“Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
— 2 Samuel 10:12
These are words spoken by Joab, the commander of David’s army. The scene places him in a tense and dangerous situation, surrounded by enemies on both sides. On one side were the Ammonites, and on the other were the Syrians.
Joab strategically positioned his forces, assigning one group to face the Syrians and another to stand against the Ammonites. It is after making these preparations that he speaks these powerful words.
When we look closely at his statement, we see a remarkable perspective from this seasoned warrior. He begins with the command, “Be strong,” addressing his people and calling them to remember who they are. Then, he includes himself in the charge: “Let us show ourselves courageous.”
This is not just a command—it is a shared resolve.
He goes on to give them a reason for their courage. They are fighting for their people and for the cities of their God. Their battle is not merely political or territorial; it is deeply connected to their identity as the people of God.
Finally, Joab anchors everything in the sovereignty of God: “May the LORD do what is good in His sight.” With this statement, he does not place his confidence in military strength or strategy. Instead, he entrusts the outcome entirely to God.
This is the kind of posture believers are called to have.
No matter the situation we find ourselves in—whether surrounded by opposition or facing difficult circumstances—we are to remember that our strength and courage come from God. Even more, we are to trust that the outcome rests in the hands of a loving and sovereign Lord.
As believers, we can sometimes fall into confusion when we rely on our own strength, courage, and ability. When we do this, we also begin to carry the burden of outcomes, as though everything depends on us.
But if we take our cue from Joab—looking to God’s sovereignty and goodness—we can recognize that both our strength and our courage come from Him and exist for His purposes. And because of that, we can trust that whatever outcome comes will ultimately be according to His perfect will.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
— Romans 8:28
I pray that we would be a people who entrust ourselves fully into the mighty hands of God, resting in His sovereignty and trusting Him to accomplish His good and perfect will.
Grace and peace.
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