“He delivers me from my enemies; Surely You lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O LORD, And I will sing praises to Your name.” (Psalm 18:48-49 NAS)
The 21st century Christian’s “enemies” are quite different from those plotting against Israel’s King David. His were flesh and blood humans who intended to destroy his influence and authority, kill him, and steal his kingdom.
Generally, we do not “struggle against flesh and blood” enemies. Instead, we “struggle . . . against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). While our enemy may work through human beings, those human beings are not our enemies. Yet, we still need deliverance from the rulers, from the powers, and from the spiritual forces of wickedness.
Just as God alone could deliver Israel and King David, so also He alone can deliver us from our enemy. And because He does, like David, we give thanks to him and sing his praise! Thank God, he delivers us from the rulers of evil. Thank God, he delivers us from the powers of evil. Thank God, he delivers us from the spiritual forces of evil that would destroy our lives, kill us and our influence, and rob us of our victory. Our God is great and greatly to be praised! Sing with me, how great is our God!
He lifts us above the enemy’s ability to defeat us. He rescues us from every temptation and obstacle that the enemy designs for us. While we may suffer in this life, we are “convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39). It is God through Christ that gives us this victory.
So then, everyday and especially during this Thanksgiving season “(We) will give thanks to You among the nations, O LORD, And (we) will sing praises to Your name.”
Dear Father, thank you for Jesus Christ our Rescuer — our Deliverer. Empower us with the spiritual fortitude and faith to trust your rescue from every enemy. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today as you sing God’s praises,