David was a warrior, poem-writing, God-worshiping, singing king. Though his primary task was to expand Israel’s borders, he was also comfortable with a harp in his hands. Under his leadership, Israel went from a disjointed group of settlers to a nation. But one thing David knew is that he could only prevail with God. In Psalm 108 David writes about the reason for his success.

My heart is steadfast, O God!
I will sing and make melody with all my being!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
That your beloved ones may be delivered,
give salvation by your right hand and answer me! (Psalm 108:1-6, ESV)
On this occasion, David has put down his sword and taken up the harp and lyre. Why? Because his heart is in a good place. He is worshiping God amidst “the peoples.” Who were they? Defeated enemies! The “peoples” were those who possessed the land God told David to take. In verses 7-9 he refers to them:
God has promised in his holiness:
“With exultation I will divide up Shechem
and portion out the Valley of Succoth.
Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet,
Judah my scepter.
Moab is my washbasin;
upon Edom I cast my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.” (Psalm 107:8-9, ESV)
David moves from north to south. He’s recounting victories, remembering God’s faithfulness. God promised He would give Israel those territories. All David did was to act on those promises. But the victories remain incomplete…Edom, to the south, is not yet won.
Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
Oh grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!
With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes. (Psalm 108:10-13, ESV)
We all live there…between the victories God has won and the victories yet to be had. We live between the already and not yet. We stare at our own fortified cities, almost seemingly unscalable walls, impossible problems, apparent fatal sins. David’s confession (and he was a successful man to make such a confession!) is that “vain is the salvation of man.) Only with God will we do valiantly.
Do you believe that? This new song affirms that. Sing! Worship. Regardless.

 

1 Comment

  1. I feel like you wrote this special for me. Isn’t our Holy Spirit just so awesome!!!!!

    Laurie

    *Jesus over everything*

    On Tue, Feb 18, 2020 at 10:11 AM Enough for Today wrote:

    > Jerry Lewis posted: “David was a warrior, poem-writing, God-worshiping, > singing king. Though his primary task was to expand Israel’s borders, he > was also comfortable with a harp in his hands. Under his leadership, Israel > went from a disjointed group of settlers to a nation. B” >

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