In the 8th grade, I could not even bench press the bar, and I’m not sure that I can even now. I am by no means physically imposing. The thought of fighting has never crossed my mind. And I certainly cannot see myself as a warrior.
In short, I have a lot of trouble relating to David and his fighting psalms. Or at least, that’s what I thought.
In reality, we do have a common enemy. He schemes and lays traps. He fights both blatantly and stealthily. He is, in fact, the oldest warrior in the world.
His name is Satan.
Psalm 18:37-42 depicts David’s triumph over his enemies. It is graphic and descriptive and emphasizes complete eradication of those enemies.
Sounds a lot like what we need to do to sin.
To Develop some of David’s Fighting Techniques
1. Pursue the enemy (v37)
“I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
And I did not turn back until they were consumed.”
A necessary part of any Christian’s life is self-examination. In order to take out the plank in your eye, you’ve got to take a look at yourself and realize that the plank is there. In order to be able to eat the “meat” of God’s word, you’ve got to develop (which implies the need for improvement… you were not perfect to begin with).
So, there is a need to find that sin in your life.
2. Don’t turn back until it is consumed (v37)
“I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
And I did not turn back until they were consumed.”
We all realize that Satan is persistent – even more so than your pestering little brother.
He works all the time to capture us – remember the roaring lion prowling around seeking to devour us? That’s not just on the weekends.
If we want sin and Satan out of our lives, we have to be just as stubborn. This isn’t just a once-over. Getting rid of sin is a steady and determined process that takes a lot of pigheadedness.
3. Shatter sin so that it cannot stand (v38)
“I shattered them, so that they were not able to rise;
They fell under my feet.”
Amos 7:7-8 talks about God holding a plumb line up to Israel. What’s the point of a plumb line? To show that something won’t stand up or is not straight – it’s crooked or ill-formed in some way.
What better way to shatter sin – to cut the feet out from under it – than to hold it up next to the straight truth of God’s word?
4. Allow God to gird you for battle (v39)
“For You have girded me with strength for battle;
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.”
Are you aware that there’s a spiritual war? Are you aware of the need to protect yourself? God is. He’s provided armor for you. It’s especially designed to confront the wiles of the devil.
Right now – are you fighting this spiritual battle or are you succumbing apathetically to Satan?
5. Get God to fight for you (v39-40)
“You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me,
And I destroyed those who hated me.”
God is the one who tips the balance when you face the nine-foot giant. He is the one to change your widowed life completely by placing you in Boaz’s field. He is the one who brings your brother back to life after three days of wrenching agony.
Surely, he can help me in my struggle with sin.
6. Cry out so that God can hear you (v41)
“They cried for help, but there was none to save,
Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them.”
1 Peter 3:12 says that the Lord’s eyes “are toward the righteous” and that “his ears attend to their prayer.” He listens if you’re in the right place.
If He doesn’t hear you… who’s the one who moved?
7. Empty the sin out of your life (v43)
“Then I beat them fine as the dust before the wind;
I emptied them out as the mire of the streets.”
Sin is not like wine or cheese. It does not get better when aged. It does not improve if you keep it in the closet. You don’t ever want to be that jean size again. Shake that sin and all its traces out of your life. It doesn’t belong there. It’s like dust that needs to be beaten out of a carpet.
David fought many battles – both physically and spiritually. He was armed by His God and triumphed.
Are you ready to fight sin?
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