Psalm 27:2-3
This well known Psalm is one of the finest examples of spiritual warfare ever recorded. David is in trouble. We don't know exactly what was happening although there are a few theories. Most scholars believe that it was written while David was organizing his defense to the army that was trying to kill him. That army was led by David's own son, Absalom. Now, I've been scared before, but to have my son so badly want me dead that he organized an army to do it is something that I can not fathom.
I suppose realistically, that's something that many of us will never go through. We have other armies and other enemies and other Absalom's here today though. Addiction, bankruptcy, collection agencies, disease, economic instability, false prophets, greed....... you may finish the alphabet if you like but you get the point. Recognizing that those things exist and ARE NOT FROM God is the first step in warfare. If you don't know who your Friends and foes are then your battle is doomed before you start.
None of those sound like fun but can we agree that they may not be as bad as having your son and his army trying to kill you? Can we agree that tactics David use in his worse situation may be beneficial in our not-quite-as-bad-but-still-not-fun times? If so, then lets look at exactly what Davids model can show us.
Right from the start, in verse 1, David says that the Lord is his light and salvation, his life's fortress or stronghold. And with those facts, "who is there to fear... who is there to be afraid of?" The second verse states historical fact. "When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell." Sometimes, when faced with adversity, the best thing to remember is that God has worked in our lives in the past. It is so easy to forget how powerful and ACTIVE He is in our lives but remembering is a critical tool in battle against the enemy. Isn't that exactly the lesson the prophets and the judges teach us? Or from Deuteronomy 28:2 and 15. "You will experience all these blessings if you obey the LORD your God" and "Obey the LORD your God, and faithfully follow all his commands and laws that I am giving you today. If you don't, all these curses will come to you and stay close to you."
In verse 3 David begins to list some troublesome facts about his current situation. "An army sets up camp against me" and "a war breaks our against me." Notice that he never speaks his fears, and I'm sure they were great. The words that come from him are all facts. Regardless of how bad things might look, or appear or how hopeless a situation might be or how bad it could get, David shows us how to be victorious in Spiritual Warfare and triumphant in Christ.
"My heart will not be afraid...I will still have confidence in the Lord."
I suppose realistically, that's something that many of us will never go through. We have other armies and other enemies and other Absalom's here today though. Addiction, bankruptcy, collection agencies, disease, economic instability, false prophets, greed....... you may finish the alphabet if you like but you get the point. Recognizing that those things exist and ARE NOT FROM God is the first step in warfare. If you don't know who your Friends and foes are then your battle is doomed before you start.
None of those sound like fun but can we agree that they may not be as bad as having your son and his army trying to kill you? Can we agree that tactics David use in his worse situation may be beneficial in our not-quite-as-bad-but-still-not-fun times? If so, then lets look at exactly what Davids model can show us.
Right from the start, in verse 1, David says that the Lord is his light and salvation, his life's fortress or stronghold. And with those facts, "who is there to fear... who is there to be afraid of?" The second verse states historical fact. "When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell." Sometimes, when faced with adversity, the best thing to remember is that God has worked in our lives in the past. It is so easy to forget how powerful and ACTIVE He is in our lives but remembering is a critical tool in battle against the enemy. Isn't that exactly the lesson the prophets and the judges teach us? Or from Deuteronomy 28:2 and 15. "You will experience all these blessings if you obey the LORD your God" and "Obey the LORD your God, and faithfully follow all his commands and laws that I am giving you today. If you don't, all these curses will come to you and stay close to you."
In verse 3 David begins to list some troublesome facts about his current situation. "An army sets up camp against me" and "a war breaks our against me." Notice that he never speaks his fears, and I'm sure they were great. The words that come from him are all facts. Regardless of how bad things might look, or appear or how hopeless a situation might be or how bad it could get, David shows us how to be victorious in Spiritual Warfare and triumphant in Christ.
"My heart will not be afraid...I will still have confidence in the Lord."