PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Psalm 18
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing love to his anointed.” (Psalm 18:50)
This is a song of extremes: God rescues David by shaking up the whole earth (vv.7-15)
David is helped because he is innocent, guiltless (vv.20-24)
David totally smashes his enemies into dust (vv.37-45)
This is the jubilation at the END of a time of serious conflict.
David’s actual life was not so black and white, God did not always show up in power.
We experience the same; God does not always show up, and we are not always blameless.
Sometimes everything looks wonderful; at other times everything is falling apart.
But we can look at life and history from a different vantage point… the cross!
Jesus entered and experienced our extremes – joy and sorrow – and overcame!
It may not look like it now, but God IS at work in extreme ways to help us.
Though we may not feel it, God sees us as innocent in Christ.
Though it may not be happening yet, God will soon crush Satan under our feet.
God gave Jesus a great triumph, and he will do the same for his us.
God has anointed us in Christ, he will show his unfailing love to us!
PRAYER
Lord, remind me of this heavenly perspective on my own life, and the world. You are the expression of God’s extreme love, and my assurance that I will be victorious in you!
I can’t make the claim that David does in this Psalm: “I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.” Not of my own will – for I falter. I try to be blameless in all that I do – yet my thoughts may betray me. Yet through Jesus the righteous one – I may also be made righteous – and when the victory over sin is finally won and Jesus returns and evil is cast aside – I too may walk blameless. In the meantime, I must be in the ‘fray’ – like David – who was a fugitive from Saul and from his own son. He was not blameless but he knew where his forgiveness resides – he knew when he sinned that he sinned against the Lord. Lord help me walk each day with you!
1 The Lord I will at all times bless,
My mouth His praises shall express;
In Him shall all my boasting be,
While all the meek rejoice with me.
2 O magnify the Lord with me,
Let us to praise His name agree;
I sought the Lord, He answered me,
And from my fears He set me free.
3 Who look to Him shall walk in light,
With joy their faces shall be bright.
Distressed, they cried; the Lord arose
And saved them out of all their woes.
4 Around His saints as watch and ward
Encamps the angel of the Lord;
That God is good, O taste and see,
Who trusts in Him shall blessed be.