“God's Goal Line Defense Against the Enemy”

Scripture: " … When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him." -Isaiah 59:29

As the regular season of the NFL came to a close on last night, I am reminded of one of the game's toughest situations: an opposing defense playing goal defense against a proficient offensive team. During this season, I was watching a game between the Washington Redskins and the Detroit Lions and this situation of goal line defense came into play. It was early in the 1st quarter and Washington had drove the length of the field and was knocking on Detroit's door to get into the end zone for the first touchdown of the game. However, due to Detroit's stout defense, they stopped the Redskins's offense on four straight plays and did not allow them to enter the end zone. Because of that, the momentum went with the Lions and eventually led them to win their first game in almost two years. Brothers and sisters, there's someone who wants to enter your "end zone", who wants to enter your life and disrupt it any way he can and that's the enemy. The blessing is, we have someone in our corner that's greater than the enemy's offense and that's our Heavenly Father. How can I make such a proclamation? Let's examine today's text.

Today’s devotional, just like our previous devotional, is set in the Old Testament book of Isaiah. This book is said by scholars to mimic the breakdown of our Bible. The book of Isaiah, which is 66 chapters in length, is said to have its first 39 chapters resemble the Old Testament and the last 27 chapters to resemble the New Testament. Within today's chapter, the writer dealt with three key things: sin, confession, and redemption. Within this chapter, the author provides us with clarity on God's goal line defense for us against the enemy.

The text begins with Isaiah stating the enemy's offense coming at us. He does this by saying, "When the enemy shall come in like a flood". If you took a moment or two to think about your life, you know how the enemy has flooded you and yours. He has flooded you with bills. He has flooded you with ailments. He has flooded you with children acting bad. He has flooded you with relationship problems. He has flooded you with trouble on the workplace. He has flooded you with car breakdowns. When the enemy comes, he does not come with just one thing, he comes at you with multiple things, just like a potent offense in football comes at you with various plays that deviate from the playbook.

Even with the deviation in the playbook, God has the defense for the enemy on your behalf! The text is concluded by saying, "the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him". Though, the enemy has hit you with the various "plays" of life through your health, finances, marriage, and anything else, the Spirit of the LORD has news for him! He has a standard that will be lifted up against him! With this "standard", no matter how hard the enemy tries to get into your end zone, God will not allow it to hurt you or penetrate you! Though you may have been sick, God's standard prevented your death! Though your marriage was on the rocks, God's standard protected it from falling apart! Though your finances were in shambles, God's standard stepped in and provided you help to make it! Though you had some bumps in the road with some family members, God's standard soothed the way for better involvement and reconciled feelings! Though you may be confused in your mind, God's standard will provide peace! Whatever defense you need God to play for you, His standard will step in and prevent the enemy from scoring in your end zone!

In closing, the enemy loves to try God's people and hurt them and things of that nature. Aren't you glad that though the enemy plays offense and is trying to score, that God plays defense and prevents the enemy from scoring on you? In 2010, don't give the enemy any room to intrude your goal line. If for some reason, he gets down to your goal line, remember that God is there to stop him!