CONSUME THEM, BUT DO NOT KILL THEM

PSALM 59 – 7/5/21

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“Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence. The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies. Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield

Ps. 59:9-11.

In today’s devotion I’d like to challenge you to look at your battle situation more scripturally in three areas:

Support of 4 pillars. Today may you know God as stronger than your greatest enemy. May you know him as your defense (your high place, your place of refuge, your strong tower of retreat.) May you know him as your mercy (goodness, kindness, faithfulness, beauty, favor) and as your shield (your defender, your cover, your hedge of protection, your force field.)

Slay them not lest my people forget. When under attack, it is natural for us to focus inward in self-preservation.  David challenges us to swivel one eye outward and remember that despite the fire raging in and around us, this whole thing is not just about us:

David asks God to work out the crisis in such a way that “his people” will not forget. He knows that there are fellow believers in the arena of life watching the scenario unfold. He knows he is part of a grand story and that spirit beings are watching and engaged. Because he has a big-picture understanding and knows his God, he knows that future generations will be told of what is happening in his life.

Do you know that Beloved? Do you know you have a great cloud of witnesses? Do you know that people are talking about you and how you are handling yourself?  Do you know your spectators are rooting for you in the battle even when you can’t see or hear them though the thundering of weaponry insulates you from their cheering? You are not alone. You are part of a team, part of a body. You are not your own. Fight with the team in mind. Though you may stationed at your post alone, you are part of a grand battalion. Do not forget that.

Withal, his goal in his battles is that “it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob,” v. 13. May we adopt that mentality and those words.  “Father, may I win in this confrontation with my professor so that she will know that you rule (have dominion, govern) over her, not me, not herself, not humanism or any ‘ism, but you alone;”  “May this case with my landlord work out so that he will know that you rule;” “May this scenario with my wayward child result in her knowing that that you rule.” “May this health scare result in my family and my healthcare team knowing that you rule. Amen?

Punishment of indulgence. God metes out various forms of punishment to the disobedient. Sometimes he finishes them off swiftly and they are no more. At other times he brings on clear consequences.

https://www.tribalminded.com

In Chapter 21 of Napping in Delilah’s Lap (13 Problems with Porn) I explore a curious form of punishment whereby God occasionally abandons one to their indulgence. What misdeed starts off as fun, if not repented of, becomes its own punishment. The “meat” we missed from Egypt fills us till we get so sick of it and it comes out of our nostrils (Numbers 11:20.) The forbidden fruit turns to gravel in the mouth (Proverbs 20:17.)

I write, “Pornography can be a form of God’s discipline. This is a tricky concept to which the pornographer might originally say, “Bring it on!” Unfortunately, intimacy with the Temptress is the last stop before the grave.

The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit; a man experiencing the LORD’s wrath will fall into it

(Proverbs 22:14).

Because of this, God handed them over to the vile desires of their heart to disgrace their bodies among themselves

(Romans 1:24, Aramaic Bible in Plain English).

May today’s devotion challenge you to look at your battle situation more scripturally. Battle on, soldier!

0 thoughts on “CONSUME THEM, BUT DO NOT KILL THEM”

  1. The battle belongs to the Lord is my first thought as I read this. Putting on the armor is my second thought. Life really is a battle. Thank you for your encouragement dear Hannah!

    Reply
  2. The battle belongs to the Lord is my first thought as I read this. Putting on the armor is my second thought. Life really is a battle. Thank you for your encouragement dear Hannah!

    Reply

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