There is a time when God grants us rest from battles. Life is full of battles. As Christians, we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
In the Old Testament, Israel who represented God's children on Earth fought physical battles with their enemies. Contrarily, as children of God under the New Covenant, we are fighting a spiritual and unseen battle, but with physical evidence of what is spiritually occurring. We fight to enforce what Christ Jesus has already won for us. For example, Jesus has already won for us divine healing, so when sickness attacks, we speak to it what is ours in Christ Jesus. We command sickness to leave in the name of Jesus, and remind it that by the stripes of Jesus, we are healed - 1 Peter 2:24.
However, both under the Old and New Testaments , there is a time for war, and a time for peace (rest).
God granted Solomon rest on every side, His father, David, had broken the fallow ground via war, and as a result, Solomon had fertile ground to simply plant and enjoy the harvest of rest. 1 Kings 5:3-4 You know how that David my father could not build a house to the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil result.
Solomon's rest did not just happen. God foretold it in 1 Chronicles 22:9 But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. God had seen the faithfulness of David, and how he had fought many battles to uphold the name of God. God knew David had relied on Him throughout these wars and even described him as a man after His own heart. God did not love David less than Solomon, but David fought wars, and Solomon rested. Both however glorified God.
There are battles that rage in Heavenly places against God's Kingdom, and there are times that God calls men like you and I to stand in the gap. Some men may stand in the gap and pray through for a revival of God. They will have to battle evil strongholds to free men and women that the devil has held bound. Those bound men are meant to be freed, for Christ has already issued their release. Spiritual wars are fought to enforce what is ours in Christ. Other men will be called to enjoy the revival - the fruit of the battles fought by Jesus and His called servants. Nevertheless, those that travailed in prayer for revival, and those that benefit from revival are both beneficiaries of the grace of God through Christ Jesus.
Another man that rested from wars was Asa - 2 Chronicles 14 :6 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest. The only battle he fought that was mentioned was one with the Ethiopians. It was said of Asa - And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa. 2 Chronicles 15:19.
God may choose to give us rest, we ought to embrace it and just bask in His Glory. Resting from war does not cause us to cease from being warriors. Remember , for as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike." 1 Samuel 30:24 . In others words, whether you are actively battling, or resting and enjoying the plunder from war, you are a beneficiary of God's grace.
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