Militaries around the world and throughout history have trained for conflict. Because evil resides in the heart of each and every one of us, conflicts will happen. And despite our best human efforts they get out of control. In our day and age there are those who want to start conflicts, create chaos, stir up rivalries, and stoke hatred. Their goal is the breakdown of society. They want the power structures demolished so that they can come in and take over.
No matter how much we want peace here on earth it won’t happen until the Prince of Peace returns. We might be able to negotiate a temporary halt to conflict, but because the source of conflicts lay within us, peace won’t be permanent until we all are at peace with the LORD.
David, the writer of our psalm, has been on the receiving end of unwanted conflict. The type of conflict ranged from a very personal vendetta held by the current King of Israel, Saul, to military conflicts with neighboring peoples who were displaced when the Jews were delivered from Egypt and given the Promised Land. For some strange reason they didn’t want to give up their land without a fight. And because the processes wasn’t completed as the LORD commanded, there were episodic battles with those remnants.
This psalm is written after the battle with Saul had ended and David was again free from mortal threat. David didn’t take credit for his own deliverance. In fact, he bends over backwards giving the LORD credit for what happened. He had been empty, used up, worn out and the LORD intervened. David gives all the glory to the LORD.
In today’s section of this psalm we see many references to military connected things. David was, after all, a might military leader and fighter in his own right. During those years he was in hiding from Saul’s murderous threats, David gathered around him the strongest and fiercest warriors. He, with the leading of the LORD, was able to defeat many an enemy. Military leaders, even in today’s military, study these battles to learn the application of battle techniques and strategies.
David gives credit to the LORD for protection. The LORD is his shield and protection. The LORD is the only God who can do these kinds of interventions. He provides strength as a weapon and security along the way. If we have learned anything in our current conflicts it is that getting from place to place can be the most dangerous part of the mission. With the proliferation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) travel became very dangerous and deadly. Ambushes have happened all down through time. David was both the object of ambush and the operating force in ambushing his enemies.
One of the greatest concerns of any military is the condition of the soldier’s feet. If their feet fail, the army fails. So having feet like a deer, that never seem to fail and can take them securely to any height, would be a great advantage. David is of course not speaking of literal feet of a deer, but of the stability, endurance and reliability of the LORD’s strength.
Most military tasks require the use of hands and arms. So having strength in these areas is crucial to military effectiveness. But strength alone is not enough. The strength must be trained for the specific battle tasks that will be undertaken. Pushups only build general strength in the upper body. Someone who loads ammunition must develop specific strengths and agilities to accomplish their task quickly and efficiently. That takes specific training, repetition under stress. David says that the LORD trained his hands for battle. Starting as a young boy, David had been presented with a series of challenges that required specific skills. These trained him for battle. A lion and a bear come to mind.
And in the end David was saved and sustained by the LORD’s strength. He was provided a safe place to walk and the strength to walk it. And David gives the credit to the LORD. Many other rules of this world have taken credit for their rise to power and tight grip on it. But David recognized his rise as nothing other than the LORD’s favor on his life.
To whom do you give credit for the achievements you have in your life? Does your heart yield?
The Arnold Journey 