God is the real Warrior

 

Psalm 18:37-50

 

December 31, 2021

 

 

I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed.  I thrust them through so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet.   For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.  You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me I destroyed.  They cried for help, but there was none to save; they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.  I beat them fine as dust before the wind;  I cast them out like the mire of the streets.  

 

You delivered me from strife with the people; you made me the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me.  As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me; foreigners came cringing to me.  Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses. The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation—the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me, who rescued me from my enemies;  yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from the man of violence.  For this, I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,  and sing to your name.  Great salvation he brings to his king and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.

 

As you read the first six verses you might misunderstand, for it comes across as if David believes he did all of this with a rag-tag army of a small number of men compared to the army of King Saul.  No that is not true, but you are hearing the voice of a warrior, talking like a warrior. 

 

But the next 12 verses highlighted in yellow tell the real story of a warrior who knew it was God who was the real Warrior and gave the victory to David.  Tonight, as Jan and I were watching a movie on a woman’s faith, I was overcome with all that God has done for a couple of kids that had no vision, no goals, and few dreams.  How He blessed a mess like me and first with Jan, and Natalie our daughter, with a son-in-law who loves God and two grandsons.  After being at a little Baptist Church where most of the time you were getting hellfire and damnation sermons, at 27 in a hotel room in Victoria, Texas I open a Bible and read from Romans 10:9-10, And it was at that moment, I understood that God was speaking to a Rascal like me, and asking me to seek His forgiveness and ask Him to take over and be my God and He did.   Romans 10:9-10, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

 

My first mentor was Jack Archer, and Jack was used by God to teach me a wonderful truth, God loves me!  I had no doubt He loved you, but I knew how often I messed up and it was hard for me to believe God who knew me really could love me.  I hope you understand that God loves you, and trust Him to take​ over the management of your life.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

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