Psalm 18:7-20
December 29, 2021
Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked because he was angry. Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water. Out of the brightness before him, hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds. The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones, and coals of fire. And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightning and routed them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
Do you get caught up in the poetic language of the Psalm, such as, “Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked because he was angry. Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. “ David has been a witness since his youth of God interceding for him. He is well aware that God has heard his prayer and that Saul and his army are not engaging David but the Lord.
David unlike many who go by the name Christian did not allow the men who were in his band of warriors to control his actions, when king Saul came into the cave to relieve himself, David refused to be swayed by these men, and would not harm Saul, for David said he is the Lord’s anointed. Who are your strong enemies, the Scriptures are very clear, the main one is you, yes your desire to do battle is not against people, but often it seems that way, and often that is where we waste our time. But Ephesian 6;12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Have you heard the term, “I’ve seen the enemy and it is me?” When we came into Christ and He came into us an amazing thing happened, the old man died, he desired his will. My friend Bob would often say “I have this dead chicken around my neck that is called flesh and it often smells. The Bible tells us we wrestle with the flesh, in fact, it is the flesh that is at war with the spirit. You will find that in, Galatians 5:17-25, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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