II Samuel 22
David composed a song of victory verse 1
And David spoke to the LORD the words of this song
in the day that the LORD had delivered him
out of the hand of all his enemies
and out of the hand of Saul
First Stanza: Description of the LORD verse 2- 4
And he
said
The LORD is my rock – fortress – deliverer
The God of my rock – in HIM will I trust
HE is my shield – and the horn of my salvation
my high tower – my refuge – my savior
YOU save me from violence
I will call on the LORD
WHO is worthy to be praised
so shall I be saved from mine enemies
Second Stanza: Description of his feelings verse 5- 7
When the waves of death compassed me
the floods of ungodly men made me afraid
The sorrows of hell compassed me about
the snares of death prevented me
In my distress I called upon the LORD – and cried to my God
and HE did hear my voice out of HIS temple
and my cry did enter into HIS ears
Third Stanza: Description of LORD coming to deliver verse 8- 16
Then the earth shook and trembled
the foundations of heaven moved and shook
because HE was wroth
There went up a smoke out of HIS nostrils
and fire out of HIS mouth devoured
coals were kindled by it
HE bowed the heavens also – and came down
and darkness was under HIS feet
and HE rode upon a cherub – and did fly
and HE was seen upon the wings of the wind
And HE made darkness pavilions round about HIM
dark waters – and thick clouds of the skies
through the brightness before HIM were
coals of fire kindled
The LORD thundered from heaven
and the Most High uttered HIS voice
and HE sent out arrows – and scattered them
lightning – and discomfited them
and the channels of the sea appeared
the foundations of the world were discovered
at the rebuking of the LORD
at the blast of the breath of HIS nostrils
Fourth Stanza: Description of LORD’S rescue verse 17- 25
HE sent from above – HE took me – HE drew me out of many waters
HE delivered me from my strong enemy
and from them that hated me
for they were too strong for me
They prevented me in the day of my calamity
BUT the LORD was my stay
HE brought me forth also into the large place – HE delivered me
BECAUSE HE delighted in me
The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness
according to the cleanness of my hands
has HE recompensed me
for I have kept the ways of the LORD
and have not wickedly departed from my God
for all HIS judgments were before me
and as for HIS statutes
I did not depart from them
I was also upright before HIM
and I have kept myself from mine iniquity
Therefore the LORD has recompensed me
according to my righteousness
according to my cleanness in HIS eyesight
Fifth Stanza: Contrast of treatment of the LORD verse 26- 30
With the merciful YOU will show YOURSELF merciful
with the upright man YOU will show YOURSELF upright
with the pure YOU will show YOURSELF pure
with the forward YOU will show YOURSELF unsavory
and the afflicted people YOU will save
BUT YOUR eyes are on the haughty
that YOU may bring them down
For YOU are my lamp O LORD
and the LORD will lighten my darkness
For by YOU I have run through a troop
by my God have I leaped over a wall
Sixth Stanza: Description of Strength from the LORD verse 31- 37
As for God – HIS way is perfect – the word of the LORD is tried
HE is a buckler to all them that trust in HIM
For WHO is God – save the LORD?
WHO is a rock save our God?
God is my strength and power
and HE makes my way perfect
HE makes my feet like hinds’ feet
and sets me upon my high places
HE teaches my hands to war
so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms
YOU have also given me the shield of YOUR salvation
and YOUR gentleness has made me great
YOU have enlarged my steps under me
so that my feet did not slip
Seventh Stanza: Description of Victory over his enemies verse 38- 43
I have pursued mine enemies – and destroyed them
and turned not again until I had consumed them
and I have consumed them – and wounded them
that they could not arise
yea – they are fallen under my feet
For YOU have girded me with strength to battle
them that rose up against me have YOU subdued under me
YOU have also given me the necks of mine enemies
that I might destroy them that hate me
they looked but there was none to save
even unto the LORD
BUT HE answered them not
Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth
I did stamp them as the mire of the street
and I did spread them abroad
Eighth Stanza: Description of Enemies fear of him verse 44- 46
YOU also have delivered me from the strivings of my people
YOU have kept me to be head of the heathen
a people which I knew not shall serve me
strangers shall submit themselves to me
as soon as they hear
they shall be obedient to me
strangers shall fade away
and they shall be afraid
out of their close places
Ninth Stanza: Description of LORD unfailing love verse 47- 51
The LORD lives and blessed be my rock
and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation
It is God that avenges me – and brings down the people under me
and that brings me forth from mine enemies
YOU also have lifted me up on high above them that
rose up against me
YOU have delivered me from the violent man
THEREFORE, I will give thanks to YOU – O LORD
among the heathen
and I will sing praises unto YOUR name
HE is the tower of salvation for his king
and shows mercy to HIS anointed
to David – and to his seed for evermore
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 7 In my distress I called on the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of HIS temple, and my cry did enter into HIS ears. (3334 “distress” [yatsar] means be in straits, vexed, be cramped, to suffer distress, to be cramped, restricted, an oppressive state of physical, mental, social or economic adversity, or wrapped)
DEVOTION: David believed in prayer. He didn’t pray all the time like he should but when he was in distress he went to the source of his strength, the LORD. He knew that he could trust the LORD to come to his rescue.
So he cried out to the LORD for help. He knew when the LORD heard him and that his cries were going to bring deliverance. The LORD was honest with David and David was honest with the LORD most of the time.
There were times in his life that he did things that were not pleasing to the LORD and the LORD chastened him but then HE restored him to favor. The LORD does the same in the lives of all believers. There are times when we sin and know that we must confess our sin to HIM and HE will restore us and deliver us out of the present distress.
David went to the Temple to pray. We are to go to the local church to pray at times as well. We can pray at home. We can pray in our car. However, David took time to go into the place where the LORD placed HIS presence in Israel. It was in the Temple and he wanted to be close to the LORD.
Today the Holy Spirit indwells all those who believe and they can go to the LORD anytime they want too in a reverent manner and ask HIM for deliverance from a current distress in their life. There is no central location where we can go as a nation to worship the LORD. There are many local churches that are open for times of prayer throughout the day.
HE wants to hear our cry of dependence on HIM when we face any distress in our life as a believer. HE doesn’t want us to face it alone. HE doesn’t want us to think we have to face it alone.
If we face it alone it is because we didn’t call on HIM for help. We are not to be stubborn and try to fight our battles alone. We need the LORD and HIS people around us during our battles. They are real and HE is real and HIS people are real.
CHALLENGE: When was the last time you cried to the LORD?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD is my stay. (4937 “stay” [mish‘en] means support, staff, prop, provision, or sustenance)
DEVOTION: David is singing a song of praise to the LORD. He was a great poet. He must have spent much of his time while he was watching his father’s sheep playing his musical instrument and singing songs that he composed.
Here he is thanking the LORD for his protection over his enemies which were also the LORD’S enemies. He calls them heathens. He is facing calamity. He is facing danger. He knows that the LORD can deliver him out of all the dangers that are around him. He thanks the LORD for his deliverance from hard times.
He acknowledges the fact that the LORD is the support he needs for every battle that he will face. The LORD gives him victory over his enemies. HE will give us victory over our enemies as well.
We have to allow the LORD to fight our battles. We have to depend on HIM as we go into any battle we face each day. HE is the one who can prop us up when we think our enemy is stronger than ourselves.
Sometimes the enemy is a human enemy. Sometimes the enemy might be a medical problem. Sometimes the enemy could be our thought life. Sometimes the enemy can be something that happens on our job. We need to take all of them to the LORD and allow HIM to hold us up and fight against each enemy for us.
Our enemies are real. They are all following the real enemy of our soul the devil. He uses circumstances to try to get us away from the LORD. He uses other people to try to get us away from the LORD. He uses whatever means he can to distract us from following the LORD.
We only have victory if we allow the LORD to lead us and fight for us. HE guarantees our victory. When we face a challenge to our life or faith today where are we going to turn? Are we going to be like those who don’t know the LORD and trust in our own strength or are we going to trust in the strength of the LORD?
CHALLENGE: David knew who to trust and who to thank. Do we? Are we singing the praises to the LORD?
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: 20 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me. (2654 “delighted” [chaphets] means to incline to, to bend, to be pleased with, desire, favour, like, or has pleasure)
DEVOTION: I can’t stay on key when I sing. I have been told that by some choir directors. However, I love to sing. One of the signs of the filling of the Holy Spirit is a desire to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. We have battles going on in our churches. One of the battles is over the TRUTH of the Word of God. Many false teachers are teaching false doctrine in our churches. Another battle is over church policy. Some believe in church discipline and others don’t. The battle we are concerned about in this chapter is the battle of what is proper music in the church. Some think that only old hymns should be sung. Some think that we can have a mix and others think we should just have contemporary music in our churches. Some of the contemporary music sounds like rock music with the words hard to understand.
This chapter is a song of praise to the LORD for all HIS wonderful works in the life of King David. This song gives a good understanding of who God is. It also gives us some of the benefits of serving the LORD. David wrote many psalms of praise to the LORD. His songs/psalms were his expression of what was going on in his life at the time.
When the children of Israel went to worship the LORD, they sang on their way to the Temple and on their way home from the Temple. David danced before the Ark of the Covenant as it was brought into Jerusalem. Music is part of our worship of the LORD.
Our lives are confusing to some because we say we count on the LORD to help us through hard times. David had seen the LORD work in his life. David had defeated a giant, Goliath, at a young age. He took five stones because he thought he might have to kill other giants.
David had faced many enemies in his lifetime and saw them defeated by the hand of the LORD. When David didn’t consult the LORD there was defeat. When David was fighting Saul, the LORD always delivered him from Saul’s threats. The LORD had pleasure in the trust that David showed toward HIM.
Was David perfect? No. As we read the accounts of David’s life we realize that God had pleasure in an imperfect man. David was called a man after God’s own heart. David had to be confronted at times by those who were close to the LORD. In David’s day they were called prophets.
We can be confronted by men/women that love the LORD and love us. Sometimes we try to escape the consequences our sins. The LORD can have pleasure in us, as long as, we keep our relationship with HIM close. Fellowship with HIM demands confession of daily sin. Remember to keep short accounts of sin with HIM. We will never be sinless but we can sin less. Praise HIS name!
Our goal each day should be to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We are indwelt from the time we become a follower of Christ until we death or meet HIM in the air. However, the filling leaves each time we sin and we need to confess our sin and be re-filled with the Holy Spirit.
CHALLENGE: One of the signs of the filling of the Holy Spirit is that we want to sing praised to the LORD. Are you singing today?? What are the other two signs???? Is the LORD pleased with our relationship with HIM?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 28 AND the afflicted people you will save: but YOUR eyes are on the haughty, that YOU may bring them down. (7311 “haughty” [ruwm] means to be high above, exalted, to reach high, to be or become proud, conceived of as raising, lofty, or be uplifted)
DEVOTION: The LORD divides the people of the world into two camps. There is the camp of those who are righteous in HIS eyes because of their relationship with HIM and with HIS Son Jesus Christ. The second camp is fuller with those who trust in themselves and not in the LORD or in Jesus Christ HIS Son.
The first group is made up of individuals who come humbly before the LORD for help in their daily life. They know they can’t face the trials of life alone. In the Old Testament they came to the LORD and asked for HIS help. In the New Testament we come to Jesus through the ministry of the Holy Spirit who helps us pray right and our prayers go to the Father through the intercession of Jesus Christ who is sitting at HIS right hand.
As we show dependence on the LORD in a humble manner, HE knows our hearts and our attitudes, and on that basis answers our prayers in HIS timing. If there is something between HIM and us which is sin, we need to confess it and HE will forgive and grant us our request according to HIS will.
Now the second group of people is those who are haughty think that they don’t need the LORD and can face any trial in their own power and win any victory they want in life. They are following their own personal god which can be they or their false god which they make up for themselves. These are people who think they don’t need the one true God but think that they can handle their problems without HIM.
HE knows the hearts of all those who live in this world today as HE knew the heart of all those who have lived in the past and will know the hearts of all those who will live in the future. All of their names are recorded in HIS books. Only those who trust in HIM through Jesus Christ have their names written in the book of life that will be opened on judgment day.
Those who are haughty will see that their names are not in the book of life and they will spend eternity in the lake of fire that is reserved for the devil and his angels. They will have company while they are there but they will not enjoy their company.
CHALLENGE: Which camp are you in? Where are you going to spend eternity? The only true answer to life is found through Jesus Christ alone. No other way leads to heaven.
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: 31 As for God, HIS way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: HE is a buckler to all them that trust in HIM. (8549 “perfect” [tamiym] means without blemish, upright, without spot, uprightly, whole, complete, unscathed, intact, blameless, without fault, or unobjectionable.)
DEVOTION: In this world there is our way and God’s way. Most of the time our way seems best to us but in reality, it is not. God’s way is ALWAYS best. HE knows the beginning from the end as far as what is right and wrong. We are still in the learning stage. We stay in that stage all of our lives. We never reach perfection.
The problem is that many people think that they know better than God. They think their way is the best. Some will not be moved by whatever anyone tells them. They are going to stick to their way alone. They don’t need the LORD. They can do it on their own. They don’t need to know that the Bible has to say about a subject because they have figured out what is best for them and they will not change their minds – no matter what anyone else has to say.
Here we find David stating a fact that he had to learn the hard way. He was not always listening to the LORD. He made some decisions on his own that caused him problems but that didn’t stop him from continuing throughout his life to make wrong decisions.
He is here singing a song of praise to the LORD. He is acknowledging that he doesn’t know it all or have it all together. He is saying that the LORD alone has it all together and he needs to trust in HIM alone.
Each of us has to come to a point in our life when we acknowledge that we don’t’ “know it all’” it comes sooner to some but it takes others a long time and some neve reach that point.
Today we have many voices that we can listen to and many are listening to the wrong voices even in the “church.” Some of those teaching in places that are normally supposed to teach the Word of God are using singing or other books to train people what it means to worship the LORD.
Our forms of worship have moved from making the Word of God our strong point to making music or man’s wisdom our strong point. We think that we know better than God what is right and wrong. We are defending ourselves rather than letting the LORD defend us through HIS Word the Bible.
God’s way is perfect and we will never reach perfection on this earth. Some think they have but are going to have a rude awaking when they meet the LORD. Too often we find that our attitude is wrong in our relationship with the LORD. Here we find David acknowledging that he is wrong and the LORD is right ALL THE TIME!
CHALLENGE: Have we come to that point in our life and in our service that we have not reached perfection? Too often we forget that we are sinners saved by grace alone. Is our trust ONLY in HIM?
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
David calls to the LORD verse 4- 7
Cried to the LORD verse 7
LORD hears prayer verse 7
LORD doesn’t answer enemies of HIS people verse 42
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
David’s song of Worship verse 1- 51
Praise verse 4 , 50
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Judgments verse 23
Statutes verse 23
Word of the LORD is tried verse 31
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 16, 19, 21, 22, 25, 29, 31, 32, 42, 47, 50
Rock verse 2, 3, 32, 47
Fortress verse 2
Deliverer verse 2, 18, 20, 44, 49
God – Elohim (Creator) verse 3, 7, 22, 30- 33, 47, 48
Shield verse 3
High Tower verse 3, 51
Refuge verse 3
Savior verse 3, 4
Worthy to be praised verse 4
Anger of the LORD verse 8
Most High verse 14
Rebuking of the LORD verse 16
LORD is my stay verse 19
Ways of the LORD verse 22, 31
Lamp verse 29
Word of the LORD verse 31
LORD lives verse 47
Avenger verse 48
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Cherub verse 11
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Heathen verse 44, 50
Strangers verse 45, 46
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Enemies of God’s people verse 1, 18, 38, 49
Violence verse 3
Ungodly verse 5
Afraid verse 5, 46
Hated verse 18
Wickedly verse 22
Departing from the LORD’s way verse 22, 23
Iniquity verse 24
Froward verse 27
Haughty verse 28
Heathen verse 44
Violent man verse 49
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Deliverance verse 1, 2, 18, 20, 28, 44, 49
Trust verse 3, 31
Salvation verse 3, 4, 36, 47
Refuge verse 3
Delight verse 20
Reward verse 21
Righteousness verse 21, 25
Cleanness verse 21, 25
Recompense verse 21, 25
Upright verse 24, 26
Merciful verse 26, 51
Pure verse 27
Afflicted verse 28
Lighted darkness verse 29
Strength verse 33, 40
Power verse 33
Perfect way to follow verse 33
Teaches verse 35
Shield of salvation verse 36
Gentleness verse 36
Enlarged steps verse 37
Feet do not slip verse 37
Victory in battle verse 38- 43
Exalt the LORD verse 47
Lifted up by the LORD verse 49
Thanks verse 50
Anointed verse 51
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Hell verse 6
Snares of death verse 6
Mercy to David’s seed for evermore verse 51
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QUOTES regarding passage
From the fact that God is indeed alive springs the rest of David’s words of exultation. He begins with a common outburst of praise to which he is no stranger (see 1 Sam 25:32 and comment; cf. also the words of Ahimaaz in 18:28), directing it to the omnipotent Lord who is his “Rock” (ṣûr; see comment on v.3). The God who is himself “exalted” (v.47; cf. Davidic Pss 21:13; 57:5, 11; cf. also Ps 46:10) has “exalted” his servant David (v.49; cf. Davidic Pss 9:13 [“lift … up”]; 27:5 [“set … high”]; Hos 11:7). If the second occurrence of “Rock” is retained (see, however, the Notes on v.47), then “the Rock, my Savior,” is reprised in similar divine epithets elsewhere (cf. Deut 32:15; Pss 89:26; 95:1 [“Rock of our salvation”]). If, however, “Rock” is omitted (as in Ps 18:46), the title “Savior” alone is echoed not only in several Davidic psalms (cf. Pss 24:5; 25:5; 27:9; 51:14 [“who saves me”]; 65:5) but also in numerous other passages (cf. Pss 79:9; 85:4; 88:1 [“who saves me”]; 1 Chronicles 16:35; Isa 17:10; Mic 7:7; Hab 3:18). In any event, the first occurrence of “Rock” and the reference to God as “Savior” remind his people that his mighty power works hand in hand with his redemptive grace.
When the Lord “avenges” his chosen king (v.48; see comment on 4:8), he “puts” the nations (Hiphil of yrd; cf. Davidic Ps 56:7 [“bring down”]; Ps 18:47 displays the Hiphil of dbr, “subdues,” as a variant reading) “under” him (see comment on v.40) and “sets” him “free” from his enemies (lit., “brings” him “out,” v.49; see comment on v.20). Indeed, David is exalted above his “foes” (lit., “those who rose” against him, v.49; see comment on “adversaries” in v.40) and is rescued from “violent men” (see comment on v.3; cf. Davidic Ps 140:1, 4, 11; Prov 3:31; 16:29).
Because of all that God has done for him, none of which he can possibly repay, David speaks to the Lord directly and annouces his determination to “praise” him “among the nations” (v.50; cf. Davidic Ps 108:3), to “sing praises” to his “name” (cf. Pss 92:1 [“make music”]; 135:3), the name of him who alone is worthy of praise (cf. Davidic Ps 8:1, 9; cf. also 1 Chronicles 16:10; 29:13 [both in Davidic psalms]; Ps 45:17 [“memory”]; 1 Kings 8:33, 35; Isa 26:13). That the nations of the world would share in David’s praise to the Lord was a firm belief of the apostle Paul, who in Romans 15:9 quotes 2 Samuel 22:50: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, I will sing hymns to your name.” (Youngblood, R. F. (1992). 1, 2 Samuel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, pp. 1076–1077). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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Finally, David said that the Lord was his Savior (vv. 47–51). Though his enemies surrounded him and were about to destroy him, the Lord brought him through triumphantly. As a result David praised Him (v. 50) and acknowledged that all God’s benefits of the past were tokens of His promised blessings on both David and his descendants, blessings which will endure forever. (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 2 Samuel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 479). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The Lord exalted David (vv. 47–49). David’s shout of praise, “The Lord lives” (v. 47), was his bold witness to these subjected peoples that their dead idols could not save them or protect them (see Ps. 115). Only Jehovah, the God of Israel, is the true and living God, and David’s victories and enthronement proved that God was with him. David was always careful not to exalt himself, but to exalt the Lord. David closes his song with high and holy praise for the Lord God of Israel. He exalted the Lord, and the Lord exalted him (Matt. 6:33; 1 Sam. 2:30). If we magnify our own name or our own deeds, we will sin, but if the Lord magnifies us, we can bring glory to His name (Josh. 3:7). (Wiersbe, W. W. (2002). Be restored (p. 144). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor)
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22:47–49 The Lord lives: This shout of faith became a motto in biblical times, particularly when shouted in contrast to the false gods of other nations, who had no life. Like a Rock, God is strong, steadfast, and a place of refuge (Ps. 91:1–3). Perhaps this metaphor recalled to David the many times he had taken refuge in rocks to elude his pursuers (1 Sam 23:25). (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 423). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.)
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This chapter contains a song or psalm, the same with the 18th psalm, and which, according to Jarchi, was composed by David in his old age, and, as Kimchi says, at the end or close of his days; but Abarbinel is of opinion that it was written in his youthful time, in the midst of his troubles, and was sung by him as often as he had a deliverance from any; and which may account for the several variations in it from Psal. 18. which, the same writer observes, are 74; and are not to be ascribed to the difference of copies, or neglect of copiers: and very probably, towards the close of his days, he revised it, and made it fit for general use, and sent it with the rest of his psalms to the chief musician; but the particular consideration of it, and of the differences in it from Psal. 18. is referred to the exposition of that book in its course. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 657). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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Satan is a deceiver and a destroyer; he deceives in order to destroy. A part of his deception is to have us believe he is not at work opposing our pursuit of righteousness. To combat his efforts, we must do several things. First, recognize that we must “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might”(v. 10), not in our own strength. Second, we must “put on the whole armor of God” (v. 11). Each piece described in verses 14-17 must be in place daily. Third, we must pray at all times “in the Spirit” (v. 18). And finally, having done all that, we must stand firm without fear, knowing we are secure (Eph. 6:13 Devotion: Quiet Walk).
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OUR ADVERSARY
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8
We begin by considering this “adversary,” as he is described (1 Peter 5:8), the devil. The Son of God came because there was a certain state and condition in this world that had been produced by the devil. Now whether we like it or not, the fact is that the whole drama of redemption, as it is outlined in the Bible, simply cannot be understood at all unless you accept the biblical doctrine with regard to the devil. It is an essential part of this message; it is there from the very beginning and right through to the end.
And this is the biblical teaching. The explanation of the problem of mankind and the whole state of our world is to be traced back to this fact about the devil. According to the Bible, God made the world perfect; so what has gone wrong with it? And here is the answer. Someone who is described in various terms and to whom various names are given in the Bible came and spoke to the man and the woman whom God had placed in that perfect world. He is called “Lucifer,” “the son of the morning,” and “the god of this world.” He is called “the serpent,” “the prince of the power of the air,” and “the strong man armed.”
There are various names given in the Scriptures, but they all describe the same person. And according to this teaching, this is the explanation of evil and of sin and of all our miseries in this world. The devil came and spoke to man, and he enticed him to sin. So man went against God; and the result of all this is the state of the world as it has been from the moment that man fell.
A Thought to Ponder – The whole state of our world is to be traced back to this fact about the devil. (From Children of God, pp. 61-62. By Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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With Paul’s perspective on life, he cannot lose. Wherever he is, Paul considers it “the world” into which the Lord wants him to go to preach the Gospel. Even prison is a positive experience for Paul, because he is able to spread the Gospel there. And if he is to die, that is even better. To live is fruitful ministry, but to die is gain. Most of us have our affections too deeply implanted in the things of this world to identify with hisperspective. We must learn to let go. (Daily Walk)
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LOOK FORWARD IN ANTICIPATION
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8
As we believe the message of the Gospel, we are translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light the kingdom of God’s dear Son. He is building up His own kingdom; he is drawing men and women unto Himself out of the world; He is going on with the work. He is in glory seated at the right hand of God, and He must reign until His enemies shall be made His footstool. He is going on until the number of the elect shall have been gathered in. And when that has happened, He will come again. He will return into this world as King and Lord, and He will finally finish the work. He will come with a mighty sword, and not only evil and sin but Satan himself and all his cohorts shall be cast into the lake of fire and will finally be banished from the sight of God for all eternity. And our guarantee of all this is the glorious fact of the resurrection: He was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Remember then what He has already destroyed, and look forward in anticipation; the blessed hope that faces us as Christian people is that He will destroy these works of the devil utterly, completely, and finally. Evil and sin will be finally destroyed out of existence, burnt, destroyed forever. God shall be all and in all, and if we are in the army of the mighty Victor who has already risen from the grave and thereby conquered death, if we belong to Him, we shall behold that final judgment of Satan, and we shall dwell for all eternity in a perfect state with no sin and no sorrow, with no sighing and no tears.
A Thought to Ponder: We shall dwell for all eternity in a perfect state with no sin and no sorrow, with no sighing and no tears. (From Children of God, p. 69 by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.)
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This month, Congress halted the rollout of the Army’s new Combat Fitness Test. Unlike the old test, which dates back to before combat roles were open to female soldiers, the new test requires men and women to meet the same standards of physical fitness. That’s a problem, critics and activists say, since, so far, 54 percent of women have failed this new gender-neutral test.
Service Women’s Action Network CEO Deshauna Barber complained, “A fitness test that is so clearly biased simply cannot move forward without further review…” A letter from her organization to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees called the gender-neutral test “hasty” and “rash,” and insisted that “too many otherwise qualified soldiers are failing.” The test wrongly assumes that “every soldier is a warrior first,” and that “superior physical strength is singularly critical in battle.”
Sadly, the Army eventually agreed and revised the test to reflect these complaints.
To be clear, we are talking about testing for combat infantry roles, literally for the “boots on the ground.” Isn’t the physical strength of these servicemembers critical in battle?
At least one notable voice thinks so. Writing at West Point’s Modern War Institute, Captain Kristen Griest, the Army’s first female infantry officer, argues that lowering the physical bar for women could have deadly consequences on the battlefield:
“While it may be difficult for a 120-pound woman to lift or drag 250 pounds, the Army cannot artificially absolve women of that responsibility; it may still exist on the battlefield…each job has objective physical standards to which all soldiers should be held, regardless of gender…To not require women to meet equal standards in combat arms will not only undermine their credibility, but also place those women, their teammates, and their mission at risk.”
She’s right. The bad idea behind lowering standards for female soldiers is the same bad idea behind putting transgender male athletes in the ring to fight women. Men and women are physically different. Just ask Tamikka Brents, who, back in 2014, had her skull fractured in two minutes by Fallon Fox, the MMA’s first openly transgender fighter.
Physical jobs require physical strength. There is no job in the world more physically demanding than combat infantry. Giving an assault rifle and a pair of boots to men or women unable to meet those demands is worse than madness. For them and their fellow soldiers, it could be a death sentence.
Though the sexes were created with the same dignity as bearers of God’s image, they were not created to be identical. Our differences are, in fact, where are greatest strengths lie. This truth was lost somewhere in the middle of feminism’s second wave, when the movement went from being about equality in rights to equality in roles. While the exclusion of women from certain roles in society needed to be corrected, other roles are grounded in the differences that do exist between men and women.
Recently re-watching Avengers: Endgame with my son, Hunter, I couldn’t overlook that famous scene where all the female superheroes team up on the battlefield to kick alien keester and save the day. Of course, there’s a lot of imagination involved in the entire Avengers world (and, Iron Man does end up being the one who actually saves the day, through an act of sacrifice), but cheesy “girl power” moments like this miss a remarkable truth Eric Metaxas highlights in the opening section of his book Seven Women. So often, women are portrayed as great despite being women, or because they act like men.
But the greatness of women is as women, in ways that men are not, in and as the way God made them. It is in the “very good” way God created women that they have true strength.
I was talking about that line from Eric Metaxas’ book with my wife Sarah when she first had the idea of the “Strong Women” podcast, which she co-hosts with Erin Kunkle. If you haven’t subscribed or listened, it will reset the thin narrative on women that dominates our world.
By the way, the Friday Intensive at the upcoming Wilberforce Weekend, will offer a deep dive on the image of God as male and female. Speakers include myself, Ryan Anderson, Emilie Kao, and Rebecca McLaughlin. Come to WilberforceWeekend.org for more information. (Break Point)
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Jesus responds to His disciples’ questions regarding His future coming.
INSIGHT
To the world, the idea of Jesus returning in history to judge His enemies and reward His friends is a joke.
“Come down out of the clouds,” people say, “and spend your time thinking about what you can do right here and now.”
Though the world doesn’t take the doctrine of the Second Coming seriously, the Bible places great emphasis on the teaching. Christians, then, need to take it seriously as well. Twice in Mark 13 Jesus warns, “Be on the alert!” Properly understood, awaiting Christ’s return should help us live righteously as we do God’s work in this world.
(Quiet Walk)
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Remembered Through All Generations
“I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore, shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.” (Psalm 45:17)
The 45th Psalm is a beautiful Messianic psalm, speaking prophetically of the coming Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, the psalm is quoted by the writer of Hebrews, calling Him “God” and promising not only eternal remembrance but also everlasting dominion: “But unto the Son, he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom” (Hebrews 1:8, citing Psalm 45:6).
But the writer also said He would be remembered in all generations. That has proved true so far! As others have frequently noted, this man lived on Earth only 33 years, never traveled more than a few miles from His home, never wrote a book, never raised an army, never ruled over so much as a village let alone a kingdom, never married or had children, never enrolled for any formal education, and finally was executed as a criminal.
Yet, He has indeed been remembered through all generations following His all-too-short career 2,000 years ago—and remembered with love and deep reverence and gratitude by millions of people in all nations ever since. Furthermore, though He never wrote a book, others have written innumerable books about Him, while another psalmist assured us that His words would also be preserved “from this generation forever” (Psalm 12:7).
And all this has come to pass! Herein is a marvelous thing! Indeed, He was, and is, God, and this was demonstrated by His flawless character, His amazing teachings, His unique miracles, His volitional, sacrificial death, and His mighty defeat of death itself by His bodily resurrection and ascent into heaven.
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Facing the Battles with God
In the Lord I take refuge.
Psalm 11:1
The heroic deeds of US Army soldier Desmond Doss are featured in the 2016 movie Hacksaw Ridge. While Doss’ convictions wouldn’t allow him to take human life, as an army medic he committed himself to preserving life even at the risk of his own. The citation read at Doss’ Medal of Honor ceremony on October 12, 1945, included these words: “Private First Class Doss refused to seek cover and remained in the fire-swept area with the many stricken, carrying them one by one to the edge of the escarpment. . . . He unhesitatingly braved enemy shelling and small arms fire to assist an artillery officer.”
In Psalm 11, David’s conviction that his refuge was in God compelled him to resist suggestions to flee rather than face his foes (vv. 2–3). Six simple words comprised his statement of faith: “In the Lord I take refuge” (v. 1). That well-rooted conviction would guide his conduct.
David’s words in verses 4–7 amplified God’s greatness. Yes, life can sometimes be like a battlefield, and hostile fire can send us scattering for cover when we’re bombarded with health challenges or financial, relational, and spiritual stresses. So, what should we do? Acknowledge that God is the king of the universe (v. 4); take delight in His amazing capacity to judge with precision (vv. 5–6); and rest in His delight in what’s right, fair, and equitable (v. 7). We can run swiftly to God for shelter!
(Arthur Jackson, Our Daily Bread)
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