It’s All About God and Not About Me

 

Psalm 44:3 “It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.” (NIV)

The Apostle Paul makes it very clear that there is spiritual warfare occurring at this moment between God’s people and the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:10 ff). Paul urges us to put on the whole armor of God; to see the enemy for who he is: the evil one or the devil or Satan. Satan is real and he desires our destruction. Only by using the defensive protection that God alone provides, and the offensive weapon of the word of God, will we ever claim victory over Satan. Paul encourages all mankind, who are engaged in this life and death struggle, to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Paul closes his exhortation by emphasizing to always keep on praying for all the saints.

Paul points us to three great truths about spiritual warfare we all face daily:

1. We all are involved in spiritual warfare, and our enemy is not others but Satan, himself, who seeks to harm, hurt, and destroy our relationship with God.
2. We can only survive by obeying God fully in putting on the armor of God, and by courageously using the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.
3. Finally, we must become prayer warriors and be alert as we pray for all the saints in power, humility, and love.

With this in mind, we return to Psalm 44 which is a plea to God by Israel to remember them in their battles. Apparently things were not going well, and the nations surrounding Israel were defeating the new King David. The kingdom was at stake, and God’s people couldn’t understand why God didn’t fight at their side. When we examine this time, we know David was a new king solidifying his power, and he desperately needed God’s help to gain victory. David remembers one principle of truth, and clings to it with all his heart, which is our devotional text.

David knows that it was not by the sword or their military might that brought Israel victories, but it was the power, grace, and the love of God almighty which brought victory. David makes it clear that Israel’s help cannot come from military weapons, strong people, or wise military leaders, since God alone is the source of sufficient help. David clearly understands the most important truth of all: that God loves his people, and he alone will deliver them.

David makes it quite clear in Psalm 44:26, that it is not the merit of the people, but the nature of God’s unfailing love toward his people that is the difference maker at the critical battle tests of life. Never fall into the devil’s trap to seek solutions outside of God’s help. As Isaiah boldly told Ahaz: “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all” (Isaiah 7:9b). Many years later, after the Cross, Paul would restate the principle of God’s sufficient help by reminding us in Romans 8:37 that we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. If we lean on anything but the love, power, and grace of God, we lean on a weak reed indeed that is sure to fail us.

FATHER, HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR GRACE, POWER, AND LOVE IS MY ONLY SUFFICIENT SOURCE OF HELP TO SUSTAIN ME IN TURBULENT TIMES AND PAINFUL MOMENTS, AND DELIVER ME VICTORIOUS THROUGH IT ALL EVERY TIME. AMEN!

It’s All About God and Not About Me

Mike White @ Summit church of Christ