One of the difficulties of reading the Psalms is it feels like we are reading someone else’s story. King David is in a battle, or King David has someone coming against him and he’s praying for God’s protection. All of that is there, it is real, and it is great for us to be reminded of the faithfulness of God. You can faithfully stay true to Scripture and insert yourself into the Psalms. Here’s why I say that. Satan is our enemy. You know you have an enemy, right? His name is Satan.
Satan, our enemy, wants to do anything to keep you from being obedient to the Great Commission: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) Satan wants to do anything to keep you from being a Great Commission Christian. Satan wants to do anything to keep your mouth from proclaiming God as King. I don't know about you, but he is doing a pretty good job.
Another tool that Satan will use, he will use anything from keeping you from being obedient to the Great Commandment. What is the Great Commandment? The Great Commandment is this: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all of your mind. The second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39) Let me ask you something. Has there been any time in your history where you have seen the polarization of people today? Not in my lifetime. There is so much trying to get our attention for us to love, for us to focus on, for us to give all our might to that is not of God. So, I want to tell you that I believe Satan is doing a pretty good job of keeping us, of hindering us from following the Great Commandment, from being obedient to the Great Commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all of your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.” And he is also doing a pretty good job at keeping us from being obedient to the Great Commission, being Great Commission Christians.
The book of Psalms is a great way to pray against our enemy. So, when you read in Psalms of David praying for protection from his enemy or victory over his enemy, that is a good example for us. We can pray that God will give us victory over our enemies just as King David did in the book of Psalms.
Excerpt from June 25, 2023, Sunday morning service First Baptist Church, Hamlin, Texas. https://fbchamlin.com/