Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

The dramatic rescue now empowers David for the struggles ahead. It’s as if God relit his candle, he is encouraged to fight the Lord’s battles! As Jesus is the light of the world, David was the light of Is- rael; in his old age “ …David’s men declared, ‘You (David) are not going out to battle again! Why should we risk snuffing out the light of Israel? (2 Sam. 21:17)

“As for God, his way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. For who is God except the Lord! Who but our God is a solid rock! (30,31)

His way is PERFECT , his PROMISES are true, he is a shield of PROTECTION in spiritual battle, and he is PRE-EMINENT among gods and POWERFULLY strong! After declaring what God is to him, David reminds us of what God does: • God arms me with strength; • He has made my way safe. • He makes me as surefooted as a deer, leading me safely along the mountain heights. • He prepares me for battle; • He strengthens me to draw a bow of bronze. The bronze bow was much stronger and more dif- ficult to shoot than the wooden bow. • You have given me the shield of your salvation. • Your right hand supports me; • Your gentleness has made me great. A necessity for spiritual warfare, Paul tells us: “The Lord’s servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone…They should gently teach those who oppose the truth.” (2 Tim. 2:24,25) Gentleness is a mighty spiritual weapon! • You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.”(32-36) After being equipped by all the great things above, David pursues and engages the battle: • “ I chased my enemies and caught them; • I did not stop until they were conquered. • I struck them down so they could not get up; they fell beneath my feet. • (Further equipping by God) You have armed with strength for the battle; God gives fresh strength in the middle of the battle. • You have subdued my enemies under my feet. • You made them turn and run; I have destroyed all who hated me. They called for help, but no one came to rescue them. They cried to the Lord but he refused to answer them.” • I ground them as fine as dust carried by the wind. • I swept them into the gutter like dirt.” (37-42) While we draw principles from these natural descriptions of ancient combat we remember that our warfare is of an entirely different nature. First of all it is a battle of philosophies and ideas: “ We are human, but we don’t wage war with human plans and methods. We use God’s mighty weapons…to knock down the Devil’s strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ.”(2 Cor. 10:3-5) Secondly it is a battle against invisible spirits, the heavenly princi- palities: “ For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.”(Eph. 6:12) Prayer that is fueled by worship and praise is like an atomic weapon, a laser beam of power helping to destroy the weapons of the enemy.

III THE NATIONS PRAISE - 43-50

“ You gave me victory over my accusers. You appointed me as the RULER OF NATIONS; people I don’t even know now serve me. As soon as they hear of me, they submit; foreigners cringe before me. They all lose their courage and come trembling from their strongholds. The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted! He is the God who pays back those who harm me; he SUBDUES THE NATIONS under me and rescues me from my enemies. You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; you save me from violent opponents. (43-48)

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