Morning Light – May 12th, 2016: Responding when You are Attacked

Morning Light – May 12th, 2016
Today: [Psalms Nine] Responding when You are Attacked. In Psalm 9 we see David praising God for victories won. There were many attacks upon David during his life and reign. Sometimes these attacks came from without and sometimes from within. David learned in his relationship with God not to take matters into his own hands but to trust in God for the outcome. In your life you will face many challenges and provocations but we can learn from the words of David the absolute importance of relying on God for our defense.
[Psa 9:1-20 KJV] 1 [[To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David.]] I will praise [thee], O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. 3 When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence. 4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right. 5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever. 6 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them. 7 But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
The opening of Psalm 9 mentions being “upon Muthluben” which some believe indicates the tenor of the song or the instrument to be played. Many believe the word Muthluben is a cryptogram because taken in parts it contains the words “death” and “Nabal” – the husband of David’s second wife Abigail. If you look at 1 Sam. 25 you will find that Nabal insulted David and became so angry at David that he died of a stroke. Thus David took Abigail to be his wife. Thus as we read the psalm we see it refers to the fate of David’s enemies.
David rejoices because his enemies are turned back in their purpose and fall as a result. David understood that the dealings of God with his enemies did not end with them being defeated before his face. He watched on many occasions and saw that even in defeat God dealt with those that opposed him. Did this mean to David that he saw himself as such a righteous man that God would defend him? No – because when the anointing of king was upon Saul David learned that God even defended Saul as a flawed and at times very evil person. When given opportunity to kill Saul in his sleep David refused saying he would not touch God’s anointed king.
What does the mean for us? There are two kinds of anointing: 1.) an anointing within; and 2.) an anointing from without. There is the experience of God IN you and then at times you will experience God ON you. The experience of God ON YOU is what we refer to at times as God’s MANIFEST presence. In either case the scripture cautions us:
[1Ch 16:22 KJV] 22 [Saying], Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
God takes it personally when someone seeks to do you wrong or do you harm whether in word or in deed. There is the story of Demitri Duduman who was held in a Romanian gulag because he was a Christian pastor. Sentence was passed upon him and he was taken to the electric chair. When the switch was thrown Duduman was unharmed but the presiding officer in the next room dropped dead at his desk. King Herod sought the life of young Jesus but instead collapsed during an oration before an adoring throng and was consumed with worms.
What about the case when two people – both Christians begin to tear at one another and slander one another? Both are born again. Both have Christ in them and go to the altar in tears believing they are in the right. What is the case in this matter? In Gen. 12:3 God promises that he will bless those that bless you and curse those that curse you. What happens when by our actions and our words we begin to curse and “trifle” with one another? God takes His hands off of both parties. That is why as David learns it is vital to do as Jesus said in Matt. 5:9 to “resist not evil…” When a brother or sister in Christ comes against you the answer is to “go low” and let the Lord fight the battle. V. 3 says that when David’s enemies came against him from within they “fell at God’s presence…” Which meant it wasn’t by David’s hand but by the hand of God.
David goes on to say in v. 4 that he understands that it is God who will maintain his cause to rebuke the heathen, destroy the wicked and put out their name forever. God takes it personally when someone comes against you. He shows great forbearance and so should you but make no mistake – God is your defense and your defender.
8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. 9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. 11 Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings. 12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble. 13 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble [which I suffer] of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death: 14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.
V. 8 says that God shall judge the world in righteousness. 1 Co. 1:30,31 tells us from a New Testament perspective that Christ is our righteousness. We must not confused RIGHTEOUSNESS with FAIRNESS. There is no obligation upon God to answer to our sense of fairness or to explain Himself to man. When we read that God judges the world in righteousness we understand that from a New Testament viewpoint God judges the world IN CHRIST because Christ is our righteousness. What that means is that the judgement of God will be based upon what men did with Jesus and how they responded to the claims of Christ. In the final analysis the unpardonable sin is the refusal to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and savior.
V. 9 says that God is a refuge for the oppressed and a refuge in times of trouble. When we have storms in the Midwest we go to the storm shelter. Hardened storm bunkers that can withstand tornados are big business. Where do we run when we are being oppressed by the enemy and need a refuge? We run to God. What does that mean? It means we pray – put our trust in Him and make our case before the throne. As v. 10 declares this is the resort of those who know God’s name and God will never forsake them that seek Him out in times of difficulty. It may seem like it at times because we don’t want to wait for His solution OR we go to Him and then don’t listen or obey what He tells us to do.
V. 12 says that God makes inquisition for blood when He moves in our behalf. What does this mean? The blood that God is inquiring after is not the blood of vengeance. The blood that God looks for is the blood of the sacrifice. In the Old Testament this was the blood of a sacrificial animal – that represented the blood on the door posts of Israel when the death angel passed over. For us it is the blood of Christ. When you are in trouble and you ask God to deliver you – make your case not because of your good works but because of the blood of Christ. There is only one thing that motivates God and in fact by which He obligates Himself to act – and that is on the basis of the shed blood of Calvary.
15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit [that] they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. 16 The LORD is known [by] the judgment [which] he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. 17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, [and] all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall [not] perish for ever. 19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. 20 Put them in fear, O LORD: [that] the nations may know themselves [to be but] men. Selah.
In v. 15 we see that the heathen are taken in the pit they made for David. Many times you will see plans and purposes made against you that turn against those that devised them. The important thing is not to take matters into your own hands. V. 18 says that the needy will not be forgotten or perish forever. God will act in your behalf – unless you refused to take your hands off the situation. This is an important aspect of seeing answers to prayer. When you make your case to God then you go about your business – refusing to be part of the problem but rather being part of the solution.
Sometimes we continue to be part of the problem because we keep trying to fix things. Learn to take your hands off. Refuse to be manipulated by people or deceived by your own sense of illegitimate obligation. Sometimes we continue to be part of the problem because we want to defend ourselves against falsehood or personal attacks. First of all – never listen to your critics. Never listen to the critic that speaks against you unless you are willing to repent based on what that critic says and submit to them as the authority in your life. Go to God. You do not have to know what is going on or being said in the enemy’s camp. Keep obeying God. Keep trusting in God. Continue to make your case before God on the merits of the shed blood of Christ. In the end as v. 19 declares man will not prevail against you.