Week of Monday, September 5 – Sunday, September 11
Hope Renewed - Battle Buddy
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe. - Proverbs 18:10 NKJV
This verse from Proverbs always reminds me of a pastor during World War II by the name of Martin Niemöller. The son of a Lutheran pastor, Niemöller grew up a patriot and eventually served his country as a submarine commander in World War I. After the war, Niemöller followed in his father’s footsteps and became a Lutheran pastor.
In the early years, Niemöller voted for the Nazi Party, believing that Adolf Hitler might return Germany to greatness. Hitler had campaigned about the importance of Christianity in Germany’s renewal, which further seduced Niemöller into supporting him. However, when Hitler began to meddle in the church, Niemöller became one of the few prophetic pastors who saw the Nazi threat for what it was and began speaking out against Hitler.
Niemöller organized the Pastor’s Emergency League, rallying about 6,000 pastors to oppose Nazi interference, eventually spearheading an even broader movement that called themselves the “Confessing Church.” Unsurprisingly, the Gestapo wiretapped Niemöller’s phone and listened to his sermons. In 1937, S.S. troops hauled him out of his home, charged him with treason, and threw him into prison.
You might remember that Niemöller is famously attributed with saying:
First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
On February 7, 1938, Niemöller was to face his Nazi accusers in court, which was such a big deal that The New York Times reported on it. Naturally, he was anxious. Fear and intimidation crept into his heart as he was taken out of his cell to trial. What would happen to him? To his family? His church? As he was led from his cell through some dark underground tunnels to the courtroom, darkness threatened to overcome his soul.
But a strange thing happened on the way. Suddenly in the darkness, Niemöller heard the words of Proverbs 18:10, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” At first, he thought it was the voice of God. But amazingly, this Scripture came from the lips of the Wehrmacht guard who was conducting him to trial. God used that uplifting verse quoted by an unlikely Battle Buddy to breathe new hope into Niemöller, to strengthen and encourage him for that trial. It helped him endure his dismal seven-year imprisonment in Sachsenhausen and Dachau, two of Nazi Germany’s worst concentration camps.
If God used that verse from Proverbs 18:10 to breathe new hope into that pastor, we can claim that verse when we’re going through our own dark tunnel or when we are under attack by the culture. However, the challenge I have for you today is this: Look around, and you will no doubt see some discouraged guy friend who is going through his own dark tunnel, who needs a Battle Buddy to come alongside him with a word of encouragement, who needs some hope. Share a word from God’s Word with that friend. Offer him something to renew his hope.
1. Where do you turn for hope when you find yourself discouraged and going through a dark tunnel? Is the Lord your “High Tower”?
2. Who among your guy friends seems to be going through a dark time and needs some biblical encouragement right now?
3. Begin praying for how God would have you be a Battle Buddy. Ask God to help you offer just the right Scripture to that discouraged Battle Buddy who needs some hope.
Hope Renewed - Battle Buddy
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe. - Proverbs 18:10 NKJV
This verse from Proverbs always reminds me of a pastor during World War II by the name of Martin Niemöller. The son of a Lutheran pastor, Niemöller grew up a patriot and eventually served his country as a submarine commander in World War I. After the war, Niemöller followed in his father’s footsteps and became a Lutheran pastor.
In the early years, Niemöller voted for the Nazi Party, believing that Adolf Hitler might return Germany to greatness. Hitler had campaigned about the importance of Christianity in Germany’s renewal, which further seduced Niemöller into supporting him. However, when Hitler began to meddle in the church, Niemöller became one of the few prophetic pastors who saw the Nazi threat for what it was and began speaking out against Hitler.
Niemöller organized the Pastor’s Emergency League, rallying about 6,000 pastors to oppose Nazi interference, eventually spearheading an even broader movement that called themselves the “Confessing Church.” Unsurprisingly, the Gestapo wiretapped Niemöller’s phone and listened to his sermons. In 1937, S.S. troops hauled him out of his home, charged him with treason, and threw him into prison.
You might remember that Niemöller is famously attributed with saying:
First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
On February 7, 1938, Niemöller was to face his Nazi accusers in court, which was such a big deal that The New York Times reported on it. Naturally, he was anxious. Fear and intimidation crept into his heart as he was taken out of his cell to trial. What would happen to him? To his family? His church? As he was led from his cell through some dark underground tunnels to the courtroom, darkness threatened to overcome his soul.
But a strange thing happened on the way. Suddenly in the darkness, Niemöller heard the words of Proverbs 18:10, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” At first, he thought it was the voice of God. But amazingly, this Scripture came from the lips of the Wehrmacht guard who was conducting him to trial. God used that uplifting verse quoted by an unlikely Battle Buddy to breathe new hope into Niemöller, to strengthen and encourage him for that trial. It helped him endure his dismal seven-year imprisonment in Sachsenhausen and Dachau, two of Nazi Germany’s worst concentration camps.
If God used that verse from Proverbs 18:10 to breathe new hope into that pastor, we can claim that verse when we’re going through our own dark tunnel or when we are under attack by the culture. However, the challenge I have for you today is this: Look around, and you will no doubt see some discouraged guy friend who is going through his own dark tunnel, who needs a Battle Buddy to come alongside him with a word of encouragement, who needs some hope. Share a word from God’s Word with that friend. Offer him something to renew his hope.
1. Where do you turn for hope when you find yourself discouraged and going through a dark tunnel? Is the Lord your “High Tower”?
2. Who among your guy friends seems to be going through a dark time and needs some biblical encouragement right now?
3. Begin praying for how God would have you be a Battle Buddy. Ask God to help you offer just the right Scripture to that discouraged Battle Buddy who needs some hope.