July
10, 2002
Reading
“I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who
have set themselves against me all around” (6)
David wrote this Psalm at the time Absalom, his son, set out with an army to kill him and usurp his throne. The enemy facing David appeared to be overwhelming, “LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me” (1).
There are times in every believer’s life when the
power of the enemy seems to overwhelm us. There may be many things or there may
be just a few. The devil seeks to discourage us by saying, “There is no help
for him in God” (2). How many times do we listen to that lie? That is Satan’s
favorite lie. “God cannot help you. If God was real, do you really think He
would allow this to happen?” Satan is a liar! Jesus calls the devil a liar and
says he is the “father of lies” (John
Note the wonderful progress of David’s experience in this Psalm.
1. Recognition of the enemy and the overwhelming opposition (1).
2. The lie of Satan that God cannot help (2).
3. David’s confidence in God. “Thou art my shield” (3).
The shield is that piece of armor that protects the soldier from the arrows of the enemy. David knew God in such a way.
4. David cried to the Lord and He heard him (4).
This is the privilege of every believer, to call on the name of the Lord.
This is where victories are won or lost. If we call on Him we will know victory, if we keep our eyes on the enemy, we will believe his lies and go down in defeat.
5. Once David committed everything to the Lord he was able to sleep (5).
When we face a particular battle and take it to the Lord, we should have the confidence that He will take care of it. Commit it to Him and rest.
6. When David woke up the next morning, lo and behold, he was still alive and his enemies had not killed him! God can be trusted to do everything He has promised. In this truth we can relax.
7. David was encouraged and had confidence in God (6). He didn’t care how many enemies he had.
8. David knew that God had already won the victory (7). Christian, believe it! Jesus Christ has already won our victory. When He died on Calvary He defeated the devil and it’s just a matter of time before he and his cronies are cast for eternity into the bottomless pit.
“But thanks be to
God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. (1 John 5:4).
9. David acknowledges that his salvation from his enemies is in the Lord and that that God blesses His people (9).
This is indeed the very basis for our praise to God. Salvation belongs to the Lord. We are told to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise” (Psalm 100.4). Praise God that the victory Christ won on the Cross is ours by faith.