Morning By Morning #30

As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly.

2 Samuel 5:24

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Members of Christ’s church should be very prayerful, always seeking the anointing and power of the Holy One to rest upon their hearts so His kingdom may come and His “will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). And as those times come when it appears God is especially favoring His army of Zion, they should be treated as “the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees.”

It is then we should be doubly prayerful and earnest, wrestling before God’s throne with more intensity than usual. Our actions should then be immediate and energetic, and because the tide is flowing, we should powerfully row for the shore. Oh, how we need the outpouring of the power of Pentecost and its resulting effective labor for Christ!

Dear Christian, there are times in your own life when “you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees.” At those times you have unmistakable power in prayer, the Spirit of God gives you deep joy and delight, the Scriptures appear fully open to you, God’s promises are applied to your life, you walk in the light of God’s countenance, you have a distinct and refreshing freedom and liberty in your quiet times of devotion, and you experience more intimate communion with Christ than usual.

Therefore, when those joyous times of hearing “the sound of the marching in the tops of the balsam trees” appear, stir yourself to action. It is time to rid yourself of any evil habit while “the Spirit helps [you] in [y]our weakness” (Rom. 8:26). So spread your sail to the wind, but remember the words of this song:

I can only spread the sail,
But You must breathe the auspicious gale!

Augustus Montague Toplady, 1740 – 1778

Just be sure to raise your sail, not missing the gale through a lack of preparation for it. Seek God’s help that you may be all the more earnest in serving Him once your faith is strengthened, that you are especially devoted to prayer during those times of increased liberty before His throne, and that your conversation will be more and more holy while you experience these more intimate times with Christ.

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

The story of David in 2 Samuel 5:22 – 25 is an amazing story of hearing and trusting the Lord. Yet another king once had the opportunity to trust God to go before him into battle in an even greater way.

When three armies amassed against Israel, the Lord told Jehoshaphat, “The battle is not yours, but God’s…You will not have to fight this battle.” Then, as God’s people “began to sing and praise,” the Lord defeated their enemies. “No one had escaped” (2 Chron. 20:15, 17, 22, 24).

Father, I desire to know You so intimately that I can hear Your army “in the tops of the…trees.” And grant me the faith to “sing and praise” before the battle.