Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 4; Romans 4; Jeremiah 42; Psalm 18
Psalms 18:32-34 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
Psalm 18 is a Psalm of praise to God in the day that David was delivered from all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. As a warrior, David needed to be strong. He acknowledged that his strength came from God. He had also been led by God in the wilderness as he evaded Saul's troops that constantly pursued him. God made his way perfect through all the dangerous places he and his men traveled. Psalm 18 is a magnificent reminder that God cares about our everyday lives.
Can't you just see David and his men at En Gedi climbing the rock face and David realizing that God had given him the feet of a deer to be able to climb that cliff? See him as he stands on the top of a jagged cliff and watches Saul's men down below searching for him. See him smile as he lifts his hands to heaven and praises God who has given him the ability to do what was necessary that day to live and not die! That is what God does. His mercies are new every morning!
Lamentations 3:22-23 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
As a warrior, David used a bow. He did not boast of his skill with a bow. He gave God the glory who taught his hands to war. God gave him strength to break a bow of steel. Now for the pacifist, this must be abhorrent, but make no mistake, it was God who taught David's hands to war. God gave David the strength and skill to lead his men with strategy into victory after victory. Remember the song the women used to sing of David?
1 Samuel 18:7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
You are a warrior in the army of God. He will give you strength and skill to fight the spiritual battles you will face. However, God will also give you the strength and skill to do the tasks that you have each day. A housewife who was up all night with a sick baby can trust in God to give her strength to go about the tasks of her day. He will teach her hands to work and love. He will set her upon high places. A man who has a laborious task that requires exertion before him can trust that God will make his arms strong enough to break a bow of steel!
God is the source of all of our strength and skill!
In Christ,
Rody
