything. Rather, the PROOF was hidden to the eyes. Nobody would know an Israelite male was a genuine Israelite unless they 'checked'.
The only ones who actually knew if any particular Israelite was a genuine Israelite was the individual himself, and God.
It is the same today. God's people must be circumcised, a circumcision of the heart. It's hidden, on the inside. You can dress like God's people, talk like God's people, even pray to the God of Israel, and still be on the wrong side of the valley of HOLINESS.
You've got to be circumcised. If you aren't circumcised, if you haven't had that spiritual surgery performed on the heart, whereby God removes the body of sins and places you into the new covenant, by the work of the cross in your life... then you belong on the Philistine side. Doesn't matter where you congregate, you BELONG on the Philistine side.
The REAL circumcision is hidden. It's on the inside, in the heart. God knows if you've got that proper identification, and you would know as well if you honestly look inside and see.
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
((
2 Corinthians 6:14 - 7:1)
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
(
1 John 2:15-17)
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
(
James 4:4)
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
(
Matthew 23:25-28)
Holiness must begin in the heart. It will extend to the outward life. Holiness is essential to salvation. Holiness is not an option.
Which side of the valley are you on?
2. The valley of separation, or HOLINESS, is also the
Valley of Challenge. We read in verses 4 through 10 of
1 Samuel 17 that there went out a champion of the Philistines, Goliath, who stood in the valley and challenged the people of God.
Holiness is where the enemy will challenge you. The challenge concerns your separation, your consecration to God. Some are afraid of the challenge and hide, like Saul and his men. Saul, as we know, lost his anointing and position and was eventually removed. Others, like David, engage the challenger in the name of the Lord and defeat him. When temptation challenges you and your consecration to God, do you run? Or do you engage in battle in the name and the power of the Lord? The challenge is really a challenge against God. His name is on the line. His reputation is what is really being challenged. The enemy asks 'Is God REALLY in your life? Has God REALLY saved you? Are you REALLY separated to God? Has He REALLY and TRULY redeemed you from sin?' The enemy challenges God's power to save and sanctify.
Do you uphold His cause? Or do you flee?
When we run from the challenges the world and the devil presents to God's sanctification of our life, we are allowing God's name and reputation to be dragged through the mud. The world doesn't believe God can REALLY change a person, from the inside out. And the devil is there ready to accuse and slander God and challenge the sanctifying grace of God. Do you stand for God, for His reputation, for His name? Do you come against the challenge in the name of the Lord, representing the Almighty? Do you stand against it in the power of Jesus Christ, who came 'to save His people from their sins'? IS Christ victorious in your life, or not? Don't be like Saul, running from the challenge found in the valley of HOLINESS. Be like David, stand firm in the Lord's power, and be victorious!
3. The valley is the
Valley of Conflict. The valley of HOLINESS is where the conflict takes place. It is the location of the battle. Too many think of sanctification as some kind of 'going on auto-pilot' thing, or something like putting their life on cruise control. No, holiness, sanctification, is the place of CONFLICT. The challenger is there, but you must engage the challenger and actually fight the enemy in the power and might of the Lord. The men of Saul had surrendered the field of battle! They were on the mountain, instead of down in the valley of conflict putting Goliath in his place (6 cubits under).
Do you surrender the field of battle? Or do you engage the enemy of your soul?
"A
rout is a chaotic and disorderly retreat or withdrawal of troops from a battlefield, resulting in the victory of the opposing party, or following defeat, a collapse of discipline, or poor morale. A key feature of a true rout is that the routing forces abandon equipment, especially weapons.
A routed army often disintegrates into a state of "every man for himself"... as the survivors flee for safety.
A rout often results in much higher casualties for the retreating force than an orderly withdrawal. On many occasions, more soldiers are killed in the rout than in the actual battle. Normally, though not always, routs either end a battle or provide the moment the winner needs to win decisively..." (Wikipedia)
By surrendering the field of battle you are routed, and in danger of being destroyed by the most insignificant of enemies. When an army is routed, the other side goes all in. Even the cooks and porters can get their licks in. And those who are routed usually suffer a MASSIVE defeat and MASSIVE casualties. It's actually safer to stand and fight than to flee the battlefield!
That little trifling thing you allow and refuse to confront can, and probably will, destroy you. It may be such a small thing. But if you surrender the field, that small thing can cut you down. This is the valley of decision, or judgment, where your fate is decided. This is where you are proved, and where it is proven what you are made of - either holiness, or worldliness. Either you have strength in God, or you have the corruption and weakness of the flesh.
What side of the valley are you on? Are you avoiding the valley? Have you surrendered the field of battle? David went out alone. It's when you are alone, just you - and the enemy of your soul - that the real battle takes place. The real you will shine through, one way or the other. Either stand for God... or be defeated. And rest assured, defeat means death and destruction.
You cannot afford to lose this battle of holiness!
Notice another valley - in Joshua chapter 7 we read the story of Achan. Israel went to battle, and they were defeated. It was because Achan had disobeyed God and had not fully consecrated himself to God. He found a 'Babylonish garment' and a 'wedge of gold' that was supposed to have been surrendered to the Lord. Oh, it was such a little thing! But it spelled defeat and destruction for many. It wasn't until Achan was executed, along with all his people, and all his stuff was purged, that the sin was purged, and that victory could come about in chapter 8. And they named that place
'the Valley of Achor', meaning the valley of TROUBLE. Because sin - hidden sin, small sin, trifling and insignificant sin - brings trouble in the form of death and defeat.
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