On that Day…

1 The oracle of the word of the LORD concerning Israel: Thus declares the LORD, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him: 2 “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. 3 On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. 4 On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But for the sake of the house of Judah I will keep my eyes open, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. 5 Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God.’

6 “On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blazing pot in the midst of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves. And they shall devour to the right and to the left all the surrounding peoples, while Jerusalem shall again be inhabited in its place, in Jerusalem.

7 “And the LORD will give salvation to the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not surpass that of Judah. 8 On that day the LORD will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD, going before them. 9 And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” – Zechariah 12:1-9 ESV

Zechariah receives yet another oracle from Yahweh, providing further insights into the future day of Israel’s redemption and restoration. Yahweh introduces Himself as the Creator God “who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundations of the earth, and formed the human spirit” (Zechariah 12:1 NLT). This reference to His creation of the universe is meant to remind Zechariah and the people of Judah that His power to re-create them is beyond measure. But His description of their future transformation is couched in very negative terms. It begins with the description of another siege against the city of Jerusalem. While few in Zechariah’s audience had been alive when the first siege of Jerusalem occurred, they would have heard the graphic stories of its devastating impact.

During the Babylonian invasion of Judah, there were actually two sieges, ten years apart. The first was in 597 B.C. and resulted in the city’s capture and the deportation of around 10,000 of its occupants. Ten years later, Nebuchadnezzar ordered a second siege because of the continued rebellion of its puppet king. The city endured great deprivation during the siege, and the Temple of Solomon was burned to the ground. Long before it happened, Yahweh provided Jeremiah the prophet with a graphic depiction of Jerusalem’s fall.

“I will reduce Jerusalem to ruins, making it a monument to their stupidity. All who pass by will be astonished and will gasp at the destruction they see there. I will see to it that your enemies lay siege to the city until all the food is gone. Then those trapped inside will eat their own sons and daughters and friends. They will be driven to utter despair.’

“As these men watch you, Jeremiah, smash the jar you brought. Then say to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: As this jar lies shattered, so I will shatter the people of Judah and Jerusalem beyond all hope of repair. They will bury the bodies here in Topheth, the garbage dump, until there is no more room for them. This is what I will do to this place and its people, says the Lord. I will cause this city to become defiled like Topheth. Yes, all the houses in Jerusalem, including the palace of Judah’s kings, will become like Topheth—all the houses where you burned incense on the rooftops to your star gods, and where liquid offerings were poured out to your idols.’” – Jeremiah 19:8-13 NLT

So, Yahweh’s mention of another siege would have stunned Zechariah and his fellow Judahites. They were still trying to rebuild the Temple and the thought of the city falling yet again would have been unfathomable. Yet, Yahweh softens the blow of this bad news with an important disclosure.

“I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves.” – Zechariah 12:2-3 NLT

While the news of another siege was shocking, Yahweh described a completely different outcome that was meant to provide encouragement to His beleaguered people. Six different times, Yahweh uses the phrase, “On that day” to let them know that this event lies in the distant future. It will feature a battle of epic proportions that will mirror the fall of Jerusalem but without the deaths and destruction. On that day, Jerusalem will be like a rock that cannot be moved. Its walls will not fall. Its enemies will be deprived of victory. In fact, the nations that come against Jerusalem will end up drinking the cup of God’s wrath. This will be a radical departure from the days when God poured out His wrath on the people of Israel.

“Wake up, wake up, O Jerusalem!
    You have drunk the cup of the Lord’s fury.
You have drunk the cup of terror,
    tipping out its last drops.
Not one of your children is left alive
    to take your hand and guide you.
These two calamities have fallen on you:
    desolation and destruction, famine and war.
And who is left to sympathize with you?
    Who is left to comfort you?
For your children have fainted and lie in the streets,
    helpless as antelopes caught in a net.
The Lord has poured out his fury;
    God has rebuked them.” – Isaiah 51:17-20 NLT

In that same passage, Yahweh goes on to predict the same future day that Zechariah is hearing about.

“This is what the Sovereign Lord,
    your God and Defender, says:
“See, I have taken the terrible cup from your hands.
    You will drink no more of my fury.
Instead, I will hand that cup to your tormentors,
    those who said, ‘We will trample you into the dust
    and walk on your backs.’” – Jeremiah 51:22-23 NLT

On that day, the attackers will discover that Yahweh the God of Israel is too powerful to overcome. He will fight on Israel’s behalf and miraculously thwart their armies and negate the impact of their weapons. They will be powerless before Yahweh Sabaoth, the LORD of Hosts. The future residents of Jerusalem and the citizens of Judah will respond to this miraculous event with wonder, recognizing Yahweh’s hand in it all. They will express their amazement with words that acknowledge Yahweh’s deliverance.

“The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God.” – Zechariah 12:5 ESV

The resilience of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the remarkable nature of their defiant stance against their enemies will light a fire in the rest of the nation. They will respond with God-empowered zeal that turns them into an unstoppable force.

“On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a flame that sets a woodpile ablaze or like a burning torch among sheaves of grain. They will burn up all the neighboring nations right and left, while the people living in Jerusalem remain secure.” – Zechariah 12:6 NLT

Yahweh announces that victory over the enemies of Israel will first take place outside the walls of Jerusalem. As the city remains under siege, the clans of Judah will rout the combined forces of their adversaries and completely destroy them. The city will be saved because the enemy is eradicated. This order of events is important because it lets the people of Judah know that the city itself is not the focus of Yahweh’s love and attention. Yahweh makes it clear that He will “give victory to the rest of Judah first, before Jerusalem, so that the people of Jerusalem and the royal line of David will not have greater honor than the rest of Judah” (Zechariah 12:7 ESV). Yahweh’s love extends to all His people, not just those who live in Jerusalem or those who belong to David’s line. In fact, Yahweh describes a day when all will stand as equals before Him.

“On that day the LORD will defend the people of Jerusalem; the weakest among them will be as mighty as King David! And the royal descendants will be like God, like the angel of the LORD who goes before them!” – Zechariah 12:8 NLT

They will all “be like God” because they will be embued with His power and fight in His name, just as King David had done. They will share the same attribute that David had: A heart for God that expressed itself in faithful obedience (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). What is being described here is the fulfillment of the promise that Yahweh made to Ezekiel.

“I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” –  Ezekiel 36:26-27 NLT

With this oracle, Yahweh announces that the future of Israel will feature continued opposition and warfare. The rebuilding and repopulation of Jerusalem would not eliminate all threats of future difficulty. Reconstructing the city’s walls would not eliminate the threat of future enemy attacks. Completing the Temple would not innoculate the people from further rebellion and apostasy. This was not about a city, a building, or even a nation. It was about Yahweh and His chosen people. In 70 A.D., the city would fall again and the Temple that Zechariah helped to build would be destroyed. To this date, there is no Temple in Jerusalem. But the day will come when Yahweh orchestrates its reconstruction one last time. The prophet Daniel was given a vision of this end times event.

“A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler—the Anointed One—comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times.” – Daniel 9:24-25 NLT

After the Rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), the seven-year-long period known as the Tribulation will begin. The first half of this future era features the rise of a charismatic leader who will rule over a global empire. He will negotiate a peace treaty with the people of Israel, giving them permission to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. But midway through the seven years of the Tribulation, He will turn on them, ordering an end to all sacrifices and demanding that they worship him alone. He will also desecrate the Temple by erecting an idol of himself in the Holy of Holies. This will usher in the last half of the seven years, commonly referred to as the Great Tribulation. Jerusalem and the Jews will come under constant opposition from the Antichrist and his forces. Tens of thousands will suffer martyrdom at his hands.

But Zechariah is told of a day when God will “destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12:9 NLT). Antichrist and his global empire will fall to the King of kings and LORD of lords, an event described by John in the Book of Revelation.

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.” – Revelation 19:12-16 NLT

John goes on to describe the outcome of this epic conflict.

I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies. – Revelation 19:19-21 NLT

On that day, Yahweh will fulfill the promises He has made by sending His Son to complete the mission He began with His incarnation. The King will return to right all wrongs, put an end to sin and death, restore righteousness, and establish His earthly Kingdom. It will be a day reserved for praise, joy, and celebration.

“Praise the Lord!
    Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.
His judgments are true and just.
    He has punished the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality.
    He has avenged the murder of his servants.” – Revelation 19:1-2 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

LORD of All

1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”

6 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.

10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. 12 Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”

14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. 15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”

16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24 And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.

25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,

for he is the living God,
    enduring forever;
his kingdom shall never be destroyed,
    and his dominion shall be to the end.
27 He delivers and rescues;
    he works signs and wonders
    in heaven and on earth,
he who has saved Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”

28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. – Daniel 6:1-28 ESV

This chapter contains one of the Bible's most familiar and beloved stories. For centuries, it has been a staple of Sunday School classes, and Daniel's daring exploits have been used to inspire young children to stand up for their faith against all odds. Among Christians, the phrase “Daniel in the Lion’s Den” conjures up visions of living an uncompromised and faith-filled life even in the face of life-threatening opposition.

But there is far more to the story than the simple tale of a faith-filled man willing to face death rather than compromise his religious convictions. The story’s placement in the narrative is important and is probably not in chronological order. It comes immediately after the stories of Belshazzar’s death and Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling by the hand of God. It is intended to continue the theme of God’s sovereignty over the kings and nations of the world. Daniel is the common thread that ties all these stories together. This Hebrew exile has the unique privilege and responsibility of acting as God’s mouthpiece to some of the most powerful men who ruled over one of the most dominant nations on Earth. Daniel is featured prominently in each of these stories but he was never intended to be the lead actor in the dramas they unfold.

As chapter six begins, the reader is presented with the name of yet another ruler. Since chapter four ended with Belshazzar’s death, it would be easy to assume that the story picks up with his replacement. The opening verses state, “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one” (Daniel 6:1-2 ESV). To the modern reader, this opening line seems rather black and white; a new king named Darius took over for the recently deceased Belshazzar. But there is a problem. No extra-biblical sources have been found that corroborate the existence of a king named Darius who ruled over the kingdom of Babylon or the Medo-Persian empire.

There has been much debate about who this individual was, with some suggesting that Darius was just another name for Cyrus, who ruled the Medo-Persian Empire. Others have speculated that it was Cambyses, the son of Cyrus, who served as his father’s co-regent over the kingdom of Babylon and later inherited the throne. A third option is that Darius was an individual named Gubaru, an official in Cyrus’ administration, whom the king appointed as ruler over Babylon immediately after its capture by the Medo-Persian forces.

The simplest solution to this problem may lie in the meaning of the name “Darius.” Of Aramaic origin, Darius translates as “lord” and was likely a title rather than a proper name. It seems that the author purposefully chose to leave out the name of the king involved in the story. He also provides scant details to help determine the date of the events recorded in this chapter. It is as if Darius was intended to represent all the “lords” who ruled over the kingdom of Babylon and its successor, the Medo-Persian empire.

Darius is not the point of the story any more than Daniel is. But the title “lord” takes on important significance as the story unfolds. Whoever this man was, he had power and authority. He ruled over a nation that had proven its dominance by conquering a great part of the geographical landscape of that day. This Darius commanded fear and respect from his citizens and wielded his power with the aid of his royal officials. As his empire grew, he divided it into 120 provinces and put them under the care of his hand-picked officials. Daniel was included in this list of “satraps” or governors.

But before long, Daniel “proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers” (Daniel 6:3 NLT). Daniel’s superior leadership skills led the king to consider plans “to place him over the entire empire” (Daniel 6:3 NLT). News of Daniel’s pending promotion soon reached his 119 peers and they were far from pleased. They immediately set out to scuttle the king’s plan and end Daniel’s hopes of “lording” over them.

Their plan was simple but deadly, designed to appeal to the king’s pride and vanity. They recommended that Darius issue a decree requiring every citizen in the nation to cease all worship of any other deity except him for 30 days.

“Long live King Darius! We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you…” – Daniel 6:6-7 NLT

They recommended an official edict that would place Darius as “lord” over all other gods, including the God of Daniel. This was a calculated and callous plan designed to do one thing: Prevent Daniel’s promotion by ending his life. But they failed to realize that their ingenuous plan to elevate their “lord” was going to end up offending the LORD Most High. They were out to eliminate Daniel at all costs and their efforts would prove costly. It should not be overlooked that their recommended punishment for violation of the edict involved death by the “king” of beasts.

“…whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.” – Daniel 6:7 ESV

Darius the “lord” liked what he heard and willingly signed the document they had pre-prepared. Unknowingly, Darius had sealed Daniel’s fate and set in motion a chain of events that would prove who was “Lord” of all.

As the 119 satraps expected, Daniel chose to violate the king’s edict. He would not cease praying to his God and was caught in the act by his enemies. They took the matter to the king and the news of Daniel’s actions left the “lord” in a conundrum. What was he to do? He thought highly of Daniel but he also had a reputation to maintain. After all, he was “lord” over all the kingdom of Babylon and he expected his citizens to treat him with the respect and honor he deserved.

But Darius was torn and spent the rest of the day trying to come up with a way to save Daniel’s life. But the “lord” was powerless to overturn his own edict because he was bound by “the law of the Medes and the Persians” (Daniel 6:15 NLT), which meant that he lacked the power to change the law he had decreed. There was nothing Darius could do. The matter was out of his hands and Daniel’s fate was sealed. Or was it?

As the story goes, Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den and miraculously survived. His life was spared but not by Darius the “lord.” Another LORD intervened and proved Himself greater than Darius and the law of the Medes and the Persians. This LORD didn’t answer to man-made edicts. As a result, Daniel exited the Daniel’s den unscathed and announced, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty” (Daniel 6:21-22 NLT).

This miraculous event led the joyous king to issue another proclamation.

“I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.

For he is the living God,
    and he will endure forever.
His kingdom will never be destroyed,
    and his rule will never end.
He rescues and saves his people;
    he performs miraculous signs and wonders
    in the heavens and on earth.
He has rescued Daniel
    from the power of the lions.” – Daniel 6:26-27 NLT

The “lord” had learned an invaluable lesson. He could issue decrees. He could demand that every knee bow and every tongue confess him as “lord” but he was nothing compared to the LORD of Daniel.

Once again, God proved Himself superior to the kings of the world. Whoever Darius was, he was nothing compared to Yahweh. And while Daniel displayed great faith and fearlessness in the face of opposition, the real hero of the story is the LORD Most High, the living God whose kingdom will never be destroyed.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

Jehovah-Gibbor Milchamah

1 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,
    the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has founded it upon the seas
    and established it upon the rivers.

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
    And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not lift up his soul to what is false
    and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the Lord
    and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord, strong and mighty,
    the Lord, mighty in battle!
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And lift them up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord of hosts,
    he is the King of glory! – Psalm 24:1-10 ESV

YHWH-gibôr milḥāmâ – “The LORD Mighty in Battle.” It would be easy to view this name of God as less applicable to us because we don’t face physical battles that involve warfare and the genuine threat of loss of life. However, for David, this name held special meaning and significance. As the warrior-king, David had led and fought in many battles. He had faced well-armed enemies whose sole intent was to destroy him and the people of Israel.

David knew a thing or two about might and could recognize it when he saw it. In 2 Samuel 23, Samuel refers to “the mighty [gibôr] men whom David had” (2 Samuel 23:8 ESV and uses the same word found in Psalm 24: gibôr. These were proven warriors who fought alongside David and exhibited the characteristics of valor, strength, and bravery in battle. Samuel describes how these men exemplified their “might” in real terms.

…they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle… – 2 Samuel 23:9 ESV

Eleazer…rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. 2 Samuel 23:10 ESV

Shammah…took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the Lord worked a great victory. – 2 Samuel 23:12 ESV

…three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. – 2 Samuel 23:16 ESV

Abishai…wielded his spear against three hundred men[and killed them… – 2 Samuel 23:18 ESV

Benaiah…struck down two ariels of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. – 2 Samuel 23:20 ESV

These men had proven their bona fides. They weren’t posers or wannabes, they were certifiable, time-tested, sword-wielding men of might and valor. They had earned David’s full trust and support. He knew he could rely on them to come through in any and all situations. He never had to question their bravery or loyalty. They had his back and he knew it.

So, when David wrote this Psalm, he didn’t have to search very far to find a word to describe Yahweh. He describes Him as “the LORD, strong and mighty [gibôr], the LORD, mighty [gibôr] in battle!” (Psalm 24:8 ESV). And it’s interesting to note that David, a king himself, declared Yahweh to be “the King of glory” (Psalm 24:7 ESV). He considered Yahweh to be a warrior-king just like himself but with one glaring difference: Yahweh was glorious. He was the creator of heaven and earth. Only those with “clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:4 ESV) could enter His glorious presence. This King was powerful enough to have formed the universe out of nothing. His sovereignty had no bounds or limits. His throne room was a place of holiness and righteousness completely free from the vice and corruption that mar all earthly kingdoms. 

David’s God was a King worthy of glory because His power was unsurpassed and His authority was unequaled. His royal rule was not symbolic or ceremonial. His was not a faux monarchy marked by pomp and circumstance but void of any real influence. As far as David was concerned, His God was Jehovah-Gibbor Milchamah, the LORD Mighty in Battle. He wasn’t a puppet king. He wasn’t a roaring, toothless lion. He was the all-powerful King of Glory who used His unsurpassed might to wage war against all His enemies, including all those who stand opposed to His chosen people.

The prophet Isaiah uses the same language when describing the LORD.

Let them give glory to the LORD,
    and declare his praise in the coastlands.
The LORD goes out like a mighty [gibôr] man,
    like a man of war [milḥāmâ] he stirs up his zeal;
he cries out, he shouts aloud,
    he shows himself mighty against his foes. – Isaiah 42:12-13 ESV

What is interesting is how Isaiah uses both words associated with the name Jehovah-Gibbor Milchamah. He also refers to Yahweh as a “mighty [gibôr] man” but he adds a note that illustrates how His might is revealed. He describes Yahweh as “a man of war.” The Hebrew word used there is milḥāmâ and it carries the idea of someone who engages in battle as a “fighting man.” God doesn’t posture and pose. He didn’t just reveal His strength through the act of creation and His ongoing maintenance of all He made. God does battle. He wages war. He fights on behalf of His people. And He is always victorious.

The Psalmist describes Yahweh’s sovereign control over all He has made, including the kings of the earth.

Why are the nations so angry?
    Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
    the rulers plot together
against the LORD
    and against his anointed one.
“Let us break their chains,” they cry,
“and free ourselves from slavery to God.” – Psalm 2:1-4

These earthly monarchs align themselves against Yahweh and fail to realize that their petty kingdoms are no match for the King of Glory. His might is unstoppable and their feeble attempts to overthrow His sovereign rule are doomed to futility and failure.

But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
    The LORD scoffs at them.
Then in anger he rebukes them,
    terrifying them with his fierce fury. - Psalm 2:4

David rested in the knowledge that the LORD Mighty in Battle was on his side and capably of delivering him from all his enemies. There was no situation David could face that would cause him to doubt God’s presence or power. The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle was in his corner and he had nothing to fear. The apostle Paul shared David’s confidence in Yahweh.

If God is for us, who can be against us? – Romans 8:31 ESV

Paul was echoing the sentiments of David found in Psalm 56.

…my enemies will turn back
    in the day when I call.
    This I know, that God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me? – Psalm 56:9-11 ESV

The author of Hebrews also drew inspiration from the Psalm of David.

…we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” – Hebrews 13:6 ESV

But there is more to the name Jehovah-Gibbor Milchamah than meets the eye. The prophet Isaiah adds another level of significance when he describes the birth of a future child who will serve as a king over Israel.

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God [el gibbor],
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6 ESV

This “son’s” many names will include “Mighty God” [el gibbor]. He will be a fighting man, a Warrior-King who will rule with justice and righteousness over an eternal kingdom. Isaiah goes on to describe this heir to the throne of David who will establish a perfect and permanent Kingdom that has no equal and ushers in a period of endless peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. – Isaiah 9:7 ESV

The Book of Revelation reveals that this King, who will be the Son of David and the Son of God, will one day come to earth to conquer all the enemies of God and establish His matchless and glorious Kingdom on earth.

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.  His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.  He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. – Revelation 19:11-16 ESV

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