Passage Read: Psalm 124-127
Meditation Verses: 124:2-4
Thought
The enemies Israel usually faced and feared were other nations, neighbors who were stronger than them and opposed them, usually when they had sinned against the Lord. They were material, physical, life-threatening problems. There were also their spiritual enemies. Satan incited David to number the people. But mostly they were thinking of physical enemies when crying out for help. They could have trusted in their own strength or wisdom to defeat their enemies, and surely at times they did. Sometimes they succeeded; other times they failed. But if they didn't get clear who was the real source of victory, they would grow arrogant and God would fade in importance in their eyes and hearts. That is a greater danger than the enemies that come against them. That's why the psalmist wants me and everyone else to be clear who their help really was, who really gave them victory.
Application
If my challenges are too small so that they are within my capacity to conquer, then even though I claim the Lord was my help and deliverer, that may not really be what I believe in my heart. I have to face challenges that surpass my ability, that overwhelm me, so that I really have no way to succeed in my own strength. Then I must desperately cry out to God for help. Then I have the opportunity to see if the Lord really is able to deliver me. Then I can see how real the Lord is and how trustworthy, and my praise becomes genuine. Then my delight in and worship of the Lord takes on a whole new depth and meaning. I don't want to face anything too hard. I certainly don't want to bring trouble on myself because of my own sin. I would rather everything were smooth and easy, but then how could I know I really believe and trust the Lord? How could He truly show up and show Himself strong on my behalf? How could I know that it was truly the Lord who was my help? How would I know my praise was anything but just words? I don't want really hard things to come in my life, but I need them if I want my worship of the Lord to grow in genuineness, if I want to know the Lord well and truly put my confidence in Him. I need to accept the impossible in my life and let it drive me to look to the Lord for deliverance.