His armor sends the dirt flying as he hits the ground after being thrown from his horse. His face meets the dust as it flies into the air creating a thick cloud of confusion around him. Regaining composure, the soldier realizes what has happened. A deep pang of humiliation fills his heart. This isn't the first time he has fallen from his horse. The enemy seems to know the exact location of the chink in his armor, and he falls every time he is hit in that spot. Overwhelming shame comes over the soldier as he scolds himself for letting it happen again.
But then he lifts his face from the dirt. He feels the strong hand of his commander press against his back. Hearing nothing, but feeling everything, the soldier knows what that small gesture means.
The commander does not condemn the soldier for his small defeat, for, "there is no condemnation." But instead, the heavy hand on his back says, "Get up! There's a battle! I've won! But we're still fighting... and I'm with you."
The LORD your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
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