Into the Battle

December 31st, 2024

Into the Battle

Psalm 144

1 Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
who trains my hands for war,
and my fingers for battle;
2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples under me.

3 O Lord, what is man that you regard him,
or the son of man that you think of him?
4 Man is like a breath;
his days are like a passing shadow.

5 Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down!
Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
6 Flash forth the lightning and scatter them;
send out your arrows and rout them!
7 Stretch out your hand from on high;
rescue me and deliver me from the many waters,
from the hand of foreigners,
8 whose mouths speak lies
and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

9 I will sing a new song to you, O God;
upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,
10 who gives victory to kings,
who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.

11 Rescue me and deliver me
from the hand of foreigners,
whose mouths speak lies
and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

12 May our sons in their youth
be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars
cut for the structure of a palace;
13 may our granaries be full,
providing all kinds of produce;
may our sheep bring forth thousands
and ten thousands in our fields;
14 may our cattle be heavy with young,
suffering no mishap or failure in bearing;
may there be no cry of distress in our streets!
15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!
Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

Count on This

Each year, my father-in-law gives me a big desk calendar from his insurance office. I enjoy penciling in all the scheduled events for the upcoming year into the little squares. Having an idea of what’s coming helps me plan my time and gives me a sense of control in my life. Of course, that last part is an illusion! All sorts of unplanned chaos will break loose in the new year, and I’ll just have to hang on for the ride. But there’s one thing we can all count on this year; whether we schedule it or not, every day will involve a spiritual battle (Eph 6:10–20). Psalm 144, last of the Royal Psalms, can help.

As I read Psalm 144, I picture David on the morning of a battle, gathering Israel’s soldiers to bow their heads before taking the field. Fast-forward to the Garden of Gethsemane, and we can imagine King Jesus, the Captain of our Salvation (Heb 2:10), praying Psalm 144 before going to the cross for us. Now we as the King’s people can live on this battle prayer in a new year.

The Reliance We Should Declare (1-4)

David runs to Yahweh as his Rock, the refuge he needs. He does not rest on his own skill or past experiences; it is Yahweh who has trained his hands for war and his fingers for battle (1). As he looks back, he knows he can’t take credit for past victories; Yahweh subdued those peoples under him according to his faithfulness. David knows how small and fleeting his life is; just a breath, a passing shadow. Yet Yahweh has always “given thought” to him; he has been “my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge.” This is who he has always been for us, too. If you will humbly rely on him in this new year; he will train your hands to do all that he calls you to do.

The Rescue We Should Seek (5-8)

The odds are stacked against David in this battle; he’s been thrown into “many waters,” with floods rising over his head. The cruel hands and swords of many enemies are raised against him (7, 10). He doesn’t know who he can trust, because his opponents (maybe even supposed friends), “speak lies,” and their “right hand is a right hand of falsehood (8, 11).” This battle is bigger than he can handle—but it’s not too much for Yahweh. God can “bow the heavens and come down.” He can intervene! He can touch the mountains so that they smoke, like at Sinai, scattering his enemies with lightnings, routing them with hailstorms like arrows. He can rescue! He can give David another reason to “sing a new song” to the Lord, like he has so many times before. As we submit to God’s Word, we can also be confident in his rescue.

The Results We Should Expect (9-15)

Finally David looks to the other side of the battle, and foresees blessing and prosperity from Yahweh’s hand. David is not coming up with this stuff off the top of his head; he’s just been reading Deuteronomy. God promised to bless and reward his people in just these ways if they and their king will trust and obey him. David is simply claiming that promise: “God, I’m committed to doing it your way, and I’m trusting that this will result in your blessing, because you will keep your word.” This is generally true, though renewed devotion to God in this New Year may also seem to make your life harder in some ways! Yet in Christ, even this will turn out for our deliverance. In him, every blessing is already ours (Eph 1:1–3). One day, all these results will be secure, and visible, in a new earth. His people will reign with Jesus, the King of the Royal Psalms (2 Tim 2:12). Until then, he leads us into the battle.

FOR THE NEXT DOVE PRESS SERIES, SEE:
Saved From My Enemies: The Rise, Ruin, and Redemption of David in 2 Samuel

Introduction