Good music is powerful; the words can be a blessing. Rich Mullins sang one of my favorite songs, it gives me courage whenever I listen to it. This is how it begins:
Joseph took his wife and her child and they went to Africa
To escape the rage of a deadly king
There along the banks of the Nile,
Jesus listened to the song
That the captive children used to sing
They were singin'
"My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by
My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by"
You can listen to it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f38KbtCEJ-s
We see our “Deliverer standing by” in the third Psalm which King David wrote when his son, Absalom, betrayed him. Traitor Absalom gathered many among the Israelites who then attempted a coup. In this text we observe David bringing his terrible distress to Yahweh, placing his confidence in Him, and crying out to God (his Warrior) for deliverance. Now, for just a moment place yourself in David’s sandals. You are up early in the morning, wondering what your son’s next move will be to win the battle that he began against you. Anxiety begins to set in before you get out of bed. Your mind’s eye sees the many faces of former friends who are now enemies. These who were once your people are duped by Absalom’s wickedness, and now they want you to die. This dilemma floats into your mind as you get dressed and then are too anxious to eat breakfast. However, something comes over you. You recall that your God wins every battle, and He alone battled the evil Egyptians by doing the impossible and delivering His children (Exodus 14:1-31). Just as God delivered His children then He delivers His children now. Keeping that in mind, you write something like this:
Psalm 3
A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
(1) O LORD, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me.
(2) Many are saying of my soul, “There is no deliverance for him in God.” Selah.
(3) But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.
(4) I was crying to the LORD with my voice, And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah. (5) I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustains me. (6) I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about.
(7) Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God! For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.
(8) Salvation belongs to the LORD; Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah.
Notice verses one and two. Three times David mentions the number of enemies. He tells God that they have increased, that many are coming against him, and that many are saying that deliverance is impossible. This is war and in war enemies lie. David’s enemies wanted him to believe that his God would not fight, that he would be assassinated to make room for a new king, the traitor called Absalom. But unlike Absalom, Yahweh is ever faithful to His people.
Since Yahweh is ever faithful David calls out to Him (v. 4) and He answers, and David slept until morning because God sustained him. When David rises, he is not afraid of ten thousand enemies that would come against him. Even though one little arrow could kill him he has no fear since God, who is his shield, surrounds him (v. 3, 6). But Yahweh’s blessings to his children do not end with shielding from evil; He attacks. “Arise, O LORD, save me, O my God!” David shouts his war cry. Though the enemies abound, our confidence is in our LORD, He is the one who breaks our enemies’ jaws and takes away their harmful power (v. 7). He is our Divine Warrior; yes, the One who parted the Red Sea, letting his children go free but destroying many powerful enemies. And when we, like David, cry out to the LORD our God, asking Him to wage our war we can relax with complete confidence. We are confident because “From the LORD comes deliverance” (v. 8a). Like the song above says, our deliverer is coming, He is already standing by.
Now, do you believe His word? Or, do you believe the lie that says, “your God will not and cannot deliver you?” When we’re alone with our thoughts in the night it is easy to believe a lie. Don’t believe it. Yes, we have much to overcome and we have real enemies, ones who want to see us quit believing and following Christ. We have enemies who would like to force us to believe and do that which is contrary to the Scriptures; they may attempt this by passing more laws. We have enemies who want us to leave the gospel of Christ behind to be yoked to their sets of rules toward a so-called salvation from a false god. In addition, we battle our flesh with its curious cravings and temptations toward sin and self. However, “From the LORD comes deliverance!”
Would you believe that He can bring you out of the pit of sin or fight victoriously over your enemies? His glory is at stake. Just like the defeat of Israel’s enemies your holiness brings Him glory. Now, it is up to us to lean upon our Deliverer. And let’s show others how the victory of Jesus Christ over death (our biggest enemy) was won on the cross and through the resurrection. Death died, Jesus is risen and He will deliver us to the Father in heaven on that great day. Amen.
