(1) Our defeat is an embarrassment to God

(2) He gives us victory to maintain His own reputation

These two thoughts are clear and repeated many times throughout the Bible. And it is not difficult to understand why.

Parents have a better understanding of God’s position. The defeat and failure of a child is also an embarrassment to his parents. This is why many parents, to the perplexity of those who observe them, help their children even when they commit horrific things? Go to any precinct, court or jail, and you’ll find red-eyed mothers and fathers crying, talking to lawyers to try to get their son or daughter out of jail. How much will it cost? Five thousand? Ten thousand? One hundred thousand? It doesn’t matter, take everything I have, but get my child out of this situation…

When we fail or are defeated in our battles, it is an embarrassment to God. And He knows that He can’t count on our righteousness or merits to deliver us. He delivers us because of Him, through the zeal of His name, and not because we are good people.

Thus says the Lord God: I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. Not for your sake do I do this, says the Lord God, let it be known to you. Ezekiel 36.22,32

When God heard Hezekiah’s prayer regarding Sennacherib, He gave the reasons why He would deliver the people:

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor build a siege mound against it. By the way that he came, by the same shall he return; and he shall not come into this city, says the Lord. For I will defend this city, to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake. 2 Kings 19.31-34

The zeal of the Lord will do this. Let’s meditate!