One of David’s greatest psalms is not in the book by that name, but rather in 2 Samuel 22. Just before writing this beautiful declaration of deliverance, God’s people were once again under attack by the Philistines. Many came to kill them, but after slaying four giants (possibly descendants of Goliath), they were delivered from death once again.
In response, David wrote:
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge;
My savior, You save me from violence.”
Where do you go when you are under attack? Do you try to fight alone or do you, as David did, find a safe place in the presence of God? It was unusual for a proven warrior and powerful king to not take credit for his victories. In those days, great statues were built to honor triumphant men. But David, knowing the true source of his success, opened his psalm by declaring that his strength lay in God and God alone. If we are wise, we will recognize this truth as well.
David also proclaimed:
“He rescued me, because He delighted in me.
The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness;”
It is easy to blame God when things go wrong. Some may even curse His name. But if you want to be delivered from your troubles, you must learn to draw near to God, so that He will draw near to you (James 4:8). Then He will rescue you not out of guilt or compulsion, but out of His pleasure!
You may be thinking, “But David said he was ‘righteous’ and I have been anything but ‘righteous’!” You may be right. But do you have faith in Jesus Christ? If so, Paul says that when we believe in “Him who justifies the ungodly,” then our “faith is credited as righteousness” (Romans 4:4-6). Simply put, it’s not your righteousness that gains God’s favor; it’s your faith in Jesus Christ. When you trust in Him, you are not only rescued, but rewarded because of Him. When you enter God’s presence in humility and repentance, He no longer sees a sinful man or woman, but He sees the righteousness of His only Son. What an incredible promise!
David continued:
“For You are my lamp, O Lord;
And the Lord illumines my darkness.
For by You I can run upon a troop;
By my God I can leap over a wall.”
Will you allow God and His word to be your guide? Will you ask him to bring light into your dark situation? If so, you can overcome those forces that are coming against you. They may appear to be powerful and numerous, like a troop of soldiers, but God can enable you to run them down. By His power, you can leap over the walls that hold you back from obtaining His promises.
“You even lift me above those who rise up against me;
You rescue me from the violent man.
Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the nations,
And I will sing praises to Your name.
He is a tower of deliverance to His king,
And shows lovingkindness to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forever.”
The Lord wants to lift you up and rescue you from harm, all you descendants of David by faith in Christ. God does not want to see you bound or destroyed. It is time to follow the example of your spiritual forefather so that you can once again shout in praise to the One who delivers you. The Lord is our rock, our refuge, and our tower of deliverance. Stand up in His presence and face your affliction so that you can experience your own song of victory.
Watch this Friday as we declare this truth to young women trapped in the prison of sex trafficking and see how RESCUE LIFE works to deliver them from physical and spiritual bondage.
