THE GOD OF VICTORY

The reader of the psalms is confronted many times by the uncompromising and often cruel attitude of the writers to their enemies. There are measures of revenge which are sought and executed that are literally offensive to our thinking. We recoil from them. Yet the incentives for battle were focused on the fact that the psalmists’ enemies were the enemies of God. They were the wicked, representing antagonism towards divine laws and divine ways. The relentless fight was essential as giving expression to the divine cause. All enemies must be destroyed; the psalmists fought for the Lord of hosts, the God of armies.

We look today at some of the ways in which the psalmist expresses the ability he has through the power of God, successfully to do battle and gain the victory.

We note the training, “It is God that girdeth me with strength”, v. 32; “He teacheth my hands to war”, v. 34; cf. v. 39. He was a trained soldier, but he attributed to the Lord that skill which he had acquired. As David went to meet Goliath, we notice how this fact is illustrated. Saul’s armoury had nothing to offer. He could defy the sword of the Philistine, for it was in the name of the Lord of hosts. He came and overcame, 1 Sam. 17. 45-47. The battle is the Lord’s: cf. 1 Chron. 12. 8. So Paul could speak of the fitness of the soldier in 2 Timothy 2. 4. God’s warrior must be skilled to do battle.

We notice also the triumph of the psalmist. He had pursued his enemies; he wounded them until they fell, vv. 35-42; these are expressive of complete triumph. Yet not to himself the glory, but to the God who enabled him; “he is a buckler to all those that trust in him”, vv. 30-31; cf. 115. 1. It is good for us as Christians to learn the secret of victory in the warfare against evil. It is only in Christ that we can overcome, Rom. 8. 35-37; Eph. 6. 10-11.

The psalm ends on a note of testimony, vv. 49-50, thanksgiving for deliverance, mercy to His anointed. Great deliverance calls for great praise. Among the nations it is good to proclaim the triumphs of the Lord. It was when Israel left Egypt and went through the sea that they sang, Exod. 15; every victory over Satan and his hosts must be proclaimed, and will be in a day yet to come: cf. Rev. 19. 1-6.