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The book starts out telling of Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, when he “went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.” Although I would classify this as a “guys’ book” from the very beginning, it had me riveted. Great story-telling, great imagery.

What interested me most about “Day of War” is that – although fictional – it paints a seemingly realistic picture of life as a warrior in Old Testament times. I’m not a history buff or a student of wars, so this account helped me understand why David and his army faced and endured what they did – and how so much killing could occur in the name of Yahweh.

Though rough men with distant, abandoned families and haunting pasts, they shared a trust and deep-seated belief in God (most of them, anyway). When preparing for battle and in the midst of adversity, David and his men speak this prayer to Yahweh: “Cover me in the day of war.”

Most of us don’t face war and battle like the characters of this book. And – I would venture to guess – most of don’t fully appreciate the freedom that we have to comfortably live our lives peacefully in Christ, knowing that we have that choice and will not be persecuted or slaughtered because of it.

But in one way or another, we all have our own days of war. Our own struggles and conflicts. We would do well to remember David and his mighty men, and ask God to cover us in our days of war.

meet the reviewer: kristy wright

Kristy Wright is a born-and-raised Minnesotan, spending her first six years of life in St. Paul before moving to the northern metro with her family. She spent four years in Marshall attending Southwest Minnesota State University and earning a Bachelor’s degree in English/journalism with a minor in literature. Kristy moved back to the Twin Cities in 2000 and settled in Cottage Grove with her husband, Jeremy, in 2003. The Wrights have two young children, Jesse and Alex, and spend most of their time playing with the boys and being with friends and family. Kristy has a background in writing, working as a reporter for two years and in communications for 11 years. She currently works as a Vice President at a St. Paul-based credit union trade association, a position she has held since 2011.

01.08.12 – People of the Book – 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

01.15.12 – No One Walks Alone – 1 Thessalonians 2:12-3:13

01.22.12 – Gospel Fluent/Take it to the Streets – 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18

01.29.12 – People of Prayer – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28

]]> http://www.thealley.org/2012/01/09/pursue-all-of-me-all-for-him/feed/ 0 http://www.thealley.org/2012/01/06/thevibe-01-06-12-new-teaching-series-pursue/ http://www.thealley.org/2012/01/06/thevibe-01-06-12-new-teaching-series-pursue/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:36:06 +0000 Luther95 http://www.thealley.org/?p=5290

After one year of blogging on the Bible, Psalm 150 sums it up better than I ever could.

“Praise the Lord!  Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!  Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!  Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!  Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!  Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord!”

Revelation 21 – WOW.  There is a new heaven and a new earth.  All that the angels had poured from their bowls cleansed the earth and prepared it for this time.  Now God will live here with His people.  21:3 “…Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.  He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”  The world will be a perfect place, just like God intended in the beginning.  We’ve been given all we need to be a part of this world.  We just need to seek Jesus – the hard part is already done.

So much great scripture!  Revelation 20 is really something today, but I can’t let the book of Esther go by without comment.  The historical account of Esther is an amazing story.  God’s plan is worked through king Ahasuerus and Mordecai and Esther in such a way as to save the Jewish people from certain destruction.  No one could see this plan unfolding until it reached its end with the death of Haman.  Then all of a sudden you could look back and see that everything occurred for a purpose.  It’s more than just a good story – It’s a God story.  His chosen people, the remnant, saved to rise another day.  This all dovetails into Jesus coming… His people are redeemed again, not only the people of Israel, but anyone who accepts Jesus is saved.  This story then rolls right up into Revelation where we read today that some of His people will be with God and rule for a thousand years before all the rest are resurrected before final judgment.  Oh, to be in that first group of souls – but there may be a price to pay – these are the souls who gave their life for Jesus.  (Or maybe were willing to – like Esther?)  Are we willing?