Our Warfare

MARGUERITE TEBBS.

The thought is often expressed by those who have no knowledge of Christian Science, that the Old Testament is uninteresting, or at least that portion of it which deals with the history of the Jewish people, their journeys, victories, and defeats. To the student of Christian Science, however, this part of the Bible, read in the light of our text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," abounds with helpful lessons. In the forty years journey in the wilderness, we find a type of our journey out of the bondage of material sense into the "glorious liberty of the children of God;" and in the battles of the Hebrews with the enemies around them, we see a type of our warfare with error, — not with personalities, but with the wrong thoughts, the multitude of false beliefs assmbled under the name of error. In "Miscellaneous Writings," page 8, Mrs. Eddy clearly defines "enemy" as that which "defiles, defaces, and dethrones the Christ-image" which we should reflect.

A helpful lesson may be learned from the story of Jehoshaphat's battle, as given in 2 Chronicles, 20. Word was brought to him that a multitude of the enemy was coming up against him. At first he is filled with fear, but turning to God for help, he acknowledges that He is allpowerful,—that none can withstand Him. He remembers God's promise to hear and help His people when they call on Him in trouble, and then, referring to the approaching enemy, he asks God to judge them, saying: "For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us: neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee." So with the beginner in Christian Science: when his enemy is first uncovered to him, and he realizes that there is work to be done, he, too, may be fearful, but the same promise is for him, and the same God is waiting to help him.

While Jehoshaphat and all the people waited before the Lord, the answer to their prayer came through one of the Levites: "Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not your's but God's. tomorrow go ye down against them: . . . Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord . . . fear not, nor be dismayed; to-morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you."

"Fear not!" "Be not afraid!" How these same words ring out through all the pages of our text-book, cheering the timid follower of Truth and sending him onward with renewed hope and trust.

Having received the answer to his prayer, Jehoshaphat proceeds to act in accordance with it, in perfect confidence that it will be as God has said. Instead of waiting till the enemy had been met and overcome, he appoints a band of singers to praise God for His mercies, and these he places in front of the army. Already two enemies had been conquered,—fear and doubt,—and so, giving thanks, he starts forth, and what was the result? While one army was engaged in singing praises to God, the alien army was engaged in a battle among themselves, one helping to destroy another, and when Jehoshaphat reached the watch-tower in the wilderness, and looked down upon the multitude, he found that they were utterly destroyed,—self-destroyed,—and not one remained alive.

In Christian Science we learn the wisdom of giving thanks for every victory over error, even "for victory over a single sin we give thanks" (Science and Health, p. 568), and go forward to the complete triumph of good over evil. In confidence and trust we go on our way, and when we reach our watch-tower in the wilderness, and look back over the past, we, too, shall see the salvation of the Lord, a salvation which is for us here and now, and which is both revealed and demonstrated in Christian Science.

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