David was victorious as a young shepherd boy. Then things got a bit difficult for him. He would not be considered politically correct in the culture of our day. He was very frank in identifying his enemies and for asking God for punishment to fit the crime. Often we don’t want to step on toes and make anyone feel bad by telling the truth in a matter. Not so with the mighty David. He was endlessly chased by enemies. He hid in cold, dark caves struggling to stay alive and he cried out to God to help him.
Arise, O Lord! It seems David thought God was sleeping in the middle of his crisis and needed to be called awake. Come, help me now not later. He had a specific request. “Slap all my enemies on the face.”(NLT) “Strike my enemies on the jaw.” (NIV) I note that the King James Version states this scripture as though God has already “smitten all my enemies upon the cheekbone.”
David addresses the teeth of his enemy. Shatter (NLT), break (NIV) and thou has broken (KJV). Pretty clear in any version that the demise of the teeth will render the enemy unable to cause pain. A mad animal without teeth can do little harm. All bark and no bite.
Finally, David acknowledges whose victory it is and where the blessings come from. He gives up the struggle of trying to rouse God from sleep and hands his Lord the reins to his situation.
Thought For Today:
Have you ever had an enemy like this? One who is ferocious and desires to devour you? That is what was chasing David. There comes a time when we acknowledge that God is the only one who can deliver us from that kind of enemy. That kind of fear. Perhaps, that kind of anger.
David surely felt pressed upon and cornered. He cried out to God to rescue him! He was at the end of the rope, hanging out in caves and running. Have you ever been chased like that? Maybe not literally chased but met up with someone who does not know the truth and for whom all trust is gone as far as your safety and peace goes? Someone who has come against you for no reason other than you are you? You may have not been the direct target but you get caught in the web?
David was a hero! He killed Goliath. Now he does not lack enemies. David calls out for their faces to be slapped and their teeth shattered. He most surely felt as though he was being chased by wild animals who could rip him to pieces as a wolf after prey. David asked God to disarm these wild ones chasing after him. No teeth, no damage? I suppose we would call that disarmament in the day we are living.
He suddenly calms and acknowledges who is in charge. O Lord, victory comes from you. He asks for God to bless His people. Haven’t we all had something similar happen to us? It can bring chaos and lost peace dealing with those who desire to hurt or break us. But take heart believers. God reminds us that our battles are His. He needs us to put on our armor and stand ready for the moment when He moves. He will move. Be prepared. He may use our life, our stance, our mouth and our heart to speak to our enemies.
David would never be confused with the politically correct segments of our present culture. He was a warrior with a heart for God. He knew the enemy. He cried out to God. He called to God for justice. He knew where victory and blessings would come from. Most importantly, David knew that God had a heart for him. There is safety on the battlefields of life when we know who our leader is. When we know He has a heart for us. The One who wants us to be victorious…protects and blesses us.
Scripture For Today:
Psalm 3:7-8
7 Arise, O Lord! Rescue me, my God! Slap all my enemies in the face! Shatter the teeth of the wicked! 8 Victory comes from you, O Lord. May you bless your people. (NLT)
Prayer For Today:
Hello Father! The world is full of enemies. We are not always sure where they are but You do not slumber or sleep. You know who, what and where. You know the lies and the plotting of evil that come near Your children. Father, we pray that we honor You by not being found guilty of the very things we fear may be done to harm us. Stay close to us and enable us to stand and deliver Your will in all situations that come. Forgive us of our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
© 2015 Kathy Ledbetter all rights reserved