God springs into action.
His enemies scatter;
his adversaries run from him.
As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away.
As wax melts before fire,
so the wicked are destroyed before God.
But the godly are happy;
they rejoice before God
and are overcome with joy.
🔹🔹🔹🔹
Psalms 68:1-3, NET
The Goliath you’re facing day in and day out, the one that’s been harassing and intimidating you, rattling your cage and kicking sand in your face? That devil is still ‘God’s devil.’ (Martin Luther)
To the army of Israel, Goliath looked huge from a far distance, but David discovered that he was just a scalp on his belt up close. Even the champion’s arsenal fit quite nicely on David’s mantle.
Psalm 68 is a victory psalm. It’s ten stanzas of battle hymns and rah-rah emotion. The writer, presumed to be David, is electrified by God’s feats on the field of battle. He recalls how the ark once went out with the armies of Israel and every time the enemy was soundly defeated. Now he’s bringing the ark home.
The Bible tells us God is our rear guard. A soldier might say he has our “six.” He goes before us. He covers us. Beneath are his everlasting arms holding us up. Everywhere you look God is … there.
he fights for you
Maybe the devil is having his way in your life. It seems so. The preponderance of evidence says so. But take heart, believer; your Lord, the God of the angel armies, is orchestrating his doom.
My young godson, Maddox, wants to know if the devil is stronger than we are. With all the principalities and powers and rulers of darkness at his disposal, we are not a match for him in ourselves. But he’s not greater and stronger than our God. When we trust the God of heaven, and take our strength from him, the devil is no match for us!
You are the apple of God’s eye (Deut 32:9-10; Psa 17:8), a stone on his breastplate; your name is engraved on his palm (Isa 49:16). As a benefactor of the blessing of Abraham, the Lord God Almighty is your shield and reward.
Early in our ministry I did a lot of singing. A few of you know that Sandy and I recorded three albums of music and I wrote a few of the songs. One of them, Encourage Yourself in the Lord, is based on 1 Sam 30:6. Years ago I was blessed to share it in a conference where Joni Earekson Tada was speaking.
He fights for you
He lifts up the fallen
And he cares for you
He meets all your needs
He wants you to rest in his promises
And yearns for you
To trust and obey
So encourage yourself in the Lord, my friend
Encourage yourself in the Lord!
There’s a whole story about how the sound guy didn’t cue the accompaniment track correctly and started it in the middle of the song. I was completely lost, humiliated, and ready to stone the sound guy. But I digress.
The point is God fights for you when things happening to you are out of your control. The devil will have his “Pyrrhic” victories here and there; that’s not in dispute. The truth of it is better than the shame of it. God is working even your defeats into triumphs and your failures into glories.
if the devil’s been defeated, why am I getting beat up?
Good question, that. Goliath, vanquished forever, is still out here intimidating and spewing curses on the Church. He’s defeated, yes, but still he roars.
What he cannot do is unsave you. He can lie to you but he can’t lie to Jesus. He can’t separate you from the love of God. He can boast but he can’t back it up. He can beat you today but he can’t defeat you ultimately. He isn’t more powerful than the God who is in you.
He’s been de-fanged and de-clawed. Neutered. The Christ of the Cross has crushed his head. Whatever you’re facing, God stands between you and it. At times it’s difficult to see the Lord when there’s nothing but smoke and blackness of night, but he’s there all right, an imposing pillar of fire. The enemy doesn’t have a snowball’s chance with God on your side.
The devil is still God’s devil. You think he’s running amuck in your life when he’s really on a leash held by Christ. He can’t do a thing to you without the Almighty’s permission. The enemy intends evil, but your Savior Lord intends good.
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Romans 16:20, CEB
The God of the angel armies rides on the clouds. Jesus walks on the waves, the Spirit follows with resurrection power. Believe me, nothing can overcome you. You are safe. But not only safe; in Christ, you are victorious. God’s plan is for you to be overcome…with joy.
I pray you are overcome today.
Selah, beloved.
I so needed this to still my heart and mind right now. Thank you, Scott.
I’m grateful for your reading it, Cindy. May God continue to use these promises to encourage us both. It’s a fight. Lord, have the victory!
Do you want to ask why does satan seem to have such a long leash?
Praise God it’s a retractable leash!
Counting the days until we get to see you guys. Praying today that the LORD gives you just a glimpse of the angels battling on your behalf and a little taste of the victory ahead. We know the truth… and we hold on tenaciously… but sometimes just a little glimpse really helps.
Seeing y’all again and being with you was all and more than we hoped…and needed. Thank you for the season of prayer over us. Our Lord’s mercies are an inviting stream through you both and we will never forget how blessed we are to be in your company.
Amen!! So thankful God holds everything in His hands and He gives us the victory over Satan and his lies. A verse that just shouts of His resurrection power is Acts 2:24: ” God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. ” Hallelujah!!!
I’m thankful for that too, dear friend! “It was not possible” brings assurance is worthy of a thunderous ovation for all eternity…which we will gratefully participate in!
Good to hear from you, Scott. I look forward to reading more!
I’m very grateful to meet you here, Mitch. You and your writing encourage me so!