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(Magnificent Defeat, by Anne Hooser, is based on a song by Wes King by the same title. The most magnificent of all defeats in history is when Jesus died on the cross. Ostensibly defeated by his enemies, he gained the world's greatest triumph of all time.)

Magnificent Defeat

Anne Hooser

Napoleon fought at Waterloo. He is remembered for his defeat there.

Was it a magnificent defeat?

Custer's last stand took place at Little Big Horn. He was defeated there.

Was it a magnificent defeat?

The answer to both these questions is: No.

But, this raises another question: Is there such a thing as a magnificent defeat?

The answer to that question is: Yes.

Let me give a couple of examples.

David.

David was a shepherd boy. He was an unexpected warrior. He was king of Israel. He was a man after God's own heart. He was a sinner.

To some, the magnificent defeat that took place in David's life began when he defeated Goliath or maybe, when Satan defeated David's love for God with his desire for Bathsheba, or maybe it didn't become a magnificent defeat until David murdered her husband, Uriah.

I believe that the magnificent defeat that took place in David's life came when Nathan came to him and confronted him with his sins, and David was defeated by God's merciful love.

That was a magnificent defeat.

Jesus.

He was a timely born child. He was a wise young man. He was a compassionate friend. He was the Savior of the world.

There are several times in his life that he was the conqueror in the battle, and I can think of only one time that he was conquered - and it was magnificent!

He was in the garden of Gethsemane, praying fervently that God's will would be the same as his own will. He had no desire to die the death he died.

He was defeated there when he put aside his own will and took up God's will.

That is a magnificent defeat.

You.

When you finally let go of doing it your way. When you decided that God's way was the way. When you finally laid down at the feet of Jesus, broken in pieces, and begged him to put you back together.

And now I long for the solace of my soul.

I have wandered from pole to pole.

Here I lie,

Broken at Your feet

Rejoicing

At this magnificent defeat.

[From "Magnificent Defeat" by - Wes King

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