#DailyDevotion Is Jesus Your Fortress, Strength and Shield?
Psalm 59 6When evening comes they return, howling like dogs and prowling around in the city. 7See what belches from their mouths — swords from their lips. They think, “Can anyone hear it?” 8But You, O LORD, will laugh at them and mock at all the nations. 9O my Strength, I am watching for You, because God is my Mountain Refuge.
David here is probably recounting how those sent by Saul were acting as they were watching his house. It could be those who told Saul where David was when he went to Samuel. In any case, they must have been boasting about what they were going to do to David. They did not accept he was the LORD’s anointed to replace Saul. As such, they were unbelievers like the other nations. The same could be said for those Jews in Jesus’ day who opposed Him and who sought to kill Him because they would not accept Him as their Messiah. These verses recall Psalm 2 as the LORD laughs at them and mocks them as they have laughed and mocked His anointed one.
God is his strength during these times and at all times. We would do well to remember that as well when the world seems to be overwhelming us. Strength here is put forth as one of the names for God. Is the God of Israel your strength or do you turn to yourself or other created things for strength in times of trouble? Doing so is a form of idolatry. So we turn to God for ever good and we turn to God to be our Strength. David is watching for Him, i.e. he is waiting for the LORD to act and to demonstrate His strength to David. Are willing to wait at times on the LORD to act or will we act in fear like Saul and do something that looks right but was done in fear and therefore opposed to the will of God?
David watches for Him because God is his Mountain Refuge (Misgab in the Hebrew). These would be the high cliffs on the eastern side of what is Israel today. They are practically inaccessible to armies. Anyone trying to get to the top is at a distinct disadvantage to those on top. David hid from Saul amongst them. It’s no wonder then he characterizes God as them. Those who put their trust in the LORD are like those on top of those cliffs. Those who go after them are at a distinct disadvantage. If I may quote the Jedi from Star Wars, when the LORD is your Misgab, you have the high ground. Those below cannot win. Ultimately, those who trust in the LORD win on Judgment Day as they inherit the earth.
10God, who loves me, comes to me; God lets me gloat over my enemies. 11Do not kill them, or my people may forget. By Your power make them stagger; then throw them down, O LORD, our Shield.
The fear in David which causes him to turn to the LORD now seems to turn to anger. They had turned against God’s anointed by seeking his life. David believes the God who loves him, comes to him to give him the help he has asked for. God has allowed him to gloat over his enemies. That is the purpose here in David not wanting the LORD to kill them yet (cf. vs. 13). For now they are to be a bad example. David invokes another name for God, Shield. As the LORD our Shield, David wants Him to make these people stagger and then throw them down. Such was the case of all the Jews who opposed Jesus and did not accept Him as their Messiah when the Romans came and cast down Jerusalem and the Temple. Those Jews though who trusted Jesus as their Messiah, they believed Jesus’ word and left Jerusalem and the area when the Roman soldiers came. We too then are called to trust Jesus and His Word concerning this world, mammon, and pride. Instead, we should cling to the heavenly things, trust only in God alone for ever good and strength and humble ourselves to be of service to one another.
O God, our Strength and Shield, grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may look to You alone for strength and protection in this life, that we may look upon those who mock those who trust in You when You cast them into the pit on the Last Day while we inherit the earth. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.