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"VICTORY AGAINST OVERWHELMING ODDS." "Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight." (1 Chronicles 19:13)This chapter gives us a wonderful illustration of leadership, loyalty, and the Lord's help when we stand fast in the faith.After David was established as king, he heard about the death of the king of the Ammonites. He sent a group of Israelites to express sympathy. The new king's advisors suggested that this display of sympathy was really to spy out the land. You know what those advisors had the gall to do next? They cut off the beard and robes of the ambassadors, which was a sign of great humiliation back then, and sent them home. When the Ammonites realized this might cause retaliation they hired the Syrians as mercenaries.Joab, David's General, led his soldiers against them, but the two enemy armies were able to set up troops in array around the Israelites. Joab divided his army and gave the command for one group to fight the Ammonites and the other to fight the Syrians. Whichever group was successful was to turn and help the other one.Well, it seemed like the odds were against the army of Israel, but General Joab reminded them they were fighting for the people and the cities of their God. That right there made it personal for each brave soldier. The fight at hand wasn't just about their own life now; it was for their families as well.We often forget that our battles affect many more than just us personally. We try to do the best we can in the situation God has placed us, but when we rely on His strength and trust Him that He will do that which is good and right, He will honor that faith and will make haste to stand with and help us. Yes, God did stand and help them, and both enemy armies retreated.You know, when we rely on His strength and place our trust in Him with whatever may come, we will see in our own battles, like the Israelites did in theirs, that last sentence from that verse I posted above come to pass, "let the LORD do that which is good in His sight.Friends, let's continue to be strong in our faith for the victories in the fight against the Lord's foes and be encouraged by the fact that when we do our part and "behave ourselves valiantly", the LORD will certainly do His part!