Strength for the Journey
Psalm 18: 1, 27-33, 39
(New International Version)
I love you, O Lord, my strength.
You save the humble, but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.
As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is flawless.
He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.
For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on the heights.
You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet.
This chapter of Psalm was written by David, who spoke these words to The Lord after being delivered from the hand of his enemies and from Saul. In these verses, David declares three things about strength.
Strength is on display in our lives when we have the power to stand especially when facing attack. We have read about the strength possessed by the Roman myth character, Hercules, and the strength of Samson in the bible. For those of us who are living our lives in Christ, we certainly need strength for this Christian journey. Being faced with challenges such as illness, emotional pain, bereavement, and watching our country move further and further away from godliness, we must remain focused on the One who provides our strength!
This chapter of Psalms was written by David, who spoke these words to the Lord after being delivered from the hand of his enemies and from Saul. In these verses, David declares three things about the strength.
- David states exactly what strength does in verses 27-29. He proclaims that it “saves those who are afflicted”. It is encouraging for the believer to realize and to remember this when tested with all types of challenges. God’s strength anoints the believer’s life, which allows the light of Christ to be visible by others in everyday life circumstances. So, dear Christian, whether you feel strong or not, you are operating in the strength of our lord. What a comforting thought! Lastly, David recalls how the strength of God operating in his life, he possessed the ability to withstand great opposition, regardless of the size of the obstacle.
- In verse 32, we see where strength resides; it is all around us, holding us together and maintaining our stance in the Lord.
- In the very first verse David declares who provides this strength. It is our Lord! He is our strength and our Redeemer! We must never forget that of ourselves we are weak. However, the Lord reminds us in scripture that His strength is perfected in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12: 7-10)
Rely on God’s strength for your daily walk as you faithfully serve Him, and trust Him to provide it. Remember that no challenge is more powerful than the strength that our Lord gives. If you are a new creature in Christ, it is operating in your life, so be thankful for it!