The Pilgrim Path---Psalm 18:28-45

Please take your Bible and look at these notes on verses 28-45. You think of David. You also think of the only living Son of David, The Lord Jesus Christ.

---v. 28---Source of light---the LORD: You light my lamp. My, we would forever dwell in darkness apart from the Savior---He is truly the Light of the World.

---v. 29---Send me against a troop---enable me to scale a wall. It is through the strength the Lord provides that we are sustained in our walk in this world (John 14, 15-

--the Holy Spirit came to indwell us and help us---we are not orphans here).

---v. 30---So perfect---Our God! A Shield for All who trust Him! Notice: "The word of the LORD proves true"---take it up and use it daily in your heart and mind...

---v. 31--- Solid Rock: The LORD! "Is there a God beside Him?" On Christ the SOLID Rock I stand---all other ground is sinking sand...

---v. 32---Strength is what He conveys: HE enables His own to walk in His paths...call on Him---He will help You...

---v. 33---Sets you like the Deer: securely on the heights! The LORD gives you incredible footing in difficult places in life...

---v. 34---Schools you for Battle: bronze bow is not too hard to pull. There is a great deal of military imagery in Scripture. We are in a fight between here and Heaven. Satan is opposed to God's ways, and the flesh is not a friend of the Spirit. The Bible does not use "vacation" language to describe Spiritual conflict. It is a war. David had enemies. We have them (the world as opposed to God; the flesh as opposed to the Spirit; the devil as opposed to Christ and His own).

---v. 35---Shield of Salvation is given / God's right hand supports / HIS gentleness made me great...Wow---What a phrase---think of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. His gentleness made us great---made us (Think of Matthew 11: 28, etc.,). What a passage to contemplate! Hear Spurgeon: "David ascribes all his own greatness to the condescending goodness and graciousness of His Father in heaven. Let us all feel this sentiment in our own hearts, and confess that whatever of goodness or greatness God may have put upon us, we must cast our crowns at his feet, and cry, ' thy gentleness hath made me great.'"

---v. 36---Steps sure by God's provision of a wide place: The LORD put me where I would not slip. Our security is never coincidence...

---v. 37---Success over enemies is by the LORD'S power (we want people consumed by the Gospel now. We want to pursue them with its truth wherever they may be).

---v. 38---Sword thrusts: so as not to rise again. Now we use the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Ephesians 6). We want people to die to self---rise as "new" people in Jesus Christ the LORD.

---v. 39---Strength for the Battle is The LORD'S gift: as is the sinking of foes. We pray and press on. From victory unto to victory...large and small---giving thanks to Him...

---v. 40---Seeing the backs of enemies: they fled! David eliminated his foes---The Living Christ will ultimately eliminate those who reject Him (John 3: 18). This is the age of grace---we tell people not to be foolish and "toy" with their immortal soul...

---v. 41---"Save Me"---those rogues cried---No one delivered them (even the LORD refused to hear them).

---v. 42---Street dust: this is what those foes of The LORD'S Own became! "like the mire of the streets..."

---v. 43---Strife: Is what I was delivered from / Service is what I received---As Spurgeon says, "There is more of Jesus-- than David here---heathen lands shall own the headship of the Crucified." 

---v. 44---Soon as they heard---they obeyed. "In many cases the gospel is speedily received by hearts apparently unprepared for it." Spurgeon

---v. 45---Strangers lost heart and came...David had opponents that eventually yielded. Certainly, the greater surrender---all those who yield to Christ. "Our sins which have entrenched themselves on our flesh and blood as in an impregnable forts, shall yet be driven forth by the sanctifying energy of the Holy Spirit, and we shall serve the Lord in singleness of heart." Spurgeon ----All will eventually bow the knee to The Living Christ at the Great Day---and acknowledge Him as LORD...it may be sooner than we think...

"It was the gentleness God exercised toward an imperfect human being that allowed David his success, and it was the gentleness God taught him through the years that, in the end, was his true greatness." Tim Keller & Derek Kidner

Are there no foes for me to face?

Must I not stem the flood?

Is this vile world a friend to grace,

To help me on to God?

Sure I must fight if I would reign---

Increase my courage, Lord!

I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,

Supported by Thy Word.

Isaac Watts (1674 --1748)

Grace & Peace in Jesus Christ Our LORD, Pastor Jason