Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

Both Delitzsch and Boice believe this psalm was composed to celebrate Hezekiah and Isaiah’s victory over the Assyrian king Sennacherib. Their prayers caused the defeat of the arrogant king and the breaking of his weapons of war. Whether this is the actual occasion of the psalm or it was written ear- lier during David’s lifetime it illustrates the principle of spiritual warfare: “we don’t wage war with human plans and methods. We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons to knock down the Devil’s strongholds.”(2 Cor. 10:4) It is ‘there’ in the place of prayer, worship, praise and prophecy that God breaks the weapons of his foes. There is a Lion on Mount Zion! “You are glorious and more majestic than the everlasting mountains. The mightiest of our enemies have been plundered. They lie before us in the sleep of death. No warrior could lift a hand against us. (4,5) The NIV translates verse 4 to read; “you are more majestic than mountains rich with game…” Spur- geon understands this passage to mean: ‘they (the arrogant enemy) think themselves firmly fixed like mountains but are really open game 2 …’ God towers over his enemies and hunts them down like game animals. The strongest spiritual enemy we face is destined for the sleep of death and the hand that is proudly lifted against us now will soon be silenced as we worship and pray on ‘Mount Zion’. The next verses describe what happens when the Lord ‘stands up’ on behalf of his people: • The enemy stands still- “When you rebuked them, O God of Jacob, their horses and chariots stood still.” (6) The King of Assyria had invaded the land of Judah with a vast army and many horses: “You (the king of Assyria) have said, ‘ With my many chariots I have conquered the highest mountains– “ (2 Kgs. 19:23) • The enemy stands back- “No wonder you are greatly feared! Who can stand before you when your anger explodes? (7) The Lord spoke against the Assyrian king through his faithful prophet Isaiah: “I will put my hook in your nose and my bridle in your mouth.” (2 Kgs. 19:28) • The enemy stands silent- “From heaven you sentenced your enemies; the earth trembled and stood silent before you.” (8) This might be in reference to the heavenly judgment enacted upon Assyria by the angel of the Lord: “That night the angel of the Lord went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian troops.” (2 Kgs. 19:35) • God stands up! – “You stand up to judge those who do evil, O God, and to rescue the oppressed of the earth. Interlude” (9) God stood up to Judah’s enemies and delivered his beloved city of Jerusalem: “And this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria; His armies will not enter Jerusalem to shoot their arrows.”(2 Kgs. 19:32) Because the meaning of the ancient Hebrew words is not clearly understood, verse 10 cannot be translated with total accuracy. The NIV translation reads: • “Surely your wrath against men brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained. “ (NIV) • “Human opposition only enhances your glory, for you use it as a sword of judgment.” (NLT) The defiant speech of Sennacherib and his humiliating defeat only amplifies the greatness of the Lord. The Lord further prophesies through Isaiah: “Whom do you think you have been insulting and ridi- culing? Against whom did you raise your voice? At whom did you look in such proud condescension? It was the Holy One of Israel!” (2 Kgs. 19:22) In the end, the angry words of the wicked bring glory to God. II SILENT BEFORE YOU - 4-9 III SWORD OF JUDGMENT - 10-12

“Make vows to the Lord your God, and fulfill them. Let everyone bring tribute to the Awesome One. For he breaks the spirit of princes and is feared by the kings of the earth.” (11,12)

Sennacherib had demanded that Hezekiah pay him tribute and make vows to be subject to him. God intervened and reminded his nation that he is the only one worthy of vows and tribute; our words and our resources are under his Lordship alone. In verse 3 he broke the “arrows of the enemy, the shields and swords and weapons of his foes.” In this verse God reaches into the evil hearts and “breaks the spirit of princes’ . Sennacherib, the wicked prince of Assyria was crushed in his spirit when he saw

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