The Best War Cry (Numbers 23:21) - Charles Spurgeon Sermon

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Presence as an Unshakable Fortress

Balaam’s curses dissolved like mist against Israel’s camp because God’s presence stood guard. Enemies plotted from mountain peaks, but divine eyes watched every move. The same God who shielded Israel from hidden schemes still surrounds His people like a wall of fire. His faithfulness isn’t swayed by human malice or dark arts. When shadows gather, His promise remains: He dwells where His name is honored. Safety isn’t in our vigilance but in His unchanging “I am here.” [03:24]

“God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”
(Numbers 23:19, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you sensed God’s protection in ways you couldn’t orchestrate? How might His unchanging nature quiet your fears today?

Day 2: The Church’s Untamable Strength in God

Israel’s strength wasn’t in swords or numbers but in the roar of their King. Like a wild ox, they trampled obstacles not by might but by God’s indomitable force. A church filled with His Spirit isn’t tamed by opposition—it breaks chains, defies despair, and scatters darkness. Human strategies falter, but divine energy outlives every siege. When God’s people move in His power, even hell’s gates shudder. [25:15]

“God brings them out of Egypt and is for them like the horns of a wild ox.”
(Numbers 23:22, ESV)

Reflection: What challenge feels too heavy for you? How might surrendering it to God’s “wild ox” strength shift your perspective?

Day 3: No Spell Can Touch the Sheltered in God

Balaam’s curses twisted into blessings because no enchantment sticks where God dwells. Dark whispers, doubt, or despair lose their grip on hearts anchored in Him. The enemy’s plots crumble like ancient altars when faced with His covenant promises. To live under His shadow is to wear armor no arrow can pierce. His presence alone scatters every lie. [26:53]

“For there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel; now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What has God wrought!’”
(Numbers 23:23, ESV)

Reflection: What “curse” have you feared that God’s presence could transform? How does His victory redefine your battles?

Day 4: Holy Ground in the Assembly Where God Dwells

Jacob trembled at Bethel, whispering, “God is in this place.” So the church becomes holy not by polished sermons or music, but by His manifest nearness. Where He dwells, silence thunders louder than speeches. Shoes come off, hearts bow low, and awe strips away pretense. The true mark of worship isn’t emotion but the weight of glory that leaves no soul unchanged. [14:03]

“Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.’ And he was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’”
(Genesis 28:16–17, ESV)

Reflection: When have you last felt God’s nearness in worship? What distractions might He be asking you to lay aside to meet Him?

Day 5: Consecration: The Price of Perpetual Presence

God dwells only where He owns the deed. Achan’s hidden sin cost Israel victory, but Phinehas’ zeal restored it. Holiness isn’t perfection but surrender—body, time, and treasure laid bare before the Refiner. The church shines brightest when her people live as living altars, their “yes” echoing louder than sacrifices. To keep His presence, we burn what He hates and cling to what He loves. [50:36]

“If it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
(Joshua 24:15, ESV)

Reflection: What compromise quietly dims your witness? What step of surrender would declare, “God owns this heart”?

Sermon Summary

Balaam and Balak stand upon Pisgah, plotting from the heights to blast Israel with curse and enchantment, while the tribes lie peacefully in the valley, unconscious of the mischief prepared against them. God, however, watches the watcher, and every device of malice comes to nothing because “Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there.” The text declares that Israel’s safety does not arise from its own vigilance, strength, or knowledge of the enemy, but from the Lord God dwelling in the midst of His chosen people.

God’s presence is not merely that universal presence by which all creatures live and move and have their being. The covenant presence is a peculiar, gracious, active nearness, full of favor, consideration, guidance, comfort, and power. The Father abides among His children with tender pity; the Son manifests Himself to those gathered in His name; and the Holy Ghost remains in the church as Comforter, Quickener, and Advocate. The triune God is the glory of the true church, while a church deserted of that presence has banners trailing in the dust and warriors without strength.

The divine presence makes outward beauty and human eloquence of little account. The lowliest assembly becomes solemn and glorious when God is there, while the grandest gathering is empty if He is absent. The faithful God also secures His people by His unchanging promise, for He is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that He should repent. Churches fail where the Lord of hosts is not present, but the Lord Himself cannot fail.

God’s presence leads His people as the fiery cloudy pillar led Israel from Egypt. The Spirit’s guidance surpasses human rules, cherished systems, and the power of a few influential men. The Lord also gives strength like that of the buffalo, not a tame strength that may be yoked to every human plow, but an unconquerable energy for His own work. The same presence baffles enchantment, preserves truth amid novelty and doubt, and causes even enemies to ask, “What hath God wrought?”

The shout of a king rises where Christ is known to be in the camp. The church then receives her Leader with loyal love, enters conflict with courage, and turns her destructive power against sin, error, slavery, drunkenness, and every system of iniquity. God’s presence brings holy awe, fervent prayer, sweet ordinances, joyful labor, patient suffering, brotherly love, and successful effort.

The church preserves this blessed presence by being built upon Christ’s own scriptural plan, filled with living and regenerated souls, and sustained by faith. Prayer is the breath of faith and the lungs of the church; when prayer declines, weakness and spiritual consumption follow. Holiness keeps out Balaam’s deadly counsel, while practical consecration gives body, soul, substance, time, and life itself wholly to Christ.

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Key Takeaways

1. God guards unaware and threatened people. God watched Balak and Balaam while Israel slept in the valley below. Hidden enemies, unseen schemes, and spiritual malice never escape the eyes of the Keeper of Israel. The church’s confidence rests not in discovering every danger, but in the Lord who neither slumbers nor sleeps. [03:24]
2. God’s presence is the church’s necessity. Human brilliance, fine buildings, stirring music, and eloquent speech cannot make a living church. The Lord’s active nearness brings reverence, peace, conviction, and salvation. A gathering without Him may retain a name, but it has lost its life and power. [15:16]
3. Faith and prayer welcome the King. Faith treats God’s promises as present facts rather than distant religious language. Prayer gives faith breath, strength, and continued exercise before God. A church that neglects prayer cuts its own sinews and soon learns its helplessness. [45:34]
4. Holiness refuses Balaam’s subtle counsel. Balaam could not curse Israel directly, so he sought to corrupt Israel inwardly through idolatry and lust. Sin grieves the holy God and weakens the people who tolerate it in their midst. Real holiness is humble, upright, pure, and never loud in its own praise. [48:04]
5. Consecration makes room for divine glory. God does not remain as a guest in a house that belongs to another master. Wholehearted surrender of talent, substance, time, body, soul, and spirit marks a people set apart for Christ. Where such consecration lives, the shout of the King is heard and heaven begins to shine below.

## [50:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - Balaam’s Blessing Upon Israel
[01:28] - The Best War Cry
[01:46] - Balak’s Secret Conspiracy
[03:24] - Jehovah Shammah, the Lord Is There
[06:37] - God’s Presence With His People
[11:42] - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the Church
[15:16] - The One Necessary Thing
[17:44] - The Faithful and Unchanging God
[21:35] - The Results of God’s Presence
[24:44] - Strength Like a Buffalo
[26:53] - No Enchantment Against Jacob
[30:23] - What Hath God Wrought?
[38:17] - The Shout of a King
[42:28] - Preserving God’s Presence
[45:34] - Faith, Prayer, Holiness, Consecration

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Numbers 23:21
“He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob, nor has he seen trouble in Israel. The LORD their God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them.” [01:28]

Numbers 23:19
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” [00:48]

Numbers 23:23
“For there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel; now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What has God wrought!’” [26:53]

Exodus 3:12
“He said, ‘But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.’” [13:24]

Observation questions

In Numbers 23:19–21, what reasons are given for Israel’s security and blessing, even while Balak and Balaam are seeking to harm them? [17:51]
What was Israel doing in the valley while Balaam and Balak were preparing their plans on Pisgah, and who was watching over the situation? [02:54]
What differences are described between God’s presence everywhere and His special covenant presence among His people? [07:45]
What fruits are named as signs of God’s active presence among a church, especially in prayer, worship, love, courage, and service? [35:42]

Interpretation questions

Numbers 23:21 says, “The LORD their God is with them.” How does this explain why Israel did not need to know every enemy plan before God could protect them? [03:14]
Numbers 23:19 presents God as utterly faithful to His word. How should a church respond when circumstances make God’s promises seem slow, difficult, or unlikely? [18:23]
Numbers 23:23 says that people would ask, “What has God wrought!” Why is it important that the attention falls on what God has done rather than on what His people have accomplished? [31:18]
Balaam could not curse Israel openly, so he later sought to lead them into sin. Why can inward compromise be more dangerous to God’s people than outward opposition? [48:04]

Application questions

Are there hidden fears, conflicts, or pressures in your life that you have been trying to manage by yourself? How does the truth that the Lord watches over dangers you cannot see change the way you face them? [03:24]
God’s presence is worth more than impressive buildings, polished music, strong personalities, or religious activity. What would it look like for you to seek God Himself—not merely a helpful or inspiring church experience—when you gather with God’s people? [13:47]
God does not lie or change His mind as people do. Which particular promise of God do you need to take hold of in faith this week, and what practical step would show that you trust Him? [18:31]
Prayer is described as the breath of faith and the lungs of the church. What patterns have weakened your private, family, or gathered prayer, and what small change could help prayer become more regular and earnest? [46:40]
Balaam’s counsel worked by drawing Israel toward idolatry and sexual sin. Where are you most tempted to excuse compromise—through dishonesty, greed, drunkenness, impurity, worldliness, pride, or some other sin—and what help do you need to pursue real holiness? [48:57]
Real holiness is humble and does not advertise itself. How can you pursue a life that is upright, truthful, pure, and devoted to Christ without becoming self-righteous or critical of others? [49:43]
Christ calls His people to practical consecration of body, soul, time, abilities, and possessions. What part of your life feels least surrendered to Him at present, and what might wholehearted belonging to Christ look like there? [50:32]

Sermon Clips

For that same God who was in the midst of the church in the wilderness is in the church in these last days. Again shall her adversaries be defeated. Still will he defend her. For the Lord has built his church upon a rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against her. [00:06:03]

God never leads his people wrongly. It is for them to follow the fiery cloudy pillar, though it lead them through the sea. They shall traverse it dry-shod. Though it lead them through a desert, they shall be fed. Though it bring them into a thirsty land, they shall drink to the full of water from the rock. [00:24:11]

Balaam perceived that the God who is in the midst of his people is not a changeable God, not a false God, not one who promises and forgets, or promises and eats his words, or promises what he cannot and will not perform. The God of Israel is faithful and true, immutable, unchanging. [00:18:05]

When the Lord is with a church, her power is not in numbers. Though very speedily she will increase. Her power is not wealth, though God will take care that the money comes when it is needed. Her power lies in God, and that power becomes irresistible, untamable, unconquerable. [00:25:29]

God's presence in the midst of his people is as a wall of fire round about them and a glory in their midst. The Lord is their light and their salvation. Whom shall they fear? [00:04:00]

There lay the tribes in the valley unaware that mischief was brewing and quite unable to meet the dark design even if they had been aware of it. What a mercy it was for them that they were guarded by a watcher and a holy one whose eyes can never slumber. [00:03:04]

This is the one necessary of the church. The Lord God must be in the midst of her, or she is nothing. If God be there, peace will be within her walls, and prosperity within her palaces. [00:15:11]

Be ye holy as Christ is holy. Do not take up with this German silver electrotype holiness, which is so much boasted of nowadays. Do not be deluded into self-righteousness, but seek after real holiness. And if you do find it, you will never boast about it. [00:49:31]

But to my mind, there is no worship like that which proceeds from a man when he feels the Lord is here. What a hush comes over the soul. Here is the place for the bated breath, the unsandaled foot, and the prostrate spirit. Now are we on holy ground. [00:13:47]

Faith creates an atmosphere in which the spirit of God can work. Meanwhile, the spirit of God himself creates that faith, so that it is all of his own working from first to last. [00:45:51]

If a church will keep to truth keep to God and to its own work it can live like a lamb in the midst of wolves without being torn in pieces. Have God with you and not only the evil of doctrinal error but every other shall be kept far from you. [00:28:18]

That spirit once outpoured at Pentecost has never been withdrawn. He is still in the midst of this dispensation, working, guiding, quickening, comforting, exercising all the blessed office of the Paraclete, and being for us and in us God's advocate, pleading for the truth and for us. [00:11:13]

He is near to us, supplying our needs, guiding our steps, helping us in time, and tutoring us for eternity. God is where his children are, hearing every groan of their sorrow, marking every tear of their distress. [00:08:53]

I am always afraid of having human rules in a church and equally fearful of being governed by human precedents. I am afraid of power being vested in one or two or 20 men. The power must be in the Lord himself. [00:22:19]

This is much more than God's being about us. It includes the favor of God towards us, his consideration of us, his working with us. An active nearness to bless in the presence of which we speak. [00:08:19]

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