"Strivings"
“Strivings”
Blessings Folk!!
Pray today for…
- Berta, medical procedure
- Lynn, recovering from surgery, infection
We are drawing to the end of our brief examination of David’s song of praise found in 2 Samuel 22/Psalm 18.
Yesterday we saw that David thanked the Lord for victory over enemies.
Read this verse.
Who is the “thorn in David’s flesh”?
2 Samuel
44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.
The Lord had delivered David from his enemies.
The Lord had also delivered David from the “strivings of my people.”
David was attacked from without by the enemy.
David dealt with strivings from within from his own people.
So it is with us.
Often the greatest source of stress, distraction, etc. comes from our “own people.”
This should not be, especially within the Body of Christ.
Believers are told to love, be forbearing, encourage, exhort.
David then tells us that the Lord has exalted him as head over heathen people.
People who he “knew not” served him.
2 Samuel
45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.
47 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
48 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me.
49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
This is what we must know.
It is God that avengeth us.
It is God that brings us forth from our enemies.
It is God that delivers us from the violent.
Throughout this song David proclaims that all that has occurred is by the hand of God.
Let us live in like manner.
Blessings!!
"The Enemy"
“The Enemy”
Blessings Folk!!
The Lord had done/was doing great things in and through David.
Read the previous postings to see…
David especially rejoiced over the fact that the Lord gave him victory over his enemies.
Hear the Word of praise unto the Lord…
2 Samuel 22
38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.
39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.
40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
42 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.
The Lord strengthened David for battle.
The Lord subdued the enemy under the feet of David.
Look what David did to the enemy…
- pursued
- destroyed
- consumed
- wounded
- destroyed
- beat them as small as the dust of the earth
- stamped them as mire in the street
- spread them abroad
The enemy even sought the Lord to save them, but He answered them not.
What does this say to us?
The Lord is victorious over our enemy, especially the Prince of Darkness and his minions.
Therefore, we are to respond as David did...we will see that later.
We are to trust the Lord for our defense.
Yes, we are to be obedient in that which the Lord leads.
We must not forget that our strength and victory is in the Lord alone.
Who were the enemy?
Obviously those who were not of Israel, but, the enemy was not limited to that…”they looked...even unto the Lord”...more on this later.
As for today, stand in the strength of the Lord.
He is Victory!
Blessings!!
"He Who"
“He Who”
Blessings Folk!
We continue to rejoice in the Lord through the song of David found in 2 Samuel 22/Psalm 18.
David speaks of what the Lord had empowered him to do…
2 Samuel 22
30 "For by You I can run upon a troop;
By my God I can leap over a wall.
The Lord was the source of victory that David had over his enemies.
The Lord enabled David to run upon and over the enemy.
The Lord released physical vigor to defeat the enemy.
Through the Lord, David could leap over a wall...and you through Superman was first?
The Lord does the same for us.
Is the enemy coming against you?
Do you feel as if there is nothing you can do?
The Lord will strengthen.
The Lord will give you victory.
The Lord will set you free.
Ps 118:10-14
10 All nations surrounded me; In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off.
11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me; In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off.
12 They surrounded me like bees; They were extinguished as a fire of thorns; In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off.
13 You pushed me violently so that I was falling, But the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.
NASU
Remember this about the Lord…
2 Samuel 22
31 "As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the LORD is tested;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
32 "For who is God, besides the LORD?
And who is a rock, besides our God?
33 "God is my strong fortress;
And He sets the blameless in His way.
34 "He makes my feet like hinds' feet,
And sets me on my high places.
35 "He trains my hands for battle,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36 "You have also given me the shield of Your salvation,
And Your help makes me great.
37 "You enlarge my steps under me,
And my feet have not slipped.
I always find it useful to list what the Word says.
Stand firm today in these truths…
The Lord is…
- blameless
- tested
- a shield to all who take refuge
- our Rock
- our Strong Fortress
- He Who sets the blameless on His way
- He Who makes our feet like hinds’ feet
- He Who set us on high places
- He Who trains our hands for battle
- He Who has given us the shield of His salvation
- He Who makes us great
- He Who enlarges our steps
- He Who does not allow our feet to slip.
Therefore, fear not.
Stand strong and firm in the Lord.
Rom 8:37
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
NASU
Phil 4:13
13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
NASU
Pray for our friend Steve…
Also, for the Johnston family in the homegoing of their father, Glenn.