67 Day Countdown - Days 51-60
September 2; Day 51; Psalm 51; A CLEAN HEART
Key Verse: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (v. 10)
Key Theme: David repenting of his sin with Bathsheba.
Key Descriptive of God: God of My Salvation.
Psalm 51 is one we don’t have to wonder about the context, as it tells us clearly that it is David’s Psalm after Nathan the prophet confronted him on his sin in the Bathsheba matter. From verse 1, David will have the right response, “Have mercy upon me, O God.” The entire chapter will be David acknowledging his sin and thoroughly going after his heart issues that allowed him to fail God in this way. Perhaps one of the most cited and yet misunderstood aspects of David’s life was the whole Bathsheba incident. Today, we often flippantly will say, “Well God forgave David of adultery and murder,” and it usually leads to why we should just quickly “restore” someone in ministry who “fell into sin.” First of all, it is only in the reading of 2 Samuel 11 and 12 that truly the seriousness of it all becomes understood. The lengths David went to in order to cover his original sin of taking Bathsheba was extreme, and it shows up even more because of the nobility of Uriah’s actions. When Nathan confronted David using an allegory of a rich man taking a poor man’s only ewe, David was incensed and immediately said, “that man deserves to die,” and, “he must repay four-fold.” When Nathan told David that HE was the rich man, the sin of it all hit him. Right away Nathan told him he would be forgiven in the sense that he would not die—which David had already said should happen—but we often overlook the profound consequences of that sin.
“This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. You did it secretly but I will make this happen openly in the sight of Israel.” (2 Sam. 12:11,12)
This all happened for years in very painful and public ways. His sons Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah fulfilled this part of his punishment. Furthermore, right after Nathan told David that the Lord had forgiven him he was also told that the child Bathsheba was carrying would die—and controversially that it would all be because of David’s “utter contempt” for the Lord by doing what he did (2 Sam. 12:13,14). Even more controversially, in the next verse it says, “the Lord sent a deadly illness to the child of David.” Yes, so God doesn’t do that—but He did. As we saw in the case of Moses being excluded from the Promised Land for his sin of striking the rock, when you are close to the Lord, the consequences of sin are even greater—and that is all part of sin being “forgiven” because of sincere repentance. Imagine if it wasn’t so. Today, any visible ministry demanding God’s people forgive him because God has forgiven him forget that you cannot demand that of the people. You can desire it, hope for it, wish for it—but the “limp” of extra humility you must walk in is a consequence even of forgiven sin. Now, if you are actually still covering up your sin you are not even offered that. Of course, being ministerially famous doesn’t equate with being close to God—so if you do get off with just a simple scolding you can be glad you were never that close to God to have to go through something like Moses or David. Sin is serious, not because it messes up a conduct report card. Sin is serious because it violates a treasured relationship.
CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART
“Create in me a CLEAN HEART, O God, And renew a STEADFAST SPIRIT within me.” This is our key verse. David knew this was the root problem to his egregious sin. “Clean” there is from a word meaning UNPOLLUTED. Heart pollution was the problem, and it caused his spirit to no longer be STEADFAST or TO STAY UPRIGHT. Our heart can become polluted from life itself. Disappointment, delay, grievances, cynicism, and dealing with “sinners” can all compile to pollute our hearts. An action of sin like David’s becomes proof of that pollution. For us, we are to learn from his example. It became an objective for David. “Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.” (v. 13) How to come back to God after greatly failing Him? This is the great lesson from David. He opens up his heart before God and says, “I need a new one.” And “renew” the spirit I used to have that didn’t just fold and didn’t just give in to every whim I had. You know, a major repurposing by God for this year of reset is that we slow down enough to voluntarily submit to heart and spirit reformatting. Anywhere we have lost child-likeness, lost sensitivity to him, become cynical, become a grudge-carrier, lost the joy of life over it’s many disappointments. Ah Lord, create in me a clean heart!
DO NOT TAKE—YOUR PRESENCE, YOUR HOLY SPIRIT
The next verse 11, “Do not cast me away from YOUR PRESENCE, And do not take away YOUR HOLY SPIRIT from me.” Remembering Moses, that was always his big concern. Don’t send us even to a “Promised Land” if Your presence won’t go with us. Here David shares his greatest fear. The relational and national consequences for him would be tough. However, the thing he could not bear was to lose the special place of relationship. Though we have seen him frequently referring to "his sins" during these Psalms, 1 Kings 15:5 tells us that did “not fail to keep any of the commands of the Lord, all the days of his life— except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.” He was not a habitual sinner, meaning he was not one who habitually violated his relationship with God. That was something precious to him and something he protected at all cost. The word there for “presence” is PANIYM which is the same word for FACE that we are talking about this whole 67-day journey of “His FACE shining upon us.” David lived under the favor and blessing of His face because he treasured it so. He was never “sin-conscious” driven but only “God-conscious” driven. He was never about the good report card on his conduct, but always about PRESENCE. For him to say, “and do not take away YOUR HOLY SPIRIT from me,” is just monumental. Not a drop of teaching on the Holy Spirit existed. There was theoretically/legally no access to the Holy Spirit until Jesus did what He did on the cross, then ascended, and then the Father sent the Holy Spirit. Yet, here is David 1000 years ahead of time having relationship with Him. This is what he did not want to lose. Everything about his life was about a special, ahead-of-its-time relationship with God, from the supernatural power over lions, bears, giants, and armies to unique access to Presence and the Holy Spirit. THIS is what he wanted repaired. Verses 16 and 17 are so key where David reveals that he knows God doesn’t really care for sacrifices and burnt offerings—but that He is looking for a “contrite heart.” With David and God it is all about the heart.
Ah, so much of this chapter left yet untapped—for time and length’s sake—but today, may we be relationally driven to learn from David’s life, from his failures, and from his processes.
September 3; Day 52; Psalm 52 DOEG AND OLIVE TREES
Key Verse: “You love to destroy others with your words, you liar! But God will strike you down once and for all.” (v. 4, 5a)
Key Theme: David remembering the treachery of Doeg.
Key Descriptive of God: God of Justice
Today we have another chapter with context. “A Psalm of David regarding the time Doeg the Edomite said to Saul, ‘David has gone to see Ahimelech.” That story is told in 1 Samuel 21 and 22 and is quite intense. This is after David has been anointed king by Samuel, has slain Goliath, but before he himself becomes king. He is on the run from rejected king Saul and makes it to Ahimelech the priest. David talks him into giving him 5 loaves of the hallowed bread because he is hungry, and also talks him into giving him Goliath’s sword because he is without a weapon. (By eating the priests' holy bread David is once again pushing the envelope on what he is allowed to do). Doeg the Edomite who is Saul’s chief herdsmen sees all this and reports it to Saul. Saul ends up ordering Doeg to kill the priests for being welcoming to David, and so Doeg kills 85 priests and all the people of the priests’ town, including women and children. It was truly a horrific slaughter and David was immensely affected by it. Only 1 priest had escaped. With that in mind this short chapter reads like a present-day reality with Saul being the corrupt “deep state,” David being President Trump, and Doeg being the Media. It rings to me like a prophetic word for us today—and something we are seeing lived out in our day.
DOEG: ROOT MEANING “TO FEAR, ANXIOUS, BE AFRAID”
Now that you have his name and meaning let’s look at verse 1: “Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior? Don’t you realize God’s JUSTICE continues forever?” (v. 1) David then goes on to address Doeg in ways we might address the “mainstream media.”
“All day long you plot destruction. YOUR TONGUE cuts like a sharp razor.” (v. 2) “You love evil more than good and LIES more than truth.” (v. 3) Then our key verse, “You love to destroy WITH YOUR WORDS, you LIAR!” (v. 4) This all sounds like today, being a vessel for evil and destroying everything good and holy, and conspiring against who God has anointed to lead the nation. Doeg appropriately enough was an “Edomite” or descendant of Esau—the man who sells his godly inheritance for a pot of stew. He is in charge of watching the rejected king Sauls’ sheep. Even his title “herdsmen” is revealing as to what the media does—“herding.” They herd the sheep with a lying narrative.
BUT GOD WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN
“But God will strike you down once and for all.” (v. 5) David has already reminded this powerful herdsman that what he has done is criminal and that God’s JUSTICE continues on, even after he thinks the story is over (v. 1). “He will pull you from your home and uproot you from the land of the living.” (v. 5b) The complicit media with its’ promotion of lies and its' squelching of cures and everything good has its’ day coming. “The righteous will see it and be amazed. They will laugh and say, ‘Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust in their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness’” (v. 6, 7). In the story development told in 1 Samuel, you can see this progression. At first it seems Doeg is wondering if he should tell on David and the priests, and then he does tell—with a twist, and then he becomes so pleased by Saul’s attention that he is emboldened to go far beyond even what he was asked to do, destroying the whole town. This spirit seems to be on so much of the mainstream media right now that it is a stench. They are BOLD in their WICKEDNESS. JUSTICE is still calling.
BUT I AM LIKE AN OLIVE TREE
“But I am like an OLIVE TREE, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.” (v. 8) A mouthful was said here by David. He is done addressing the evil of Doeg and his coming accountability to the justice of God. David, through that experience with Doeg, has had another close call with death—yet his declaration is, “I am like an olive tree.” The olive tree in Hebrew is SHEMEN and literally means “tree of oil.” Olives only give oil when pressed. Perhaps read that again. OLIVES ONLY GIVE OIL WHEN PRESSED. In reading the process olives go through in one place it says, “they are beaten into a pulp.” Anyone identify? What looks like the destruction of an olive is actually the process for producing the highly valuable oil. In Bible times the “anointing oil” was made from the olives. David had been anointed by Samuel with a pouring of olive oil on his head. When the Promised Land was described in Deut. 8:8 it was as “a land of olive trees and honey.” In Jeremiah 11:16 the prophet said of Israel, “the Lord calls you an olive tree, beautiful with good fruit.” The Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus sweat “great drops of blood” is until this day on the Mt. of Olives and full of olive trees. They are amazing trees that live past 1000 years, and whose circumference can extend beyond 20 feet. The trunks are full of twists and turns but the one constant is more olives which lead to more oil. Applicable? An olive tree is an evergreen. Even if an olive tree gets cut down its’ roots will begin to grow shoots. So much there too. Once you are an olive tree even if you get cut down early, what you missed out on doing passes on to your “roots.” And like me, some of you might be “root shoots,” finishing up (or adding to) what a parent was prematurely cut down from fulfilling.
ISRAEL AND THE OLIVE TREE
The olive tree and branches are still very prominent and significant in Israel today. The olive branch was first highlighted in Noah’s day when the waters were receding from the flood and a dove brought a small olive branch. It meant restoration time is here. It is also symbolic of Israel, in ways we can’t go into deeply right now, but perhaps obvious with their history of being “beaten like a pulp.” The olive branches is still the army emblem in Israel with the IDF’s specific emblem being made up of three things—the star of David, the sword, and the olive branch. Amazingly, our own seal of the United States has an olive branch on it, and that too speaks in a couple ways, telling us of our own process as a nation and of our connection with Israel. Bottom line, we are now positioned to recite along with David in his last verse of Psalm 52, “I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will trust in Your good name in the presence of Your faithful people.” (v. 9) As His face continues to shine on us in “the Summer of His love” in 2020, may we all become the “olive tree” B-52 Bombers we were all created to be.
September 4; Day 53; Psalm 53; FOOLS
Key Verse: “Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back the captivity of His people, Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.” (v. 6)
Key Theme: The consequences of living like there is no God.
Key Descriptives of God: God who looks and sees; God of Salvation.
Today, we have a very short chapter and essentially a repeat chapter, as it is almost an exact replica of Psalm 14. Any time there is a repeat passage in the Bible, rather than a “yeah, I already heard that” from us, I believe it is telling us to give special attention to the message.
FOOLS SAY THERE IS NO GOD
“The fool has said in his heart, there is no God, they are corrupt and have done abominable iniquity.” (v. 1) One can quickly see the progression. Say there is NO GOD. They are CORRUPT. Have done ABOMINABLE INIQUITY. This looks like the sequence of realities if you embrace being an atheist. Your moral rails fall apart and you pursue the core satanist ideal of “do as thou wilt.” If there is no God there is no point serving anyone else other than your self—and that is never going to end right.
However, as true as this might be, this scripture was not put in the Bible just for us to be able to finger-point at atheists as “fools.” There is a wider brush being painted with that allows us all some introspection to ensure WE are not being “fools.” See, the scripture points out that a fool says there is no God—IN HIS HEART. This is quite different than saying it with your mouth which is what an “official" atheist would do. The Hebrew word for “fool” is NABAL and also means “wicked, stupid, foolish, ABANDONED.” It is, of course, ultimate stupidity to say, “there is no God,” because to believe that everything on earth happened from randomness is not just another perspective but rather the epitome of a shipwrecked IQ.
PRESUMED ABANDONMENT
But let’s look at the word ABANDONED which is one of the definitions of NABAL. Then let’s say this verse in another way. “Those who feel abandoned will act and live like there is no God.” This leads to a much wider swathe of individuals, and can explain some of our own straying from time to time. In the world today it seems that almost everyone is falling under some kind of definition of a narcissistic disorder or syndrome. I don’t know if we have counseled any marriage situation that I didn’t hear about the offending party being “a narcissist.” And this among believers who don’t say with their mouth, "there is no God,” but perhaps do so with their hearts. Narcissism, more than being about pride, is about being on your own throne and everyone else being lesser-than—beginning with those closest to you. It is when “caring about you” has ingested way too many steroids and gone terribly wrong. Some form of deficient behavior will always result from that and then progressively go to a worse place, eventually crossing the line of CORRUPT and then ABOMINABLE. It is the opposite of the Christ-like, “greater love has no man then to lay down his life for another.” No time to do the deep dive here, but let’s make sure we are not the “fools” of this chapter in any kind of applicable way. If we discover that our heart does echo with, “there is no God,” let’s go back and find out what traumatic event disappeared Him from our heart and get some healing there. (SOZO’S?)
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD?
Twice in this chapter we will see the line, “There is none who does good,” once it will be followed up with, “No, not one.” (v. 2) This, at first glance would seem to be a harsh statement throwing us all under the bus and making us all the “fools.” Though not properly expounded on by David, we do have the apostle Paul refer to this whole passage in Romans 3:9-12, as he discusses sin in a very nuanced manner. His application for us is that “none is good” in the sense of “all are under the power of sin.” In other words, you will never be good enough to earn the privilege of eternity in heaven. Beyond that, anyone truly self-honest is aware that our natural proclivity is not to be “good”—despite assertions to the contrary. No one has to teach a baby to want what it wants when it wants it—they innately go there. Saying MINE does not have to be taught, but is the un-good instinct in toddlers. Sharing is not instinctive. Being considerate is not either. Pooping and peeing when and where you want to is what comes “naturally.” A child who has not been parented does not just turn out good because they are good from the inside. A child left to its’ own instincts would turn into the gnarliest human being imaginable and likely quickly become a denizen of prison for the advanced progression of what is un-good. Narcissism is our norm—when no God is considered. So "none does good,” but there is hope.
SALVATION OUT OF ZION
“Oh, that the salvation of Israel, would come out of Zion! When God brings back the captivity of His people, Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.” (v. 6) This is essentially the one hopeful and hope-filled verse of Psalm 53. Verse 5 had a hint of good news, telling us God will “scatter the bones of him who encamps against you,” but that is not an easy application for us (though we know that in New Testament reality, “we wrestle not against flesh and blood,” and so we must apply it to demonic constructs). However, from what I understand of the Hebrew language (definitely not an expert) the tense of this verse could also have been translated as the prophetic statement that it is, “Oh, the salvation of Israel is going to come out of Zion!” Again we have the amazing word “salvation” YESHUA in Hebrew, that tells us that Jesus the Savior will come out of Israel. We all have gone in and out of some level of being “fools.” None of us are really “core-good.” But God has made provision for all that and provided Himself as the source of every kind of GOOD, including eternal salvation. The more He takes up residence in us, the more we become “core-good.” That hard to understand “brings back the captivity of His people” line in Hebrew literally means, “turns with a turning.” It is applicable for each one of us in our personal “turning" to Jesus, and it is very applicable to the nation of Israel and the “turning” to their Messiah that they will do. Through the Holy Spirit He, "turns us with a turning.” He doesn’t just put out the demand for a “turning” but He provides the “turning” for us to “turn.” As it says in Phil. 2:13, “GOD WHO WORKS in you both TO WILL and TO DO of His good pleasure.” This makes it double-grace. Let us bask in the grace of His salvation today, as their is new joy in it.
September 5; Day 54; Psalm 54; THE ZIPHITES
Key Verse: “For you have rescued me from my troubles and helped me to triumph over my enemies.” (v. 7)
Key Theme: Ziphites tell Saul where David is located and he is surrounded.
Key Descriptive of God: My Helper.
We have another Psalm where we know the accompanying storyline. This is during the time Saul is chasing David trying to kill him for the “sin” of being more popular than him. The heading in this chapter tells us that the Ziphites had come and told Saul that David was among them. For 7 verses, David addresses the situation beginning with, “Come with power, O God and rescue me! Defend me with your might.” (v. 1) Now some backstory.
THE ZIPHITES
The Ziphites were inhabitants of Ziph, appropriately enough. What is not revealed in that is that Ziph was in Judah, David’s own tribe. In the rapid progression of David’s story, in 1 Samuel 16, David is suddenly and surprisingly called out of the sheep-shed of obscurity and anointed King by the prophet Samuel. Immediately it says, “the spirit of the Lord came upon him.” (1 Sam.16:13) The very next verse it also says, “and the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul,” and then it further states, “and a distressing spirit of the Lord came upon Saul.” Amazing how that works. In Saul’s “distress” ironically David gets brought in because of his harp talent to calm Saul from this distressing spirit. It goes on to say that David loved Saul and became his armor-bearer as well (1 Sam. 16:21). In the very next chapter (1 Sam. 17) Goliath shows up, and Saul and Israel shake with fear for 40 days until David showed up—not as a warrior but bringing bread and cheese to his brothers and the captains. A case of “Superman" bringing snacks to the cowards. Of course, before the day is over history has been made, as unknown David easily takes out Goliath and the whole nation exults. What is often missed is how Saul seems to have no idea who David is even though he has served him as armor-bearer and musician extraordinaire. Even after David dispatches with Goliath, Saul asks of David, “whose son is this? Who is he?” (1 Sam. 17:56) Talk about being overlooked! But Saul learns to celebrate David, and even as part of his agreement gives him his daughter Micah as wife. Remember that—Saul is David’s father-in-law. By 1 Sam. 18, Saul no longer cares for David as the women are singing, “Saul has killed his 1000’s and David his 10,000’s,” and that won’t work for his ego. Before the end of the chapter he has thrown his spear at David, trying to pin him to the wall. He misses. For the next several chapters Saul will chase David with 3000 chosen men trying to kill him for being more anointed. David has 400 mainly in-trouble men who come out to hang with him. Then it grows to 600. It is great to have the support, but much harder to stay under the radar from Saul. A frequent place of staying safe is in the wilderness of Ziph, as he is in his own beloved tribe Judah where David is the toast of the town. What makes this story and this Psalm particularly painful is that it is one of those huge betrayal things as well. People from his very own tribe turn him in. As you read the 1 Sam. 23 account you see that David actually gets sieged by Saul and his men—apparently near a precipice. This is where Psalm 54 is written. Context.
GOD IS MY HELPER
In verse 3, David tells the Lord, “Violent people are trying to kill me.” Interestingly enough his next line is, “They care nothing for God.” (NLT) In David’s own mind he imagines that the people—and especially HIS people—have to see that God has anointed him in a special way. Likely, all in his tribe have to know that Samuel the prophet has already anointed him King. The “violent people” are Saul and his “chosen men”—ironically those who shook before Goliath for 40 days. Did they think David had gotten lucky with his sling as it relates to Goliath? Did they not realize THEY were in immensely more danger now than they were back in chapter 17? Nevertheless, we see this eternal trait of David—dependance on God, despite being “Superman” and now supported by those who would become known as “David’s mighty men.” In verse 4, “BUT GOD is my helper. THE LORD keeps me alive!” David only fights battles the Lord anoints him for, and he has not been anointed to battle Saul. Therefore God will take care of him, even if surrounded and at a precipice.
PLANS OF ENEMY TURNED AGAINST HIM
“May the evil plans of the enemies be turned against them. Do as You promised and put an end to them.” (v. 5) What the Psalm doesn’t tell you, but 1 Samuel 23 does, is that right when it seems Saul has David trapped, “for Saul and his men were encircling David,” (1 Sam. 23:26)—suddenly a messenger comes running to Saul and tells him that the Philistines are attacking. Saul is forced to abandon his pursuit of David to go attend to the Philistines. God had in fact quickly helped David in his time of need by sending other enemies against his enemies. David “escaped” Saul by God having Saul attacked by Philistines. This too seems to be a signature operation of God—turning enemies of God against each other. Now in our own day I think we are going to see more of this dynamic with “the swamp” turning against themselves at key moments.
YOU HELPED ME TO TRIUMPH
In the last two verses David is clearly out of danger, and as is his custom he is going to credit God and offer Him the praises due His name. His Psalm began with, “Come with great power, O God,” and it ends with, “For You have rescued me from my troubles and helped me to TRIUMPH over my enemies.” (v. 7) I am reminded that back in March of 2016 the Lord showed me that Donald Trump would be president. In a vision I saw him on a TRIUMPH motorcycle at the top of a mountain, after having won a race—and making a lot of noise with his motorcycle and wearing a red, white, and blue bandanna. God gives TRIUMPHS. So many insights for us today and so many ways to apply it. Maybe you remember when a prophet released an anointing on your life. Maybe everything didn’t suddenly go just perfectly. Maybe you have a Saul you served well—but he didn’t even see you. Maybe he finally did see you and celebrated you but then suddenly your light was brighter than his and he wanted you gone. Maybe you have had Ziphites in your life. Maybe those who should have celebrated you the most instead turned on you. Of course, if by chance YOU were the Saul or the Ziphites, it is a good year and a good time to repent of that. We are in fact quite prone to switching between David and Saul—as insecurities arise. In your 2020 reset, go ahead and delete the Saul app and make David your new search engine. Our God is for Davids.
September 6; Day 55; Psalm 55; IF I HAD WINGS?
Key Verse: “Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved” (v. 22)
Key Theme: David under severe duress.
Key Descriptive of God: God who Hears.
Day 55 of our 67-day journey! What an amazing journey it has been and we really have been being nurtured by the shining face of God. We are starting to glow from the inside out. Yesterday the Kentucky Derby was won by a horse named Authentic, and surely that is a main objective of His face shining upon us through this raw, authentic journey with David. Authentic is a key word stepping into the new Hebraic year 5781, and more on that in a coming separate post. Today we get more very raw and authentic David. Lest we forget, this “crybaby” is a lion-shredder and a giant-killer and can put a thousand to flight. Hollywood’s model would have him be a stoic, unshakeable man of few words but that is not authentic David.
MOAN NOISILY?
“Attend to me, and hear me. I am restless in my complaint, and MOAN NOISILY.” (v. 2) It is one thing to “moan noisily” and another to be so self-aware that you put that on a piece of paper as what you are doing. David must still smile at how his words have “been out there” for all to see for over 2000 years. For 15 verses David will “moan noisily.”
“My heart is SEVERELY PAINED within me.” (v. 4) “FEARFULNESS and TREMBLING have come upon me.” (v. 5) “HORROR has overwhelmed me.” (v. 5) This is more than “I’m having a bad day.” Calming essential oils aren’t going to cut it for David today.
WINGS LIKE A DOVE
“Oh that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” (v. 6) I don’t want to over-tamper here, but with the level of emotional pain that David is experiencing most of us might justify him going to get some pharmaceutical help. This level of anxiety? I mean he is trembling. Sounds like a panic attack to me. Is maybe the reason David experiences such profound intervention from God is that he doesn’t look for relief from any other source? Okay sorry that is tampering or meddling, isn’t it? The Lord is his psychiatrist, counselor, and doctor—and David will make a fool of himself in getting through to Him. He demands that He be, “The Lord is my Shepherd I lack nothing,” and he is going to unabashedly “moan noisily” until sure that his Shepherd has heard him. Several times in this chapter David will say similarly, “Give ear”, “Hear me”, “He will hear”, “God will hear,” before we finally see the key verse 22 come into reality. But right now in verse 6 David is telling God he wants out of this severe emotional pain. Where we might ask for a premature “rapture” to escape our pain, David would be fine if he could just fly to a peaceful wilderness. In verse 8 he describes it—“I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.” Perhaps 2020 has brought an identifiable measure of a storm and tempest to all of us?
DIVIDE THEIR TONGUES
In verse 9 David asks the Lord to, “destroy and divide their tongues.” Somehow what has come against David is tied into many voices coming together against him. Like what God did at the tower of Babel, David is asking that God break up that unity of agenda. David has his own conspiring and coordinated “fake news” and it is crushing him. It seems he has prescribed for us even today a strategic prayer for that reality. “Divide their tongues.”
“Destroy” them by this means. Break Leviathan’s unity.
BUT IT WAS YOU
Verses 12-14 are tremendously revealing. Here we discover the one who is causing David the most pain is a former close friend who is now in the center of this cacophony of accusing voices. “For it is not an enemy, who reproaches me, then I could bear it.” He then shifts to directing his pain towards his former friend, “But it was you, a man my equal, my companion…we took sweet counsel together,” he sobs. In my mind this is Joab. With him from the days of fleeing from Saul, he became David's absolute right hand man—and as we might remember, the one so close and loyal he could assign him the Uriah matter. Perhaps that was when Joab made a shift in allegiance. Whatever the actual situation we can see that it was this sort of scenario.
CAST YOUR BURDEN ON THE LORD
This brings us to our key verse of the day. “CAST your burden on the Lord, and He will SUSTAIN you.” Here are two key words to take with us today. “Cast” is SHALAK in Hebrew, and what a better sounding word for what we want to do with our burdens. I want to SHALAK my burden of stress on the Lord, not just CAST it. Appropriately enough SHALAK also means to “throw or fling.” Fling your burden on the Lord. This is what David has modeled in this chapter. It has not been a polite “Would You help me?” but rather an intense, “This is YOURS now and I refuse to carry it!” The word “sustain” in Hebrew is KUWL and it means “maintain, nourish, be present, make provision, comprehend, measure.” Obviously we could do a whole post just on that one word KUWL. SHALAK your troubles on God and He will do ALL of these KUWL things. He will BE PRESENT might be the greatest, closely followed by COMPREHEND and then MAKE PROVISION. But then MEASURE as well? What is that? Eph. 4:13 speaks of growing so much in the knowledge of God that we come “to the MEASURE of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Isn’t that something? In His KUWL/sustaining of us He is also measuring us to see if we are growing in Christ’s stature in us. Pressures that makes us “moan noisily” can fast-forward Christ being formed in us. That is what we miss out on if we actually “fly away like a dove,” either through drugs, alcohol, shopping, eating, or whatever other escape we have that is not HIM. He doesn’t say "fling your burden” onto anything else but HIM. It is “in the storm” we can find His shining face as we press into Him. It is there we get the promise of the last line of this key verse. “He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”
“Moved” in every way. What a promise. David’s final words for chapter 55 will be, “BUT I WILL TRUST IN YOU.” From a gut-wrenching, “GIVE EAR TO MY PRAYER” of verse 1, to this final conclusion, decision, declaration, and reality, I WILL TRUST. This is where a path of authenticity with God will take us.
September 7; Day 56; Psalm 56; THE SILENT DOVE?
Key Verse: “When I cry out unto You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know because God is for me.” (v. 9)
Key Theme: David with the Philistines after fleeing Saul.
Key Descriptive of God: The One who can be Trusted.
Psalm 56 is another fascinating Psalm and especially so when you know the backstory. From the beginning we are told that this was a Psalm of David “when the Philistines captured him in Gath…” Now nowhere else are we ever told that Philistines capture or seize David, but that is the Psalmist’s perspective. The passage referred to is 1 Samuel 21:10, where it tells us David fled from a chasing Saul and went to the king of Gath—which was a Philistine city. He went into a potentially hostile environment in order to escape Saul. While in Gath the servants of the king come to him and say, “Is this not David THE KING of the land, of whom it is said Saul has killed his thousands and David his ten thousands?” (1 Sam. 21:11) We are told that when David hears that this is being said of him he becomes quite afraid that the king of Gath might seek to do him harm. So what he does is he pretends to be insane—“and let his saliva fall on his beard,” (1 Sam.21:13) causing the king to accuse his servants of bringing before him an “insane” man. David then leaves to find refuge elsewhere. The story is even more of a head-scratcher when you remember that Goliath was “of Gath” and that in 1 Sam. 17, after Goliath is slain by David, that they chase the Philistines all the way to Gath. The only thing "insane" about David is that David would think this is a good place to find safety from Saul.
DAVID KING OF THE LAND?
It is insightful from the 1 Samuel reading that it was said “Is this not DAVID THE KING OF THE LAND?” As we remember Saul had not yet died and was officially still “king." Amazing that the enemy knew better who David was than did Israel. The enemy often better knows who somebody really is in the spirit realm than “God’s people” do. David was KING despite no title and no crown. Saul had both title and crown but was already discounted in the enemies eyes. Furthermore, David was not just referred to as King of Israel but King of THE LAND. The enemy knew that David was not even limited to Israel’s borders but had general authority everywhere. When David knows he is fully known by the enemy it is time to leave. He had not been told to fight this battle either, and doing so would also attract the attention of Saul again. He wanted respite from that. To fight Saul would be to have to fight against those he would have to then rule and David wanted no part in that. There is a lesson there too.
SILENT DOVE IN A DISTANT LAND?
Though this Psalm is all about David processing his life of fleeing from Saul it is introduced to us as a Psalm that was sung to a tune called “the silent dove in a distant land…” Again so much here as well. For us the Holy Spirit is “the Dove.” Have you ever felt like you are in a “distant” place and “the Dove” is silent? This was the tune David was singing to. Mind you, 5 chapters earlier in 1 Sam. 16, THE prophet of God, Samuel had just anointed him King of Israel. This did not seem like what should follow that kind of prophetic word and experience. Have you ever found a great prophetic promise followed by a great life challenge? Call it normal.
BATACH
I counted 17 times in this chapter that David addresses the Lord either as “You”, “O God”, “O Lord”, or “O Most High.” Quite amazing really. He is with the Philistines first just trying to hide, and then pretending to be insane. It still baffles me to consider that the man who stood up to Goliath and said, “I am going to cut your head off,” is now spitting on his beard as a protective measure. I suppose the lesson here is, “if this is not a battle God has for you—do something else.” Meanwhile, the whole time you are talking to God and telling Him how much you trust Him for everything. Perhaps a better title for this chapter would be “Drooling on your beard while trusting in God.” What is going on, compared to what looks like is going on, seems quite inconsistent—but this chapter makes it clear they are not. “Whenever I am afraid I will trust in You.” (v. 3) David was afraid, he is drooling on his beard and acting insane—but declaring trust in God. In verse 4 ,David will say, “In God I have PUT MY TRUST.” In verse 11, he will say the exact same thing. In the last verse he will ultimately say, “For You have delivered my soul from death.” Just wow. He is calling his crazy act a God-strategy. There is a time to slay 10,000 Philistines and there is a time to creatively avoid a battle. God knows which to do—so then the TRUST. This phrase “put your trust” in Hebrew is translated with one word. BATACH. BATACH means, “to set one’s hope and confidence upon; to be secure; to fear nothing for oneself.” What a great thing this is. To be so secured in Him that He can kill a giant through you or "win an academy award in acting" through you. What diverse means of deliverance our God has!
GOD, BE ANGRY AT MY ENEMIES!
This is the essence of verse 7, no matter what translation of the Bible you use. As David pours out his heart most of what is pressing him is the continual threat on his life by Saul. The days, weeks, months and maybe even years of Saul pursuing him to kill him are taking a toll. All this because a great prophet anointed him with oil. How frustrating and unfair. So David says, “in your anger, O God, BRING THEM DOWN!” Just so much in that little phrase. David recognizes that HE is being targeted because he represents GOD'S intervention and mandate on earth. David thinks “kingdom first.” Once you start with David’s perspective it is not as inappropriate as it sounds to say, “God be angry and bring them down!” He now assumes HIS (David’s) enemies are GOD’S enemies. “BRING THEM DOWN!” Though David knows he is not called to do it, he sees that Saul is acting as an enemy agent of the kingdom and needs to be BROUGHT DOWN. He prays in agreement and it is what shortly happens as soon the Amalekites will bring down Saul—and David will be officially "the king.” When “in Him, you move and live and have your being,” (Acts 17:28) you can pray like David did and know it is the same as praying, “God be angry at YOUR enemies, and bring them down!”
TEARS IN A BOTTLE
“You keep track of my wanderings. You have collected my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded EACH ONE in Your book.” (v. 8) What a powerful verse. David’s “wanderings” are his many escapes from Saul. Saul is the man he is called to replace, is well capable of bringing down, but who he is not called to bring down. So it is a bit of a torment. Frustration is present. Contradiction is present. Tears are frequent. By some kind of revelation David knows that God has a bottle that catches EVERY tear and records it in HIS book. Wow, what a special book that must be. There are no tears in heaven because there is no contradiction in heaven. All is at it seems. No getting prophetic words from somebody telling you the great things God has for you followed by what seems like the opposite. Tears can’t exist in heaven as all longings are fulfilled. That is why tears are so treasured by our Father in this short span of time. Nothing can be more special to Him. This is when one of His kids is looking at Him totally baffled by the pain of present circumstances and usually when that child of His will make a very important decision. Trust or not trust. Pull closer or pull back. Press in or quit.
GOD IS FOR ME
“WHEN I cry out to You, THEN my enemies will turn back; This I know BECAUSE GOD IS FOR ME.” (v. 9) This is our central lesson of "The 2020 Summer of His Love.” GOD IS FOR ME. GOD IS FOR US. He knows we are not perfect. He knows we are prone to question Him through our circumstances—we see David did that too, though generally not very long. But He is the God that is FOR us. I love the cause and effect David identifies. WHEN I cry out TO YOU, THEN my enemies will turn back. What a life lesson and advanced revelation. No wonder David the mightiest human being of all time “cries out” a lot. It is his chance at being built up in a God who is FOR him. Let’s follow the man’s example who followed hard after God and experienced ahead of time power and presence.
September 8; Day 57; Psalm 57 DAVID CULTURE
Key Verse: “Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens; May Your glory shine over all the earth” (v. 5 and 11)
Key Theme: David still fleeing from Saul, still praising God.
Key Descriptives of God: Most High; Exalted.
We are in a repeat theme here in Psalm 57 but such a timely perspective for us comes from this. From the beginning we are told this Psalm is by David when he fled from Saul to a cave. Yesterday we covered David behaving as if he were insane to move on from the Philistines at Gath. That was 1 Sam. 21. 1 Samuel 22 starts with letting us know that where David went next was to the cave of Adullam where his first army came to him.
“And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And their were about 400 men with him” (1 Sam.22:2)
Wow what a church plant. Whereas, Saul was chasing him with 3000 chosen and experienced men of war, David was now surrounded by the 3 D’s of Distress, Debt, and Discontented. As his “army” comes in, you can imagine the interviews going something like this. “So what can you do? Ah, nothing I am just stressed out with life. As he moves to the next.” “Okay, so how about you?” “No skills either, I’m just way in debt, so I have nothing to lose coming with you. I kinda liked the way you took out Goliath too.” On to the next one.
“Okay great, so what about you?”
“No skills either, I’m just very unhappy. Really, I’m depressed. To be real honest, it was this or suicide so I chose this.”
Remember it says EVERYONE who came to him was one or more of these three categories. How do you even start with this much hopelessness and negativity around you? For David it was to model his culture.
DAVID CULTURE
To remind you, David did not have a “prophet’s room” to retreat to. This was a cave and he was on the run. Everything he is doing is “show and tell.” It is wartime and challenging in every way but his “devotional” life is not on hold “until the danger passes.” His devotional life is what carries him through the storm. Imagine the whole of this Psalm taking place in the cave of Adullam with 400 “losers” in life. Surely, all of them also had just a spark of hope that this man would lead them to a better day. His first words in this chapter were, “HAVE MERCY on me, O God, have mercy! I look to You for protection. I WILL HIDE beneath the shadow of your wings, until the danger passes by.” You are listening to your new commander, who can rip lions with his bare hands, and he wants “MERCY from God” so he can “HIDE.” Verse 2, “I CRY OUT to God Most High.” A thought of, “Have we followed the wrong guy?” might well have arisen among the new recruits. “So our strategy is hiding and crying out to God for mercy? Hmmm. Not what I expected.” But David’s sincerity intrigues them and memories of his battlefield exploits makes them sponges for more. David follows with, “God will fulfill His purpose for me. He will send help from heaven to rescue me, disgracing those who hound me. My God will send forth His unfailing love and faithfulness.” (v. 2, 3) Wow! Many of these guys might have shown up just to find out what was David’s secret to his strength. Was there some desert herb that he was taking that they might take as well and it be their own game-changer in life? Quickly, they are finding out that it is not the secret herbs.
BE EXALTED O GOD
“Be exalted O God, above the highest heavens! May Your glory shine over all the earth.” (v. 5, 11) Twice they will hear David say this in their first cave experience with him. Actually, we can assume that they probably heard him SING this. In verse 8, “Wake up my heart! Wake up, O lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song.” Can you imagine how inconvenient it had to be for David to run from place to place in the wilderness while carrying his harp? He should leave it somewhere and pick it up at a better time. But this is his primary weapon of war and he is not leaving it anywhere. He doesn’t go to worship so he can then go do what he needs to do. Worship is what he needs to do. In danger, on the run, with his band of depressed ones—this is what he needs to do. This is David Culture. They hear him playing his harp and singing, “Be exalted O God,” as they wake up. If he is waking his dawn, he is waking their dawn—they are in a cave together. As they whisper to each other, “He is waking us up. Does he know we can hear him?” He suddenly bursts out with verse 9, ”I will praise You, O Lord. AMONG the peoples.” Oh, yes he knows they can hear. It is a major point. It is important they can hear. This is the new culture. You want an impartation from the man of God to overcome your 3 D’s? This is it. When and while you are most challenged, “I am surrounded by fierce lions who greedily devour human prey—whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows, and whose tongues (MEDIA) cut like swords.” (v. 4) At this very moment, “Be exalted O God above the highest heavens!”
MAY YOUR GLORY SHINE
How can David be even seriously considering God’s heart at this time? EVERYTHING that can be shaken is being shaken. This is not a good day. This is not the day after Goliath has come down. This is the day after you had to fake insanity to escape the king of Gath. This is the day your new friends are the riff-raff of society. How can David be turned to “Exalting God” and then concerned that "His glory shine over all the earth.”
“Glory” that word KABOWD in Hebrew meaning, “splendor, reputation, honor, dignity”—among other things. David gets on his harp and all he cares about is God. "Are You being exalted? Is Your reputation and honor shining for all?" Truly, it is in this chapter that we see this other-worldly aspect of David that makes us want to almost revere him and not take him so matter-of-factly. It dawns on us, as it dawned on his 400, that THIS is the secret to David’s supernatural strength, speed, and passion. Out of this riff-raff of society will come David’s “mighty men.” They too will become supernatural in battle. They too will easily kill lions. They too will chase thousands with one or two. They too will leap over walls. They too will become his “choir”—waking the dawn together. The 3 D’s gang will become the new superheroes. I love it! Can we head that way today, right in the midst of the great challenges around us? I think so. His face is shining on us and it is “The Summer of His Love.”
September 9; Day 58; Psalm 58; DEAF COBRAS?
Key Verse: “So that men will say, Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely He is God who judges in the earth.” (v. 11)
Key Theme: A plea for God to override the injustice of judges.
Key Descriptive of God: Righteous Judge on Earth.
Another important and most relevant chapter. The first two verses, “JUSTICE—do you rulers (judges) know the meaning of the word? Do you JUDGE the people fairly? No! You plot INJUSTICE in your hearts. You spread violence throughout the land.” All 11 verses are on theme with the words I have capitalized. My conjecture is this: David’s band of discontented, distressed, and in debt men have been telling him their stories. He is hearing a theme of injustice over and over again. We know they had some kind of legal system with judges to rule on matters and that there were advocates/lawyers to help present cases. David seems incensed at the unjust rulings he has been hearing about and this Psalm is his “justice rant” regarding it all.
YOU SPREAD VIOLENCE
Insightful that David equates unjust rulings with “spreading violence.” We can see that today. Justices that rule that babies can be killed in the womb is an obvious one. It is the worst spreading of violence on the planet. The most unsafe place for a human being when he/she is at its most vulnerable is in the womb of his/her mother. That must end. Unjust rulings also cause societal upheavals and violent protests as we have seen in our own day. In every way imaginable a judge making an unjust ruling “spreads violence.”
SPEAKING LIES
“The wicked are estranged from the womb; They go astray as soon as they are born, SPEAKING LIES.” This passage has been used as a doctrinal basis for “original sin.” David was not laying out doctrine here but venting—so not the best verse to build that case from. He is not saying, “Everyone is born wicked,” as some theological point but rather, “These judges seem like they were born crooked and speaking lies.” Corruption is so innate in them that it seems like it started in the womb.
DEAF COBRAS?
In verses 4 and 5, David rants against the judges and calls them “deaf cobras” with “poison.” In the NLT it says, “They spit venom.” Snake “venom” is Biblically equated with false teaching or unjust rulings. In this case it is the latter. The “snake charmers” of verse 5 are the advocates for a fair ruling. Yes, lawyers are in the Bible—“the voice of charmers, charming ever so skillfully.” (v. 5) When they do rightly they are seeking mercy, and truth for the wrongfully accused. They are trying to "charm" the judge and/or the jury.
BREAK LIONS LYIN' TEETH
“Break their TEETH in their mouth, O God! Break out the FANGS of the young lions, O Lord!” (v. 6-8) David, using vivid symbolism, is calling for God to undo what these evil and corrupt judges have done. He calls them “young lions,” as lions were and are associated with government. Interesting that in the famous Psalm 91 it says that we will “tread” on the “lion” and “cobra” (same Hebrew word used). Snakes are crooked tails/tales that bite. They are not just lies but deceptive lies. They come in low, slither in, blend in, and then suddenly strike. A lion does damage with its teeth. This would represent the legal ruling. David wants the ruling (teeth) broken and undone, but also wants the “fangs” broken OUT. This speaks into the unjust laws themselves. In other words, he was ranting, praying, and declaring against bad judges and bad laws.
BURNING THORNS
“Before your pots can feel the burning thorns, He shall take them away as with a whirlwind, as in His living and burning wrath.” (v. 9) David’s imagery here is so vivid that it can be hard to follow. Basically, desert dry thorns were a great source of quick fires to cook on. David was prophesying that God would come in like a whirlwind and put out the “thorny fire" before it could even accomplish its objective of cooking. Interesting that in our day “cooking the books” is the term for the practice of fraudulently altering records. Sometimes judges and prosecutors are “cooking up” charges. In scripture thorns speak of sin, bad and evil. In Judges 9, in the parable of the bramble (thorny bush or tree), the thorny bramble represents specifically corrupt rulers and their rulings. They should be trees providing shade but instead they are bringing pain—because they are corrupt thorns.
THE GODLY WILL REJOICE
“THE GODLY WILL REJOICE when they see injustice avenged. They will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked. So that men will say, Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely He is God who judges IN THE EARTH.” (v. 11)
This closing of the chapter is quite easy to comprehend except perhaps the “washing feet in blood” line. David’s imagery again is profound and maybe a little too much for some. We definitely have to process all David says throughout the Psalms with the New Testament understanding that people are never the enemy. There is one enemy. The devil and his horribles. But David’s vivid depiction is about the “blood” of injustice flowing. It means it can’t harm again, as the spilt blood means it has no more life. We “wash our feet” in it because it cleanses and strengthens “our walk" to see JUSTICE established— by INJUSTICE being eliminated. Like David in his day, perhaps many of us in 2020 have learned, in new shocking ways, the injustice present in our own judicial system, as judges unconstitutionally provide “thorns” for the people rather than “shade.” May a whirlwind of heaven come in and remove their “thorny fire.” Father, during this 67-day journey, may Your same face that shines upon US with favor, shine on THEM with the clear choice of repent or be removed.
September 10; Day 59; Psalm 59; ANTIFA AND THE SHADOW
GOVERNMENT
Key Verse: “But You, O Lord shall laugh at them; You shall have all the (hostile) nations in derision.” (v. 8 NKJV)
Key Theme: David’s song while finding out for the first time Saul wants him dead.
Key Descriptives of God: Shield; My Defense; My Strength.
The prophetically relevant nature of these Psalms is beginning to really stand out to me. Yesterday the entire post was about judges and justice. Yesterday President Trump made a surprise announcement of his large pool of potential Supreme Court Justices. He adds Senator Tom Cotton to that list right after Tom Cotton tweets that Roe vs. Wade must be overturned. The synchronicity with Psalm 58 was amazing. Today it is almost as if ANTIFA is the main focus—though it extends to the “deep state.”
CRIMINALS AND MURDERERS
Psalm 59 coincides with 1 Samuel 19, and is when David, for the first time, finds out that Saul wants to kill him. This is right after David has killed Goliath, and it is Jonathan who warns him that his house is being watched and that his father has instructed all his servants to find and kill David. Again, I see such parallels with President Trump. David, after revealing himself as a game-changer on the national scene, finds himself constantly facing trouble, treason, and death—Trump the same. Saul is the previous administration—already judged by God, and David from early on knows his true evil identity. In verse 2, David says, “Rescue me from THESE CRIMINALS, save me from THESE MURDERERS.” He already knows Saul doesn’t work alone and that he is a CRIMINAL and a MURDERER. Verse 3: “They have set an ambush for me. Fierce enemies are out there waiting.” Has there ever been anyone more “ambushed” then President Trump? Has anyone ever had more “fierce enemies”? And as David says in verse 4 “I have done nothing wrong, yet they prepare to attack me.” Samuel has already anointed him King, but the “shadow government” is trying to take him out. Repeat.
WAKE UP, SEE, AND HELP!
“Wake up! See what is happening and help me!” (v. 4b) I love David. He is like the disciples in the boat of Mark 4. They thought they were just “crossing over” into new destiny, but a vicious storm has instead arisen. They face potential death and they see Jesus SLEEPING. Their words to Him seem identical as David’s here in verse 4. WAKE UP! SEE, AND HELP! Apparently this is not an offensive prayer, so I would take it as a model if it is applicable for you. Ever seem like God is asleep while YOU are in a storm? Comfort, comfort, My people. You are not the first.
WICKED TRAITORS
“O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies…wake up and punish those hostile nations, show no mercy to WICKED TRAITORS.” (v. 5)
David is a quick discerner and he actually makes a shift here. Saul is the one trying to kill him but David by the spirit knows this is connected to something bigger. There are “hostile nations” involved in this treason. Repeat.
ANTIFA
“They come out at night, snarling like vicious dogs as they prowl the streets.” (v. 6)
You can tell this is a song David is singing because this verse is repeated later in the chapter (v. 14). I am going to ask him to sing this song to me in heaven one day. Dogs when addressed Biblically were never “man's best friend,” nor warm, cuddly pets. Almost without exception it is thought through the grid of a pack of wild dogs. What’s insightful here is that “dog” was also a euphemism for a male prostitute (someone paid by someone else to be immoral). This is all applicable to ANTIFA. Their tab is being paid by another. Soros. Next verse.
“Listen to the filth that comes from their mouth; their words cut like sword. ‘After all, who can hear us?’ they sneer.” (v. 7)
Guess who hears?
GOD LAUGHS AT ANTIFA
“But Lord, YOU LAUGH at them. You SCOFF at ALL the hostile nations.” (v. 8 NLT)
ANTIFA sneers at its supposed lack of accountability, but God IS AWAKE and DOES SEE and HE LAUGHS. Two Hebrew words are used to describe His laughs. The first one is SACHAQ and it means “to laugh in scorn and contempt.” The Strong’s definition then goes on to say, “especially a person THREATENING TO DO MUCH BUT ABLE TO DO NOTHING.” When God SACHAQ’s that is what He is thinking. He then SCOFF’s which is the Hebrew word LAAG. This word means “deride” and the example given is “as in imitating a foreigner.” This is God making fun of the way they talk, and saying it back out loud to His "friends" in their “foreign" accent—as in, “Who can hear us?”—said in some mocking tone. See God doing that today with ANTIFA and with THE SWAMP of the hostile nations. There has never been a better time to make this scripture applicable. THEIR “sneer” is a sneer of ignorance. God’s “laugh” is a laugh of supreme power.
LOOK DOWN IN TRIUMPH
“…My God will stand with me. He will let me look down in TRIUMPH (TRUMP) on all enemies.” (v. 10)
David is remembering the feeling he enjoyed while looking down on Goliath. He knows he represents the cause of God and the “He who began a good work…will complete it.” Let that resonate today.
DON’T KILL THEM; STAGGER THEM; BRING THEM TO THEIR KNEES
Verse 11 is just amazing:
“Don’t kill them, for my people soon forget such lessons; stagger them with Your power, and BRING THEM TO THEIR KNEES, O Lord our shield.”
David may or may not have been “only a boy named David" but his understanding was profound and nuanced. He knows about people “soon forgetting such lessons.” The challenges of this year have gone on and on and seemingly in rounds—but not because God could not easily dispatch with all opposition—including trillionaires Soros, Rothschilds, Rockefellers, and billionaires Gates, Dorsey, Zuckerberg, the Chinese Communist Party, the illuminati, the CFR, the NWO— and whoever else makes you shiver. They are all a totally laughable opposition—the whole bunch of them are able to be disposed of in less than 5 minutes. There is a biblical precedent of God sending ONE ANGEL to kill 185,000 men (2 Kings 19:35) in one fell swoop. He is God of Heaven’s ARMIES as David addressed in verse 5—so quickly dealing with a matter is no challenge for Him. But the lesson of an enemy too quickly disposed of often gets forgotten. Furthermore, what and who get’s “killed” doesn’t get the chance to be brought TO THEIR KNEES. ANTIFA already has members “staggering” and “coming to their knees” and that is going to be a progressively significant story. The rest of the big names and organizations I mentioned are also going to get the opportunity to come TO THEIR KNEES. In verse 13, where David calls for “destroying” the enemy, he is calling not for their death but for the death of their agenda.
GOD THE STORYTELLER
God is the greatest storyteller ever and He is working on a big one in 2020. It will be told throughout the ages—and you will join in and excitedly say, “I WAS THERE!” People will be as jealous as they are of being one of those who saw Goliath taken down by David. Don’t forget it. We are in historical days. Make your participation in these days be as heroic as possible. Do something crazy, radical in alignment with this meta-narrative just so you can tell of your bravery and courage. Everybody in heaven loves to hear this kind of stuff and Jesus will want stories of courage told. Nobody in heaven wishes they had played it safer while on earth. EVERYONE wishes they had been less fearful and less driven by self-preservation. NO "hero of faith" is mentioned in the scriptures as "a really cool, balanced guy” who had no enemies. Many pastors are trying to do that right now, and go ahead and give up on that. There are no “heroes of moderation”—only “heroes of faith.” Am I trying to stir up a revolution? Sort of. But I am more interested in stirring a reformation. I sense a great story unfolding and have no interest in being remembered as Pastor Pablum. I don't think you do either. His face shines upon us this summer for more than that.
Sept 11; Day 60; Psalm 60; A RALLYING POINT
Key Verse: “Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.” (v. 12)
Key Theme: Seemingly rejected and then restored by God.
Key Descriptives of God: Giver of Inheritance; Source of Victory.
More than ever I am so aware of a synchronicity with our reading and real time events. Yesterday ANTIFA and the “Shadow Government” were the topic, and then on the back channels of information (some of you know) that was also the main topic. Today is 9/11 and the whole world remembers that day. The first three verses of Psalm 60 sound like a commentary on that day. With all the fires, violence and uproar these also sound like today’s realities. I will be going back and forth between the NKJV and the NLT because they go back and forth in best application for us now.
CONTEXT: REJECTED?
The chapter heading tells us the timeline for this Psalm. It is out of 1 Chronicles 18 when this victory over the Edomites is spoken of. When reading this story there you don’t know or can’t pick up on any of the concerns of this Psalm. Either David is first referring to how things were under Saul as king, or momentarily, even during his victorious military campaigns of 1 Chronicles 18, he had some doubts.
“O, God, You have cast us off; You have broken us down; You have been displeased; Oh, RESTORE US AGAIN!” (v. 1)
This has been so applicable to us and why we are repenting a lot, and why even a MAGA theme resonates.
HARD THINGS: A WINE OF CONFUSION
Verse 2 seems very relevant to us now. “You have shaken our land and split it open. SEAL THE CRACKS, for the land trembles.” Either a literal earthquake or an earthquake of events was what David was speaking of. Now verse 3: “You have SHOWN Your people HARD THINGS; You have made us drink the WINE OF CONFUSION.” This speaks volumes to me in this day of exposure. Getting “woke” has come in waves. Each level of “woke-ness” is about HARD THINGS. Two years ago I prophesied about a “Rude Awakening,” preceding a “Great Awakening”—and boy has that been true. In the progression of it all a WINE OF CONFUSION is surely present. As I said, it is “uncanny” or "divine orchestration" how relevant this Psalm 60 is for this 9/11 day.
A RALLYING POINT
“But You have raised a BANNER for those who fear You—A RALLYING POINT in the face of attack.” (v. 4)
Suddenly, David makes a shift from looking at the challenges of the day and sees the Lord raise a flag or banner. Banners were for military campaigns and it meant WE ARE AT WAR. This is a God-sanctioned war and His battle strategies are often very counter-intuitive. In Song of Solomon 2:4 it speaks of Him bringing us into His banqueting house and “His banner over me is LOVE.” It is war out there but He invites us into a place of joy and intimacy and LOVE IS THE BANNER we fight under. We must never forget that and always incorporate it practically.
SAVE US BY YOUR POWER
Verse 5 is worth reading in both the NLT and NKJV. Both speak of the Lord saving with His power or with His right hand. One speaks of rescuing His “beloved people” and one just says “Your beloved”— a more personal matter. It is interesting that the 1 Chronicles 18 reading (that should accompany the reading of this Psalm) twice says, “So the Lord PRESERVED David EVERYWHERE HE WENT” (v. 6, 13). There it tells of multiple military campaigns—always being accompanied by great resources of silver and gold coming to David. Great battles. Great victories. Great finances. It all seems quite in line with President Trump’s “Cyrus” call, and it does seem like today. Hard things and cracks in the land but God’s “David” for the hour being “preserved” "everywhere He went.”
MEASURING INHERITANCE
Verses 6-8 suddenly become very prophetic with God laying out how all these battles have to do with inheritance He is giving Israel, and He even lays out the boundary parameters of it all. It would take a long post just to cover this part, as both naturally and spiritually, every name and location is of importance. For us today, the application is that this 2020 time of war is about our God finding new parameters of inheritance (Promised Land) for us.
EPHRAIM AND JUDAH
“Ephraim, My helmet, will produce My warriors, and Judah, My scepter will produce My kings.” (v. 7) Ephraim, Joseph’s son, means “double-fruitfulness,” and represents the Mountain of Economy. God is raising economic warriors at this time during this conflicted season. These perhaps go in and out of feeling rejected and restored like David here. If you have a primary assignment on that mountain and can identify then be encouraged—you are right on schedule.
Judah (praise) was David’s tribe and connects to the Mountain of Government. The Economy and Government, as focus, ties in with the Cyrus anointing of Isaiah 45. If you are asking, “Is Trump a Cyrus or a David?” the answer is both. He’s a David, but if you don’t think him spiritual or perfect enough to be a David, he’s a Cyrus. God is covering His bases for all who would reject the call He has given President Trump. David and Cyrus both won tremendous military campaigns. David and Cyrus both had massive “hidden treasures” come into their hands. Both had a unique role and concern for Jerusalem. One knew God, one didn’t. Think of President Trump as a synthesis of David and Cyrus, with an invitation to him to fully become a David. But God will accomplish the ordained assignment through President Trump—whether he fully becomes a David or not. Neither you nor I set the rules for that. God does. Maybe he tweets like Cyrus and inspires like David—but he is still “the anointed” of God. Deal with it.
ALL HUMAN HELP IS USELESS
“Oh, please help us against our enemies, for ALL HUMAN HELP IS USELESS.” (v. 11)
The heading of this chapter tells of Israel slaying 12,000 Edomites. 1 Chronicles 18 is full of major victory after major victory for David and Israel. Yet, at no time is there any departure from David’s absolute trust in the Lord. This was now late in his life where excess self-confidence and reading of his own press releases could have led him to be otherwise. He was king for 40 years, even AFTER defeating Goliath, yet never leaned on human might and know-how. I can’t tell you how hard that is—and therein the secret to his ongoing success. Never an “I got it this time God…You can cover some weaker folk.” He was the “weaker folk”—ALWAYS. Yet he feared nothing—because in actual practice greater was He that was in him then he that was in the world. It wasn’t a slogan that allowed him to trust HIMSELF more. It was a conscious reality and ongoing choice that allowed the greatness of God in him to be accessed. He is great IN US when we empty ourselves of dependence on anything else. We, the weak, can then properly say, “I am strong.”
THROUGH GOD
“Through God WE will do valiantly, For it is HE who shall tread down our enemies.” (v. 12)
This is our key verse, and essentially what I just explained. WE do valiantly because HE does valiantly. WE can level giants because HE IN US is FULL. Our gas tank contains HIM and not US. “Getting all our ducks in a row” is a false FULL on our car’s dashboard, and at best you become a high-functioning human and maybe become twice what is “normal.” Only God in the tank gets you at “one puts a thousand to flight,” or “running through a troop,” or “leaping over walls.” Radical accessing of Him comes from radical dependence on Him. Yes, have a positive-self image and feel good about yourself, but do that over how intentionally dependent you are of Him and not how independent of HELP you are. In other words—“I am so weak and totally dependent on God that I feel really good about myself and walk around with that confidence.” This is confidence in having filled your tank with the correct fuel and not confidence in not needing fuel. The latter is PRIDE that leads to a FALL. Let's not build confidence on the wrong thing. Keep letting His face shine upon you!