Sunday, July 20, 2008

Meditation on the Psychology of Battle

After reading "Defeat Your Assailant's Will" and "The Psychology of Combat", do these articles give you an insight into the following passage?

Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. And the people of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines."

So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. And Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.

As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the LORD thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were routed before Israel. And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car. (I Samuel 7:7-11)


Here's a passage that not only includes Divinely-provided noise, but also incorporates the maneuver warfare tactic of attacking behind enemy lines:

And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, "You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines."

And David did as the LORD commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer. (II Samuel 5:22-25)


It is a marvelous thing that we learn from Scripture not only by precept, but also by Divinely appointed example.

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