This chapter is long and it says much, so I am going to break it in half; Stay tuned tomorrow.
For the choir director; A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord. He sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul.
He sang:
Psalm 17:1-24 NLT “I love you, Lord; you are my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.
The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me. The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.
But in my distress, I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.
Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the mountains shook; they quaked because of his anger.
Smoke poured from his nostrils; fierce flames leaped from his mouth. Glowing coals blazed forth from him.
He opened the heavens and came down; dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew, soaring in the wings of the wind.
He shrouded himself in darkness, veiling his approach with dark rain clouds.
Thick clouds shielded the brightness around him and rained down hail and burning coals.
The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded amid the hail and burning coals.
He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies; great bolts of lightening flashed, and they were confused.
Then at the command, O Lord at the blast of your breath, the bottom of the sea could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.
He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters.
He rescued me from my powerful enemies, those who hated me and were too strong for me.
They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me.
He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.
The Lord rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence.
For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned from my God to follow evil.
I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned his decrees.
I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin.
The Lord rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence.”
WOW! A lot is going on here, but I first want to point out David’s depiction of God! The picture he paints of God flying down from heaven, the rage against his enemies, and the powerful protection he provides is the exact picture we need to mentally visualize and carry.
We serve a Mighty God!
God not only rescues and protects, but he invites us to turn to him, relinquishing our battles to him, leaving our enemies and wanting revenge in his hands all the while resting in the safety of him.
We have the same God working on our behalf as David did on his; wrap your head around this! The battles we don’t see in the heavenly that God and his warring angels battle daily on our behalf. Just because we don’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there and happening!
We probably don’t have a crazy jealous king (Saul) trying to kill us nor are we camped out hiding in a cave but we all have enemies we battle. We might be battling our health, our finances, our spouses, bosses, or co-workers.
The pile of bills that has left you feeling as though you are drowning. The last doctors report stealing your breath and sucking you into the undertow. The final slam of the door, divorce looms and you are swimming in fear! “He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters.”
God is always there to help us fight our battles; the choice is ours whether we share the load or drown under our own strength?
Tidbits:
The Lord is my rock!
He is my shield!
My place if safety!
He rescues me!
He delights in me!
And, that is a perfect place to end; with a smile that the Lord delights in me and you!
Be blessed today! ☺️
Sunshine On My Shoulder 