“The phalanx is a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, or similar weapons. The troops were disciplined to hold a line which created a nearly impenetrable forest of points to the front. The phalanx is a hallmark of ancient Greek warfare.” (Courtesy of Wikipedia)
The valiant Spartan army used this formation at the Battle of Thermopylae which is highlighted in The History Channel’s Last Stand of the 300. It looks something like this:
The phalanx formation would operate by the front line lowering their shields in defense and also preparing their spears at about waist level. Simultaneously, the second line would raise their spears over the shoulder and allow them to protrude through the first rank. Working together, there would be a defensive and offensive wall of soldiers that could press forward into the enemy ranks like a bulldozer.
Did Shawn accidentally
post a history lesson on Peace in the Storm?
What does this have to
do with hope and encouragement?
There’s actually a great lesson to be learned here as it relates to living a victorious, abundant Christian life. First, we must note that the Spartans took military preparation very seriously. Young boys who showed promise were taken from their mothers at age seven and put into military training. The training would be counted as inhumane by many standards, with some boys dying in the process. Through the years, they learned formations, sword-play, spear-play, defensive tactics, hand-to-hand combat, and stealth maneuvering. Around age 17, if he passed all the tests, a young man would be ready to serve in the Spartan army.
I am not advocating any of those practices, but they prove the point that an individual Spartan soldier was very well trained and would be quite fierce going into battle alone. Even so, the Spartan army understood they were even stronger when they fought shoulder-to-shoulder, shield-to-shield. This is the lesson for us as Christians when maneuvering through life, and especially through trials and tribulations:
While we must be disciplined and trained as individual soldiers in the Christian army, we are always stronger together than alone.
Whatever you are going through, you need not – and should not – fight the battle alone. I know very well that seasons of pain and suffering can be very isolating. We are tempted to feel that no one understands what we are going through, and perhaps that no one cares. That is absolutely not true. It is a lie from the devil who, like any predator, would rather lure his prey from the pack than attack the entire unit. I wrote in the past that there is One Who Understands (Jesus), and while He is the only one who understands perfectly, there are others among us who are familiar with not-so-different trials.
It seems that we don’t hear too much about the importance of a battle mentality in Christianity today, but when we really look at our lives, I think we would all agree that we are in a battle. It is a battle of good and evil. It is a battle of love and hate. It is a battle of joy and sadness. The apostle Paul wrote about the need for us to prepare for battle:
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:10-17 (New Living Translation)
Those are instructions for you and me as individual soldiers. Here is further instruction from Paul:
Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.
2 Timothy 2:3-4 (New Living Translation)
We must be continuously training so we can be strong as individual soldiers. But then, what is our plan as a collective army?
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Ephesians 6:18 (New Living Translation)
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (New Living Translation)
Did you realize the size of our army? All believers everywhere! Our immediate battalion consists of those closest to us – our family, our friends, our church – and it is a fierce battalion, indeed. Our forces are so much stronger, though. We must pray for one another. Encourage one another. Build up one another.
You are not alone. I am not alone. There is no need for us to go into battle believing that we are. Let us fight side-by-side
and not fear. United in Christ, we will prevail.
Comments