CHOOSING YOUR BATTLES
Lessons are to be learned reading history, nature, and from scripture.
In reading about the little-known slave revolt of 1811 in Louisiana, along the Mississippi River's rich German Coast, north of New Orleans, led by Charles Deslondes, I read that the 200 slaves, though armed with muskets, were cut down in open fields in piles of corpses, when they were surprised by a flanking maneuver by planters.
Being armed is one thing; being accurate is quite another. Planters practiced and were well practiced in the discharge of firearms and in open mounted battle array under coordinated military leadership. Slaves obviously were not in either!
Choosing one's ground to do battle is an important part of preparation for battle; choosing the place of battle may be the most important part of preparations. That means intelligence gathering is another important thing to have in advance.
The battleground might be on water instead of land or on both; it might be in a house, a school or a church. War is more than a battle.
David rejected the weapons of Saul in favor of those that he knew, and ones he had practiced, and he had proven by killing a bear and a lion.
There is a lesson in here to discern. It may be decided that it is better to forego battle altogether, in favor of more profitable means of redress, like massive nonviolent protests led by lawyers, minister-philosophers .