Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: The Hallelujah of Confession

The Lord as Defender

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Covenant Theology

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2008-02-03

Synopsis: John Weaver expounds Psalm 18:29-33, emphasizing that God is the ultimate defender and source of victory for His people. He reviews David's deportment in the face of persecution by Saul, highlighting the necessity of a biblical attitude—patience, obedience, and refusal to take personal vengeance. Weaver argues that God rewards trust and faithfulness, and that victory depends on God's grace, not human strength. He illustrates from Scripture that God fights for the obedient, making them swift and sure-footed like deer, and calls believers to prioritize spiritual warfare over physical battles, ascribing all glory to God.

[John Weaver] We'll take just a few moments to review after we read, but look in Psalm 18, beginning with verse 29. David said, For by thee I have run through a troop, and by my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect. The word of the Lord is tried. He is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God, save the Lord, or who is a rock, save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect.

[John Weaver] You make it my feet like Heinz feet and set me upon my high places. You remember, we started this psalm with verse one, of course, we saw their David's determination when he said, I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. And I showed you what biblical love was and how that there is three parts of what I call an irreducible minimum. When you explain love, it included attitude. affection and action. If you have a biblical attitude, then you will have a biblical affection. If you have a biblical affection, it will always demonstrate itself with a biblical action. And so I showed you how David was responding to God's love because no one can love God first. And then secondly, I showed you the reasons why David said, I will love the Lord, because he said the Lord is my strength, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my strength, my trust, my buckler, the horn of my salvation and my high tower. And I went through all of those and showed you from Scripture what was involved there.

[John Weaver] Then in verses three through six, we looked at David's distress and how that He was in deep, deep trouble, and I pointed out that oftentimes God will indeed back us up against the wall, put us in distress that we may learn to call upon Him, cry unto Him, and trust in Him. And then in verses 7 through 19, we look at David's deliverer. Here David is describing all of these mighty attributes of God and the grace and the power and the strength of God, and how God just simply delivered him. And then last week we looked in verses 20 through 28 and we saw David's deportment. And I pointed out the fact how that David was acting biblically and scripturally. If you wanted to be delivered, then you have to act right. You have to act biblically, basically speaking. David kept his heart. David kept his life.

[John Weaver] He did not take vengeance into his own hand. He had a perfect opportunity on several occasions to kill his personal enemy Saul, and yet he would not. At those particular times, although Saul was looking for him, his life was not in imminent danger. And although he was encouraged to take Saul's life, he refused. On another hand, Abishai said, let me smite him to the ground even this once. In other words, David, if you just let me kill him, I won't have to take a second lick.

[John Weaver] I'll do it clean the first time. He'll never know what hit him. No, David said, don't do that. His time will come. Or he'll die in battle, or God will take care of him. He's not going to die at my hand. Now, what David was saying was this. God had already promised David the kingdom. But David is saying, I'm not going to have the kingdom at the expense of violence at my own hand, especially me taking it. So what David was doing was this. He was patiently waiting upon the Lord to give him the kingdom. What David demonstrated was this, that he was a person that could be trusted with authority and power. David was not going to abuse the situation even when God delivered Saul into his hand. So David then was willing to wait upon God for God to take Saul's life or for God to give him the kingdom on God's terms.

[John Weaver] And certainly that's what happened. Now, let me ask a question as we begin today. Does God reward trust and faithfulness? And the answer is yes. Here's another question. Is there a connection between patience, obedience and victory? And again, the answer is a resounding yes. We must understand that in reality, as David confessed, the battle belongs to the Lord. Victory is not determined by who has the most soldiers, or who has the most weapons, or who has the best strategy. Victory really depends upon the grace and mercy and power of God. We must maintain a biblical attitude if we desire for God to give us victory over our enemies. Now, listen carefully. While it is an undeniable fact that we have enemies. They should not be enemies of our own making.

[John Weaver] Now let me explain what I mean by that statement. What I meant by that statement is simply this. Our enemies should be our enemies simply because they are enemies to God, His law, His righteousness, and His people. They ought not to be our enemies because of our own personal misconduct, hatefulness, and ungodliness. So when you and I conform our attitude and our actions to the Word of God, mark it down, we will have enemies. However, at the same time, they're going to be the enemies of God and the enemies of righteousness and the enemies of truth. So we're not denying the fact that we're going to have enemies. But they should not be enemies based upon our own misconduct. Let me show you what I mean.

[John Weaver] Turn in your Bibles, if you would, holding Psalm 18, of course. But turn in your Bibles, if you would, first of all, to Matthew chapter 5 and verse 11. This is one of those verses in the Sermon on the Mount. Notice what our Lord says in Matthew 5 and verse 11. Our Lord says this, Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake." Now, wait a minute. Somebody has some enemies. Because they're reviling, they're persecuting, they're talking evil and they're saying things falsely against you. Why? Our Lord said, for my sake.

[John Weaver] In other words, you're living a righteous, godly, holy life. And you would think if you live that way, well, who in the world is going to be your enemy? The truth is, an enemy of God is going to be your enemy. An enemy of righteousness is going to be your enemy. Look, if you would please, in John 15 and verse 20. John 15 and verse 20. It's interesting how that the Scripture teaches that we're going to have enemies if we live righteously. In John 15 and verse 20, our Lord said it like this. Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord.

[John Weaver] If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

[John Weaver] Now, Jesus Christ was the sinless Son of God. He was the most perfect and the most holy man who ever lived. And look at all the enemies He had. Look at the ones who tried to murder him constantly. And by the way. They were the religious leaders of the day. They're the ones who put forth themselves as the great ones. But our Lord said, look, if they persecuted me, they're going to persecute you.

[John Weaver] The servant is not greater or the servant is not above its master. If they receive my words, they'll receive yours. If they didn't receive mine, well, don't think they're going to receive yours. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 12. 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 12. Paul really hits the nail on the head and he sums it up. Here's a very broad, general truth. In 2 Timothy 3, verse 12, he says, Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. So if you live godly in Christ Jesus, marker down, you're going to have enemies.

[John Weaver] Now, when I speak about maintaining a biblical attitude, here's what I'm talking about. When we have enemies of our own making, And we aren't lied about and persecuted and slandered. When we maintain a biblical attitude, we understand that although we have enemies and they are God's enemies as well, we do not become bitter, hateful and vindictive. Now, please understand that in maintaining a biblical attitude, We do not become bitter, hateful, and vindictive. Now, listen carefully. We do not deny the fact that we have enemies. We do not deny that reality, nor do we try to whitewash the facts. We do indeed have enemies, and we do not deny that something must be done on certain occasions.

[John Weaver] But still, we still learn to think biblically. and act biblically, maintaining that biblical attitude and that biblical action. You know what the Bible says in 1 Peter 2 and verse 19?

[John Weaver] Now you've got to remember that even though we have enemies, that doesn't mean that they're all trying to kill us, nor does it mean that they're trying to all kill us at one time. Think of slander. Think of rumors. I've been talked about, you've been talked about. You know what my standard answer is when someone comes to me and says, did you hear what so-and-so said about you? Or do you know what's being said about you? My standard answer is this. You know, if they really knew me the way God knows me, they'd probably say worse things than that about me. Come on. That doesn't hurt. You remember that old saying we used to have as kids, sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me. Well, hey, it does hurt some, but it is not life threatening. The Bible says in 1 Peter 2 and verse 19.

[John Weaver] For this is thankworthy if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. In other words, here's what Peter saying. We'd rather suffer than sin. I'd rather suffer wrongfully than suffer rightfully. I'd rather suffer wrongfully because I've done that which is right and holy than suffer rightly because I violated the law of God and brought reproach upon his name.

[John Weaver] Now let me just point out the fact God will indeed exact his vengeance upon our enemies. There's no two ways about that. But even when he does We still must maintain a biblical attitude. Let me show you. I want you to turn to Proverbs 24, because this is not only a very important passage, it's a passage that you and I really need to learn if we want our Lord really and truly to take care of our enemies. Look what he says in Proverbs 24, beginning with verse 17. Proverbs 24, verse 17. He says, Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth. Now, wait a minute. Why does God say, Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth? Why is it we can't just jump up and down and say, Thank God, you finally nailed him, Lord. Praise the Lord. Now, why did he say don't do that? Here's why. Look in verse 18.

[John Weaver] Lest the Lord see it and it displeased him and he turned away his wrath from him. In other words, God says, now, if you really want me to clean his plow, you don't start rejoicing too soon. You just wait and say, Lord, you take care of him. And when I've really got him taken care of. Then you can say, thank you, Lord. But you don't you don't just simply jump up and down simply because the Lord is destroying your enemies. Don't rejoice too soon.

[John Weaver] That's exactly what he's telling us now. Let me ask you a question in light of Psalm 18. Verses 20 through 28, in which we looked at David's deportment. Here's the question that I want to ask you. David was indeed being persecuted by Saul. I gave you illustration after illustration of that last week. Now, here's my question. Since Saul was persecuting David, and David controlled himself and acted biblically and rightly in his attitude and in his actions toward Saul, He would not render vengeance for vengeance or hatred for hatred. Although Saul was doing wrong, David did what was right. Here's my question. Was it worth it? Was it worth it for David to act biblically toward his enemy? Now, I could ask this question another way. I could ask this.

[John Weaver] How much is it worth to have the blessings and the power of God upon us as we fight against our enemies. Wow.

[John Weaver] Now you just stop and think about this. What Saul was doing to David in reality was just a minute portion of David's life. It was a short time. It may have seemed like a long time while he was being persecuted by Saul, but it was a short time. David reigned on the throne for 40 years. Let me show you what I mean when I ask the question, was it worth it?

[John Weaver] For David had exercised patience and control and act rightly toward his enemy in order to have the blessing and the power of God upon himself. I want you to hold Psalm 18. We're going to come back there, but look in your Bibles, beginning with Exodus 23. I want to show you a number of verses. Here is why I keep telling you and emphasizing the fact that we must maintain a biblical attitude and biblical actions at all times. Look in Exodus chapter 23 and verse 22. Look what the Bible says. Exodus 23 verse 22. God says, but if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, And do all that I speak, that I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

[John Weaver] Whoa, wait a minute now. Did you hear that? But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, the angel of the Lord, who is Christ, and do all that I speak, says God, that is, if you obey me, then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. I don't know about you, but I believe I'd rather have God on my side than all the armies in the world. God says now if you want me to be on your side, you obey me. And if you do, I'm going to be an enemy to your enemy and an adversary to your adversaries.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles to the book of Leviticus chapter 26 and verse 8. Leviticus 26 and verse 8. I'm just showing you What it was worth for David to exercise patience and control towards Saul. Look in Leviticus 26 and verse 8. In fact, let's read verse 7. Look what he says, verse 7, and you shall chase your enemies and they shall fall before you by the sword, and five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight, and your enemy shall fall before you by the sword." Now, Leviticus 26 happens to be another one of those places where God is giving the blessings and the curses concerning His love. And God says now, one of my blessings for your obedience is this, that five of you will be able to chase a hundred, a hundred of you will be able to put ten thousand to flight, and your enemy shall fall before you. I don't know about you, but to me it seems worth it to act biblically and to act scripturally for five to chase a hundred.

[John Weaver] 100 to put 10,000 in flight? Well, look in your Bibles to the book of Joshua chapter 1 and verse 44. There are plenty of other verses, but look in Joshua 21 verse 44. Joshua 21 and verse 44.

[John Weaver] And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that He sware unto their fathers. Are you looking now? And there stood not a man of all their enemies before them. The Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. How many were able to stand? Not one. And what did the Lord do? The Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. Look in Joshua 23 and verse 10. Joshua 23 and verse 10. This even gets better. One man of you shall chase a thousand. For the Lord your God, He is zentrified for you as He has promised. One man of you shall chase a thousand. Is it worth it to conduct yourself biblically to have a right attitude and right action in order to have the blessing and the power of God upon you, where one man shall chase a thousand. Why? Because God is fighting for us. Look in your Bibles, Deuteronomy chapter 20.

[John Weaver] Just trying to answer this question before we begin looking at Psalm 18. But go to Deuteronomy chapter 20. Deuteronomy chapter 20. And look if you would please to verse one. Deuteronomy 20. Verse one. Look what he says. When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them. Why? For the Lord thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and it shall When you are come nigh unto the battle, the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, and shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, you approach this day unto the battle against your enemies.

[John Weaver] Let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies, and to save you."

[John Weaver] Now let me ask you, is it worth it? to have victory in every area? Well, of course it is. Turn right on over to Deuteronomy 28. Deuteronomy 28, here's the passage that Hobie referred to on the blessing and the curses of the law. Deuteronomy 28, look at verse 7. The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face. They shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways." So whenever they run at you in one concerted effort, God said, when you get through, they're going to be running seven different ways just trying to get away from you. Look at Deuteronomy 33 and verse 29. Deuteronomy 33, verse 29. Here's another passage we should put down. God says, happy art thou, O Israel, who is like unto thee, O people, saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, who is the sword of thy excellency, and thine enemy shall be found liars unto thee, and thou shalt tread upon their high places. God is here referred to as our shield and our sword.

[John Weaver] And it is God that enables us to tread upon our high places, or their high places. We take them from them and make them ours.

[John Weaver] Now, you don't have to turn to this passage, but I'm sure that most of you can quote it. Do you remember the passage in Psalm 127, verse 1? Here it is. Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain." In other words, what he's saying is, if God doesn't protect us, if God doesn't fight for us, no amount of watchmen are going to do you any good. And I love this verse. I'll quote it this week. I'll probably quote it next week. Proverbs 21 and verse 31. I love it. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but safety is of the Lord. Safety is of the Lord. I want you to go back to Psalm 18. Because I want us to examine our section today in light of all of these verses. We have to examine this portion in light of God's gracious provisions and blessing upon David. In relationship of deliverance that God gave him from his enemies now.

[John Weaver] When we talk about David. We immediately think of this great warrior. And truly he was indeed a great warrior. But we must remember that David was not initially a warrior. Initially, he was a shepherd, a musician, and a poet. When he met Goliath in 1 Samuel chapter 17, he had no armament He had no shield. He had no spear. He had no sword. The only thing he had was a sling. It was God who taught David to fight. And it was God who gave David his victories. Now with that in mind, I want you to look at David's defense. beginning with verse 29. Look what David said in Psalm 18 and verse 29. For by thee, for by thee I have run through a troop, and by my God have I leaped over a wall. Now notice, if you would, how David is emphasizing this one central important fact, for by thee I have. David carefully and accurately ascribes all glory to God.

[John Weaver] He arrogates nothing to himself. Now this phrase, run through a troop, has been variously interpreted. Some interpret this to mean that he met a troop with courage and skill. Others would interpret it, I have run after a troop, as David pursued the troop of the Amalekites who burned Ziklag in 1 Samuel 30 and verse 8. But others just simply take it as it is right here. I have run through or broken through a troop, which signifies that he broke it into pieces. And it is a word that is fitly used for destroying and cutting into pieces an enemy. So it doesn't really matter in one sense of the word where you say, I met a troop or I ran after a troop or I cut through a troop. Really and truly, each one of them are talking about the fact that God has given him the victory. David then fought without fear. He pursued without failure and he destroyed without flinching.

[John Weaver] He was fighting God's battles in God's way. So he says, by thee, I've run through a troop. I've cut them in pieces. If they ran away, I pursued them. I overtook them. When they came at me, I met them courageously and skillfully.

[John Weaver] Now, look in verse 29. He says this again. By thee I have run through a troop, and by my God I have leaped over a wall. Which refers then to scaling walls and taking fortified places. So it was by God, then, that he scaled the walls and took fortified places, which was literally true of David in many instances. You remember, and it could possibly refer to this, where David took the fortress of Zion, Jerusalem, from the Jebusites and made it his own.

[John Weaver] I like what Charles H. Spurgeon said on this verse. Listen carefully. He said this, whether we meet the foe in the open field, or leap upon them while they lurk behind the battlements of a city, we shall by God's grace defeat them in either case. If they hem us in with living legions, or environ us with stone walls, we shall with equal certainty obtain our liberty. Such feats we have already performed, hewing our way in a run through host of difficulties, and scaling in possibilities at a leap. God's warriors may expect to have a taste of every form of fighting, and must by the power of faith determine to quit themselves like men.

[John Weaver] But it behooves them to be careful to lay all their laurels at Jehovah's feet, each one of them saying, By my God, have I wrought this valiant deed! Our spolia optima, the trophies of our conflicts, We hereby dedicate to the God of battles and ascribe to him all glory and strength."

[John Weaver] Now listen to what Spurgeon said, God's warriors must expect to have a taste of every form of fighting. Now that's true not only physically, but that is true spiritually as well. Our spiritual fighting is really and truly more important than our physical fighting. And God does indeed give us a taste of all of it. Now, Spurgeon said this, our spolia optima. What in the world is he talking about?

[John Weaver] The trophies of our conflicts. Let me show you what he's talking about. Turn in your Bibles, whole Psalm 18, but turn back to 1 Chronicles 26 and look at verse 27. 1 Chronicles 26 and verse 27. I love this verse. 1 Chronicles 26 verse 27. Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the Lord. So when he says that we give God our spolia optima, that is all the spoils that you and I win, we give God credit for because it's by His grace and by His mercy. So David says in verse 29, For by thee I have run through a troop, and by my God I have leaped over a wall. And David is giving God all the praise and all the glory. Now, look at verses 30 and 31. As for God, His way is perfect. The word of the Lord is tried, he's a butler to all those that trust in him. For who is God, save the Lord, or who is a rock, save our God.

[John Weaver] Now, folks, let me just tell you, God's way is perfect in every aspect. It is perfect because he is perfect. He deals with us in a perfect way. Now, that what perfect way may be incomprehensible to us. And even at times it may be indiscernible, yet it is still perfect. His word has been tried. It has been demonstrated over and over throughout history and throughout the Saints lives that he is faithful. His word is faithful, true, accurate and infallible.

[John Weaver] I want you to note, if you would, that David, Again, in verse 30, refers to God as a buckler. I don't know if you remember, but I explained this when I preached on verse 2 of Psalm 18. And I told you that a buckler is something that is much larger than a shield. A shield, of course, was used offensively and defensively But it still differs from a buckler in this respect, that a shield usually defends or covers primarily a small portion of the body, while a buckler is large and enables one to shield his entire body. Let me show you. Look in your Bibles, first to Psalm 35 and verse 2. Psalm 35 and verse 2. In fact, let's read verse 1 in light of this. David prays and he says, plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me. Now look, fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler and stand up for mine help.

[John Weaver] Draw out also the spear and stomp the way against them that persecute me. Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation."

[John Weaver] Now, he asks God to take hold of shield and buckler and to stand up for my help. Well, look in your Bibles to Psalm 91. Psalm 91. And you'll remember now that a buckler was large enough that a man could hide his entire body So in Psalm 91 and verse 4, the scripture says concerning God, in fact, let's begin with verse 1. Let's read those four verses. They're wonderful verses.

[John Weaver] He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, and Him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the spare of the fowler, and from the noise of pestilence. Now look, he shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings thou shalt trust.

[John Weaver] His truth shall be thy shield and thy buckler." And then if you would turn to Psalm 140 and look at verse 7. Psalm 140 and verse 7, because here David puts the icing on the cake. And he says it like this. Psalm 140 and verse 7, he says, O God, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. What did God do? God placed that buckler over David. His head and his body was under it. And David was thus protected. So David then is giving us a very pictorial illustration of how God defends him. And how God is indeed his defense. Now look what else he says in verse 31. He says, for who is God save the Lord? Or who is a rock save our God? So David is now giving us another picture of how God is the rock. and how David is trusting in God for his defense and his preservation. It is God who receives all the honor and the glory. Now look in verse 32 because I want to spend the rest of my time on verses 32 and 33.

[John Weaver] In verse 32 he says that it is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect. It is God that girdeth me with strength.

[John Weaver] Now, the girding with strength is a metaphor that is taken from the belt or the girdle of a warrior or sometimes from the reins, R-E-I-N-S, which the scripture sometimes places a man's vigor and strength in the reins of my body, he would say. When David is saying that he has girded me with strength. He's put on the warrior's belt around me. David is saying without this divine girding, I would have been weak, effeminate, and anemic. In other words, here now he is saying I've been made strong and powerful and courageous by the hand of God. So he is telling us it is God who upheld him. It is God who sustained him.

[John Weaver] Now, soldiers always girded themselves for battle. You did not go into battle without putting on your battle harness or your battle girdle, so to speak. In fact, I want you to see this. This is really neat to me. If you look in 1 Kings chapter 20 and hold, of course, Psalm 18. But look in 1 Kings chapter 20. You have two ungodly men. Ben-Hadad and Ahab, but yet Ahab gives a pretty good answer, as ungodly as he was, to Ben-Hadad. Now, Ben-Hadad was the king of Syria. And he was picking a fight with Ahab, who was king of Israel. And everyone knows that Ahab was a wicked, ungodly king. So, Ben-Hadad in 1 Kings chapter 20 and verse 10 says this, to King Ahab, all right? 1 Kings 20 and verse 10. And Ben-Hadad sent unto him and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.

[John Weaver] In other words, here's what he's saying. Man, you don't have enough to stand against me. I'm going to whack you out. I'm going to take you and pull you apart. And here was Ahab's answer. Look in verse 11. And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself, as he that putteth it off. In other words, we ain't fought yet, been a dead.

[John Weaver] You're counting your chickens before they hatch. Don't go boasting when you're putting on your battle girdle. Because you haven't taken it off yet. David said, it is God who has girded me with strength. It was God who placed the battle harness upon David. And I got news for you folks. If God places a battle harness upon you, then the outcome is assured. The victory is absolutely yours. David said further, it is God who's made my way perfect.

[John Weaver] Notice that if you would in Psalm 18. And verse. 32, it is God that girded me with strength. And notice what he says and maketh my way perfect. Now the word way here has to be understood. Of the course of actions and language, whatever David undertook. What God was doing was this. God was leading and guiding and directing David so that the outcome of David's efforts would be extremely successful. And they had to be successful because everything was ordered by God.

[John Weaver] If you will turn in your Bibles to 2 Samuel chapter 5. 2 Samuel chapter 5. Let me give you an illustration of what David means when he said, he make it my way perfect. and 2nd Samuel chapter 5. David has already defeated the Philistines one time. Look in verse 18, 2nd Samuel 5 verse 18. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephim. And David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines?

[John Weaver] Wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. And David came to Baal-Pharazim, and David smote them there and said, The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-Pharazim. Now, God has delivered David. Look in verse 21. And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them with fire. David whipped them so badly, the few who remained alive right away left their gods, and David burned them. Now watch. David has had a momentous victory. But you know, sometimes a temporary victory may not necessarily be a full victory.

[John Weaver] They could have something planned. They could be trying to lure him into a trap. And watch verse 23. And when David inquired of the Lord, he said about going up verse 22, and the Philistines came up yet again and spread themselves in the Valley of Rephiam. In other words, they came up just like they did the first time. And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up. In other words, they've got something planned for you, boy. Thou shalt not go up, but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself, for then shall the Lord go out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gezer. Now, what did David mean when he said, Thou makest my way perfect?

[John Weaver] This is exactly what he meant. David was going to go out and fight them the second time exactly the way he fought them the first time. He got a victory that way the first time. God says, don't do that. You fetch a compass behind them, and you don't attack until you hear going in the mulberry trees. They had evidently planned something, and David was unaware of it, but God said, we'll thwart their plans. You come on behind them this time. Don't fight the way you fought the first time. So David said, it's God who girded me with strength. It's God who ties on my battle harness. And it's God who makes my way perfect.

[John Weaver] Now, let me give you another quote by Spurgeon. Spurgeon was very, very perceptive. He said this, Gird about the loins with power from heaven. The warrior was filled with vigor. far above all created might, and whereas, without this wondrous belt, he would have been feeble and effeminate, with relaxed energies and scattered forces, he felt himself embraced with the girdle of truth, to be compact in purpose, courageous and daring, and concentrated in power, so that his course was a complete success."

[John Weaver] Now listen, so undisturbed by thoughts of disastrous defeat, as to be called perfect. Have we been made more than conquerors over sin? And has our life hitherto been such as becometh the gospel? Let us ascribe all the glory to Him who gird us with His own inexhaustible strength, that we may be unconquered in battle and unwearied in pilgrimage. So what he's saying is this. Whatever God did for David physically, He can do for us spiritually. You see, God not only equips us. Or undergirds us, he also equips us. He enables us through his strength to do that which otherwise would be impossible. To accomplish.

[John Weaver] Let me show you look back in Psalm 18. Let me try to tie this together. This is going to be the last verse I'm going to try to cover today, but look if you would please back in Psalm 18 and verse 32, David said. It is God that girdeth me with strength. It's God that puts on my battle harness and maketh my way perfect. In other words, God led him and direct him.

[John Weaver] And then he said this. He maketh my feet like Heinz' feet and setteth me upon my high places. He maketh my feet like Heinz' feet.

[John Weaver] Now, the illustration and picture should be exceedingly clear. Deer are known for their swiftness, agility, balance, grace, and sure-footedness. David is here saying that God has made his feet like Hein's feet. In other words, it is God who is not only enabling David to swiftly overtake his enemies, But he is also enabling and empowering David to do so even in the most dangerous situations. David literally says, he maketh or matcheth my feet like Hines feet.

[John Weaver] You know, if you notice the mountain goats, mountain sheep, usually wherever their front hooves go, that's where the back hooves go. If they safely stand where their front hooves are, they will certainly safely stand where their hind hooves are. David says, you've made my feet like hind's feet. Let me show you what David is talking about. I want you to turn back in your Bibles to 2 Samuel 2. 2 Samuel 2.

[John Weaver] And look, if you would please, at verse 18. 2 Samuel 2. Verse 18.

[John Weaver] 2 Samuel 2 verse 18. Zeruiah had three sons. And by the way, Zeruiah was a woman, not a man. There were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel. And Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe or a wild deer. He was as light of foot as a wild roe. When you hear that, you ought to know that Asahel could really run. He was swift. He was fast.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn to 1 Chronicles chapter 12. Remember now, David is saying, he maketh my feet like hind's feet. So we can see right now he's talking about swiftness and speed. But look in 1st Chronicles chapter 12 and verse 8. 1st Chronicles 12 verse 8. Because here's something else. 1st Chronicles 12 verse 8. And of the Gaddites there separated themselves unto David and of the whole of the wilderness men of might and men of war fit for the battle. that could handle Sheol and Buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions and were swift as the rose upon the mountains. So here's some other men who were battle-hardened, whose faces were like faces of lions, that is, they were fearsome men, and yet they were swift as the rose upon the mountains. Now I want you to hold this passage, OK? Turn right over to Isaiah 40. Isaiah 40. Let me show you a passage that everyone should be aware of.

[John Weaver] And once again, this is the blessing of God. Look in Isaiah 40, beginning there of verse 30. Isaiah 40, verse 30. I like this. Isaiah 40, verse 30. Even the youths shall faint and be weary. Even the youths shall faint and be weary. And the young men shall utterly fall. Human strength in and of itself is worthless. Now watch. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.

[John Weaver] They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. You're talking about swiftness, you're talking about speed, you're talking about perseverance.

[John Weaver] Now look back to 1 Chronicles 12 because here's something else. Now look, when David said, He maketh my feet like Hines' feet. He's not only talking about swiftness and speed, but in 1 Chronicles 12 and verse 8, look carefully, and of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David, and behold, to the wilderness, men of might and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle Sheol and Buckler, whose faces were like the faces

[John Weaver] of lions, and were swift as the rose upon the mountains. Did you notice that last phrase? were as swift as the rose upon where? The mountains.

[John Weaver] Now, we're not just talking about swiftness and speed. We're talking about agility and perseverance. Let me ask you. I know Joe probably has. But have you ever hunted in the mountains or done any mountain climbing? I know Dean and Trip have. I want to tell you something, folks. There's a vast difference between hunting and walking on the mountains than there is walking on this flat land in South Georgia, I can assure you.

[John Weaver] Not only are you going up, up, up, up and you're using leg muscles that you hardly ever used if you were a flatlander, but the air is thinner and the rocks are sharper and the banks are steeper And it's far more dangerous. And what does the Bible say? These men were like young rose upon the mountains. Have you ever watched these mountain goats and mountain sheep? They go places it looks impossible.

[John Weaver] I remember some years ago, Tripp and Lacey and Alice and I were out at Yellowstone National Park. We were at a place called Artist Point. And I mean, it was absolutely gorgeous. Here's a huge waterfall. And I don't know how many thousands of feet the water was falling. The sides of the mountain were different colors of rock. And we were just looking at the beauty. And that's why it's called Artist's Point. I mean, everybody was taking pictures. Everybody was, you know, snapping.

[John Weaver] Some folks would stand there and paint and all this kind of stuff. And then I took pictures and pictures, too, because I looked to my right and here was this mountain wall straight up. And here are animal trails, not only going straight up, but going at an angle just every which way. What could be walking in places like that? I knew the answer. But I asked the ranger who was standing by, I said, what animal made those trails over there? Deer, mule deer. And probably some black tails that they had there, but I mean, walking straight up. David said, you've made my feet like Heinz feet. What's that mean? I'm only swift. I only have speed. But I'm sure-footed, even in the most dangerous places.

[John Weaver] Let me give you one more quote by Spurgeon. Listen to what he said. Oh, I love this. This is nice. The conqueror's feet had been shod by a divine hand. And the next note must thereof refer to them. He maketh my feet like hinds feet, and sendeth me upon my places. Now listen. Pursuing his foes, the warrior had been swift afoot as a young roe. But instead of taking pleasure in the legs of man, he ascribes the boon of swiftness to the Lord alone.

[John Weaver] When our thoughts are nimble and our spirits rapid, like the chariots of a Minidib, let us not forget that our best beloved hands have given us the choice favor. Climbing into impregnable fortresses, David had been preserved from slipping and made to stand where scarce the wild goat could find a footing, herein whilst preserving mercy manifested." We too have had our high places of honor, service, temptation, and danger, but hitherto we've been kept from falling.

[John Weaver] Bring hither the harp and let us emulate the psalmist's joyful thanksgiving. Had we fallen, our wailings must have been terrible. Since we have stood, let our gratitude be fervent." What did he say? He says, just like David wasn't able to stand where places were scarcely a wild goat could stand. We too have had our places of honor sometime in service, sometime in temptation, sometime in danger. If we had fallen, there'd have been great wailing. But God preserved us. So let there be great gratitude and praise. The truth of the matter is we must always remember to give God the honor and glory and ascribe all of our victories to Him. How easy it would have been for David to have said, Did you see what I just did?

[John Weaver] Ah, do you know what I accomplished? Look at me. No, David said, It is God who giveth me strength. It is God who preserves me. Let me show you. I want you to turn. to Psalm 147. Here, David gives us the truth. Here's why David ascribed all the honor and glory to God. Look at Psalm 147 and verse 10. What David says concerning God. Psalm 147 verse 10. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse.

[John Weaver] He taketh not pleasure in the legs of man. David could not say, Lord, I've run. My legs are strong. I can climb. My legs are strong. Lord, look what I did. No, no, no. David said he didn't take pleasure in the legs of man. It's not what we do. It's what God enables us to do. It is His strength. It is His power, and we do it through Him.

[John Weaver] That is why the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4 verse 13, help me now, I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. It is His strength. It is His honor.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn to one last passage because I've got an application to make, and I just want you to be ready. I want you to turn to Ephesians chapter 6. I want you to turn to Ephesians chapter 6 and we'll read it in just a moment. Find Ephesians chapter 6. OK. Here's my application. Too often we look back on the Old Testament with a wish. And our wish is something like this, oh boy. I wish I could have been there. I wish I could have helped. I wish I could have experienced that. I wish I could have seen that. I wish I could have been a part of that power and excitement.

[John Weaver] It is absolutely amazing that we are more concerned with the physical than the spiritual. We want physical victories more than we want spiritual victories. Or sometimes we want physical victories and do not even want spiritual victories. Interestingly enough, the truth is that if we are unwilling and unable to conquer spiritually, we will certainly be unable to conquer physically. Scripture teaches that first and foremost our battles are spiritual battles. Listen carefully. The physical manifestation of our enemies is merely a representation of the fact that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places. Let me show you.

[John Weaver] Look at Ephesians 6, beginning there in verse 10. Look what he says.

[John Weaver] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins dirt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fire and darts of the wicked, and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. praying always with all prayer and supplication of the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

[John Weaver] Now, Ephesians 6, verses 10-18 gives us all of the spiritual equipment that we need to face our enemies. Listen, what we forget is this, that David was first of all, a man after God's own heart. And then secondly, a man of war. We want the physical victory without the spiritual victory, when in reality, the spiritual has to come first. Our hearts must be first given to the Lord, and if they're not, our bodies will be weak and useless. Look in verse 10 again of Ephesians 6.

[John Weaver] This is where we are. This is what we need. And Paul says, finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord. and in the power of His might. If we are strong in Him, we may not only face our enemies, but we may face all enemies. If we are not strong in Him, we will not be able to face any enemy. David said, It's the Lord who defends me. It's the Lord who girds me to battle. It's the Lord who gives me strength and gives me every ability that I need.

[John Weaver] I want to encourage you to do this. I want to encourage you to make sure you're here next week because By God's grace and in God's providence, I'm going to spend the entire time next week dealing with verse 34. It is God who teacheth my hands to fight. If you want to understand where we are And how we must be taught of God. I would encourage you. To make sure you hear the message, let's pray.

[John Weaver] Father, we're so thankful today for Jesus Christ. And we're thankful, dear Lord, that. We know that you. Are our God. And if we're obedient to the in honor of the. That will be an enemy to our enemies and an adversary to our adversaries. If we won't be on our side, Lord, we must be on Thy side. Make us obedient. Make us holy and godly. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray, Amen.

The Lord as Defender

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	34081354150
Subject	Covenant Theology
Course	Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: The Hallelujah of Confession
Genre	Sermon
Date	2008-02-03
Dictation Name
Book	Book 042: Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: God's Answer to America's Problems — Chapter 10
Source Timed Segments	86

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review of Psalm 18:1-28

Weaver reviews David's determination to love the Lord, his distress, God's deliverance, and David's deportment—acting biblically by not taking vengeance on Saul.

We'll take just a few moments to review after we read, but look in Psalm 18, beginning with verse 29. David said,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 18:29-33

"For by thee I have run through a troop, and by my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect. The word of the Lord is tried. He is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God, save the Lord, or who is a rock, save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect."

He maketh my feet like hinds' feet and setteth me upon my high places. You remember, we started this psalm with verse one, of course, we saw there David's determination when he said, "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength." And I showed you what biblical love was and how that there is three parts of what I call an irreducible minimum. When you explain love, it included attitude, affection, and action. If you have a biblical attitude, then you will have a biblical affection. If you have a biblical affection, it will always demonstrate itself with a biblical action. And so I showed you how David was responding to God's love because no one can love God first. And then secondly, I showed you the reasons why David said, "I will love the Lord," because he said the Lord is my strength, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my strength, my trust, my buckler, the horn of my salvation and my high tower. And I went through all of those and showed you from Scripture what was involved there.

Then in verses three through six, we looked at David's distress and how that he was in deep, deep trouble, and I pointed out that oftentimes God will indeed back us up against the wall, put us in distress that we may learn to call upon Him, cry unto Him, and trust in Him. And then in verses 7 through 19, we looked at David's deliverer. Here David is describing all of these mighty attributes of God and the grace and the power and the strength of God, and how God just simply delivered him. And then last week we looked in verses 20 through 28 and we saw David's deportment. And I pointed out the fact how that David was acting biblically and scripturally. If you wanted to be delivered, then you have to act right. You have to act biblically, basically speaking. David kept his heart. David kept his life.

He did not take vengeance into his own hand. He had a perfect opportunity on several occasions to kill his personal enemy Saul, and yet he would not. At those particular times, although Saul was looking for him, his life was not in imminent danger. And although he was encouraged to take Saul's life, he refused. On another hand, Abishai said, "Let me smite him to the ground even this once." In other words, David, if you just let me kill him, I won't have to take a second lick. I'll do it clean the first time. He'll never know what hit him. No, David said, "Don't do that. His time will come. Or he'll die in battle, or God will take care of him. He's not going to die at my hand." Now, what David was saying was this. God had already promised David the kingdom. But David is saying, "I'm not going to have the kingdom at the expense of violence at my own hand, especially me taking it." So what David was doing was this. He was patiently waiting upon the Lord to give him the kingdom. What David demonstrated was this, that he was a person that could be trusted with authority and power. David was not going to abuse the situation even when God delivered Saul into his hand. So David then was willing to wait upon God for God to take Saul's life or for God to give him the kingdom on God's terms.

The Connection Between Patience, Obedience, and Victory

Weaver asserts that God rewards trust and faithfulness, and that victory depends on God's grace, not human resources. He stresses that enemies should be due to righteousness, not personal misconduct.

And certainly that's what happened. Now, let me ask a question as we begin today. Does God reward trust and faithfulness? And the answer is yes. Here's another question. Is there a connection between patience, obedience, and victory? And again, the answer is a resounding yes. We must understand that in reality, as David confessed, the battle belongs to the Lord. Victory is not determined by who has the most soldiers, or who has the most weapons, or who has the best strategy. Victory really depends upon the grace and mercy and power of God. We must maintain a biblical attitude if we desire for God to give us victory over our enemies. Now, listen carefully. While it is an undeniable fact that we have enemies, they should not be enemies of our own making.

Now let me explain what I mean by that statement. What I meant by that statement is simply this. Our enemies should be our enemies simply because they are enemies to God, His law, His righteousness, and His people. They ought not to be our enemies because of our own personal misconduct, hatefulness, and ungodliness. So when you and I conform our attitude and our actions to the Word of God, mark it down, we will have enemies. However, at the same time, they're going to be the enemies of God and the enemies of righteousness and the enemies of truth. So we're not denying the fact that we're going to have enemies. But they should not be enemies based upon our own misconduct. Let me show you what I mean.

Biblical Basis for Righteous Persecution

Using Matthew 5:11, John 15:20, and 2 Timothy 3:12, Weaver shows that living godly in Christ will bring persecution, but believers must maintain a biblical attitude without bitterness.

Turn in your Bibles, if you would, holding Psalm 18, of course. But turn in your Bibles, if you would, first of all, to Matthew chapter 5 and verse 11. This is one of those verses in the Sermon on the Mount. Notice what our Lord says in Matthew 5 and verse 11. Our Lord says this,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:11

"Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake."

Now, wait a minute. Somebody has some enemies. Because they're reviling, they're persecuting, they're talking evil and they're saying things falsely against you. Why? Our Lord said, "for my sake."

In other words, you're living a righteous, godly, holy life. And you would think if you live that way, well, who in the world is going to be your enemy? The truth is, an enemy of God is going to be your enemy. An enemy of righteousness is going to be your enemy. Look, if you would please, in John 15 and verse 20. John 15 and verse 20. It's interesting how that the Scripture teaches that we're going to have enemies if we live righteously. In John 15 and verse 20, our Lord said it like this.

Scripture Reading — John 15:20

"Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord."

"If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my saying, they will keep yours also." Now, Jesus Christ was the sinless Son of God. He was the most perfect and the most holy man who ever lived. And look at all the enemies He had. Look at the ones who tried to murder him constantly. And by the way, they were the religious leaders of the day. They're the ones who put forth themselves as the great ones. But our Lord said, "Look, if they persecuted me, they're going to persecute you."

The servant is not greater or the servant is not above its master. If they receive my words, they'll receive yours. If they didn't receive mine, well, don't think they're going to receive yours. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 12. 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 12. Paul really hits the nail on the head and he sums it up. Here's a very broad, general truth. In 2 Timothy 3, verse 12, he says,

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 3:12

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

So if you live godly in Christ Jesus, mark it down, you're going to have enemies.

Now, when I speak about maintaining a biblical attitude, here's what I'm talking about. When we have enemies of our own making, and we aren't lied about and persecuted and slandered. When we maintain a biblical attitude, we understand that although we have enemies and they are God's enemies as well, we do not become bitter, hateful, and vindictive. Now, please understand that in maintaining a biblical attitude, we do not become bitter, hateful, and vindictive. Now, listen carefully. We do not deny the fact that we have enemies. We do not deny that reality, nor do we try to whitewash the facts. We do indeed have enemies, and we do not deny that something must be done on certain occasions.

God's Vengeance and Our Attitude

Weaver teaches from Proverbs 24:17-18 that believers should not rejoice when enemies fall, lest God turn away His wrath. He emphasizes suffering wrongfully rather than sinning.

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 2:19

But still, we still learn to think biblically and act biblically, maintaining that biblical attitude and that biblical action. You know what the Bible says in 1 Peter 2 and verse 19? Now you've got to remember that even though we have enemies, that doesn't mean that they're all trying to kill us, nor does it mean that they're trying to all kill us at one time. Think of slander. Think of rumors. I've been talked about, you've been talked about. You know what my standard answer is when someone comes to me and says, "Did you hear what so-and-so said about you?" or "Do you know what's being said about you?" My standard answer is this. "You know, if they really knew me the way God knows me, they'd probably say worse things than that about me." Come on. That doesn't hurt. You remember that old saying we used to have as kids, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." Well, hey, it does hurt some, but it is not life threatening. The Bible says in 1 Peter 2 and verse 19.

"For this is thankworthy if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully." In other words, here's what Peter is saying. We'd rather suffer than sin. I'd rather suffer wrongfully than suffer rightfully. I'd rather suffer wrongfully because I've done that which is right and holy than suffer rightly because I violated the law of God and brought reproach upon his name.

Now let me just point out the fact God will indeed exact his vengeance upon our enemies. There's no two ways about that. But even when he does, we still must maintain a biblical attitude. Let me show you. I want you to turn to Proverbs 24, because this is not only a very important passage, it's a passage that you and I really need to learn if we want our Lord really and truly to take care of our enemies. Look what he says in Proverbs 24, beginning with verse 17. Proverbs 24, verse 17. He says,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 24:17-18

"Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth."

Now, wait a minute. Why does God say,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 24:17-18

"Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth"

? Why is it we can't just jump up and down and say, "Thank God, you finally nailed him, Lord. Praise the Lord." Now, why did he say don't do that? Here's why. Look in verse 18.

"Lest the Lord see it and it displeased him and he turned away his wrath from him." In other words, God says, "Now, if you really want me to clean his plow, you don't start rejoicing too soon. You just wait and say, 'Lord, you take care of him.' And when I've really got him taken care of, then you can say, 'Thank you, Lord.' But you don't just simply jump up and down simply because the Lord is destroying your enemies. Don't rejoice too soon."

The Worth of Acting Biblically: Old Testament Promises

Weaver asks if David's patience was worth it, then cites Exodus 23:22, Leviticus 26:7-8, Joshua 21:44, 23:10, Deuteronomy 20:1-4, 28:7, and 33:29 to show God's promises to fight for the obedient.

That's exactly what he's telling us now. Let me ask you a question in light of Psalm 18, verses 20 through 28, in which we looked at David's deportment. Here's the question that I want to ask you. David was indeed being persecuted by Saul. I gave you illustration after illustration of that last week. Now, here's my question. Since Saul was persecuting David, and David controlled himself and acted biblically and rightly in his attitude and in his actions toward Saul, he would not render vengeance for vengeance or hatred for hatred. Although Saul was doing wrong, David did what was right. Here's my question. Was it worth it? Was it worth it for David to act biblically toward his enemy? Now, I could ask this question another way. I could ask this.

How much is it worth to have the blessings and the power of God upon us as we fight against our enemies? Wow. Now you just stop and think about this. What Saul was doing to David in reality was just a minute portion of David's life. It was a short time. It may have seemed like a long time while he was being persecuted by Saul, but it was a short time. David reigned on the throne for 40 years. Let me show you what I mean when I ask the question, was it worth it?

For David had exercised patience and control and acted rightly toward his enemy in order to have the blessing and the power of God upon himself. I want you to hold Psalm 18. We're going to come back there, but look in your Bibles, beginning with Exodus 23. I want to show you a number of verses. Here is why I keep telling you and emphasizing the fact that we must maintain a biblical attitude and biblical actions at all times. Look in Exodus chapter 23 and verse 22. Look what the Bible says. Exodus 23 verse 22. God says,

Scripture Reading — Exodus 23:22

"But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak, that I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries."

Whoa, wait a minute now. Did you hear that? "But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice," the angel of the Lord, who is Christ, "and do all that I speak," says God, that is, if you obey me, "then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries." I don't know about you, but I believe I'd rather have God on my side than all the armies in the world. God says now if you want me to be on your side, you obey me. And if you do, I'm going to be an enemy to your enemy and an adversary to your adversaries. Look in your Bibles to the book of Leviticus chapter 26 and verse 8. Leviticus 26 and verse 8. I'm just showing you what it was worth for David to exercise patience and control towards Saul. Look in Leviticus 26 and verse 8. In fact, let's read verse 7. Look what he says, verse 7,

Scripture Reading — Leviticus 26:7-8

"And you shall chase your enemies and they shall fall before you by the sword, and five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight, and your enemy shall fall before you by the sword."

Now, Leviticus 26 happens to be another one of those places where God is giving the blessings and the curses concerning His law. And God says now, one of my blessings for your obedience is this, that five of you will be able to chase a hundred, a hundred of you will be able to put ten thousand to flight, and your enemy shall fall before you. I don't know about you, but to me it seems worth it to act biblically and to act scripturally for five to chase a hundred.

A hundred to put ten thousand in flight? Well, look in your Bibles to the book of Joshua chapter 21 and verse 44. There are plenty of other verses, but look in Joshua 21 verse 44. Joshua 21 and verse 44.

Scripture Reading — Joshua 21:44

"And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that He sware unto their fathers."

Are you looking now?

Scripture Reading — Joshua 21:44

"And there stood not a man of all their enemies before them. The Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand."

How many were able to stand? Not one. And what did the Lord do? The Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. Look in Joshua 23 and verse 10. Joshua 23 and verse 10. This even gets better. "One man of you shall chase a thousand. For the Lord your God, He is he that fighteth for you, as He has promised." One man of you shall chase a thousand. Is it worth it to conduct yourself biblically to have a right attitude and right action in order to have the blessing and the power of God upon you, where one man shall chase a thousand? Why? Because God is fighting for us. Look in your Bibles, Deuteronomy chapter 20.

Just trying to answer this question before we begin looking at Psalm 18. But go to Deuteronomy chapter 20. Deuteronomy chapter 20. And look if you would please to verse one. Deuteronomy 20, verse one. Look what he says. "When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them." Why? "For the Lord thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and it shall be when you are come nigh unto the battle, the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, and shall say unto them, 'Hear, O Israel, you approach this day unto the battle against your enemies.'"

"Let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies, and to save you." Now let me ask you, is it worth it to have victory in every area? Well, of course it is. Turn right on over to Deuteronomy 28. Deuteronomy 28, here's the passage that Hobie referred to on the blessing and the curses of the law. Deuteronomy 28, look at verse 7.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 28:7

"The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face. They shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways."

So whenever they run at you in one concerted effort, God said, when you get through, they're going to be running seven different ways just trying to get away from you. Look at Deuteronomy 33 and verse 29. Deuteronomy 33, verse 29. Here's another passage we should put down. God says, "Happy art thou, O Israel, who is like unto thee, O people, saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, who is the sword of thy excellency, and thine enemy shall be found liars unto thee, and thou shalt tread upon their high places." God is here referred to as our shield and our sword.

And it is God that enables us to tread upon our high places, or their high places. We take them from them and make them ours. Now, you don't have to turn to this passage, but I'm sure that most of you can quote it. Do you remember the passage in Psalm 127, verse 1? Here it is.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 127:1

"Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."

In other words, what he's saying is, if God doesn't protect us, if God doesn't fight for us, no amount of watchmen are going to do you any good. And I love this verse. I'll quote it this week. I'll probably quote it next week. Proverbs 21 and verse 31. I love it. "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but safety is of the Lord." Safety is of the Lord. I want you to go back to Psalm 18. Because I want us to examine our section today in light of all of these verses. We have to examine this portion in light of God's gracious provisions and blessing upon David, in relationship of deliverance that God gave him from his enemies now.

David's Defense: God as the Source of Victory (Psalm 18:29-31)

Weaver expounds verses 29-31, showing David ascribes all glory to God for running through a troop and leaping over a wall. He explains God's way is perfect, His word tried, and He is a buckler and rock.

When we talk about David, we immediately think of this great warrior. And truly he was indeed a great warrior. But we must remember that David was not initially a warrior. Initially, he was a shepherd, a musician, and a poet. When he met Goliath in 1 Samuel chapter 17, he had no armament. He had no shield. He had no spear. He had no sword. The only thing he had was a sling. It was God who taught David to fight. And it was God who gave David his victories. Now with that in mind, I want you to look at David's defense, beginning with verse 29. Look what David said in Psalm 18 and verse 29. "For by thee I have run through a troop, and by my God have I leaped over a wall." Now notice, if you would, how David is emphasizing this one central important fact, "for by thee I have." David carefully and accurately ascribes all glory to God.

He arrogates nothing to himself. Now this phrase, "run through a troop," has been variously interpreted. Some interpret this to mean that he met a troop with courage and skill. Others would interpret it, "I have run after a troop," as David pursued the troop of the Amalekites who burned Ziklag in 1 Samuel 30 and verse 8. But others just simply take it as it is right here. "I have run through" or "broken through a troop," which signifies that he broke it into pieces. And it is a word that is fitly used for destroying and cutting into pieces an enemy. So it doesn't really matter in one sense of the word where you say, "I met a troop" or "I ran after a troop" or "I cut through a troop." Really and truly, each one of them are talking about the fact that God has given him the victory. David then fought without fear. He pursued without failure and he destroyed without flinching.

He was fighting God's battles in God's way. So he says, "By thee, I've run through a troop. I've cut them in pieces. If they ran away, I pursued them. I overtook them. When they came at me, I met them courageously and skillfully."

Now, look in verse 29. He says this again. "By thee I have run through a troop, and by my God I have leaped over a wall." Which refers then to scaling walls and taking fortified places. So it was by God, then, that he scaled the walls and took fortified places, which was literally true of David in many instances. You remember, and it could possibly refer to this, where David took the fortress of Zion, Jerusalem, from the Jebusites and made it his own. I like what Charles H. Spurgeon said on this verse. Listen carefully. He said this, "Whether we meet the foe in the open field, or leap upon them while they lurk behind the battlements of a city, we shall by God's grace defeat them in either case. If they hem us in with living legions, or environ us with stone walls, we shall with equal certainty obtain our liberty. Such feats we have already performed, hewing our way in a run through host of difficulties, and scaling impossibilities at a leap. God's warriors may expect to have a taste of every form of fighting, and must by the power of faith determine to quit themselves like men."

"But it behooves them to be careful to lay all their laurels at Jehovah's feet, each one of them saying, 'By my God, have I wrought this valiant deed!' Our spolia optima, the trophies of our conflicts, we hereby dedicate to the God of battles and ascribe to him all glory and strength." Now listen to what Spurgeon said, "God's warriors must expect to have a taste of every form of fighting." Now that's true not only physically, but that is true spiritually as well. Our spiritual fighting is really and truly more important than our physical fighting. And God does indeed give us a taste of all of it. Now, Spurgeon said this, "our spolia optima." What in the world is he talking about? The trophies of our conflicts. Let me show you what he's talking about. Turn in your Bibles, hold Psalm 18, but turn back to 1 Chronicles 26 and look at verse 27. 1 Chronicles 26 and verse 27. I love this verse. 1 Chronicles 26 verse 27. "Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the Lord." So when he says that we give God our spolia optima, that is all the spoils that you and I win, we give God credit for because it's by His grace and by His mercy. So David says in verse 29, "For by thee I have run through a troop, and by my God I have leaped over a wall." And David is giving God all the praise and all the glory. Now, look at verses 30 and 31. "As for God, His way is perfect. The word of the Lord is tried, he's a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God, save the Lord, or who is a rock, save our God."

Now, folks, let me just tell you, God's way is perfect in every aspect. It is perfect because he is perfect. He deals with us in a perfect way. Now, that perfect way may be incomprehensible to us, and even at times it may be indiscernible, yet it is still perfect. His word has been tried. It has been demonstrated over and over throughout history and throughout the saints' lives that he is faithful. His word is faithful, true, accurate, and infallible.

I want you to note, if you would, that David, again, in verse 30, refers to God as a buckler. I don't know if you remember, but I explained this when I preached on verse 2 of Psalm 18. And I told you that a buckler is something that is much larger than a shield. A shield, of course, was used offensively and defensively, but it still differs from a buckler in this respect, that a shield usually defends or covers primarily a small portion of the body, while a buckler is large and enables one to shield his entire body. Let me show you. Look in your Bibles, first to Psalm 35 and verse 2. Psalm 35 and verse 2. In fact, let's read verse 1 in light of this. David prays and he says, "Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me." Now look, "Fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler and stand up for mine help."

God Girds with Strength and Makes the Way Perfect (Psalm 18:32)

Weaver explains the metaphor of girding with strength as God equipping for battle, and making the way perfect as divine guidance, illustrated by David's victory over the Philistines in 2 Samuel 5.

Now, the girding with strength is a metaphor that is taken from the belt or the girdle of a warrior or sometimes from the reins, R-E-I-N-S, which the scripture sometimes places a man's vigor and strength in the reins of my body, he would say. When David is saying that he has girded me with strength, he's put on the warrior's belt around me. David is saying without this divine girding, I would have been weak, effeminate, and anemic. In other words, here now he is saying I've been made strong and powerful and courageous by the hand of God. So he is telling us it is God who upheld him. It is God who sustained him.

Now, soldiers always girded themselves for battle. You did not go into battle without putting on your battle harness or your battle girdle, so to speak. In fact, I want you to see this. This is really neat to me. If you look in 1 Kings chapter 20 and hold, of course, Psalm 18. But look in 1 Kings chapter 20. You have two ungodly men, Ben-Hadad and Ahab, but yet Ahab gives a pretty good answer, as ungodly as he was, to Ben-Hadad. Now, Ben-Hadad was the king of Syria, and he was picking a fight with Ahab, who was king of Israel. And everyone knows that Ahab was a wicked, ungodly king. So, Ben-Hadad in 1 Kings chapter 20 and verse 10 says this to King Ahab, all right? 1 Kings 20 and verse 10. "And Ben-Hadad sent unto him and said, 'The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.'"

In other words, here's what he's saying. "Man, you don't have enough to stand against me. I'm going to whack you out. I'm going to take you and pull you apart." And here was Ahab's answer. Look in verse 11. "And the king of Israel answered and said, 'Tell him, let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself, as he that putteth it off.'" In other words, we ain't fought yet, Ben-Hadad. You're counting your chickens before they hatch. Don't go boasting when you're putting on your battle girdle, because you haven't taken it off yet. David said, "It is God who has girded me with strength." It was God who placed the battle harness upon David. And I got news for you folks. If God places a battle harness upon you, then the outcome is assured. The victory is absolutely yours. David said further, "It is God who's made my way perfect."

Notice that if you would in Psalm 18, and verse 32, "It is God that girded me with strength." And notice what he says, "and maketh my way perfect." Now the word "way" here has to be understood of the course of actions and language, whatever David undertook. What God was doing was this. God was leading and guiding and directing David so that the outcome of David's efforts would be extremely successful. And they had to be successful because everything was ordered by God. If you will turn in your Bibles to 2 Samuel chapter 5. 2 Samuel chapter 5. Let me give you an illustration of what David means when he said, "He maketh my way perfect." In 2 Samuel chapter 5, David has already defeated the Philistines one time. Look in verse 18, 2 Samuel 5 verse 18. "The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of the Lord, saying, 'Shall I go up to the Philistines?'"

"Wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, 'Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.' And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there and said, 'The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me as the breach of waters.' Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim." Now, God has delivered David. Look in verse 21. "And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them with fire." David whipped them so badly, the few who remained alive right away left their gods, and David burned them. Now watch. David has had a momentous victory. But you know, sometimes a temporary victory may not necessarily be a full victory.

They could have something planned. They could be trying to lure him into a trap. And watch verse 23. "And when David inquired of the Lord," he said about going up, verse 22, "and the Philistines came up yet again and spread themselves in the Valley of Rephaim." In other words, they came up just like they did the first time. "And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, 'Thou shalt not go up.'" In other words, they've got something planned for you, boy. "Thou shalt not go up, but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself, for then shall the Lord go out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gezer." Now, what did David mean when he said, "Thou makest my way perfect"?

This is exactly what he meant. David was going to go out and fight them the second time exactly the way he fought them the first time. He got a victory that way the first time. God says, "Don't do that. You fetch a compass behind them, and you don't attack until you hear going in the mulberry trees." They had evidently planned something, and David was unaware of it, but God said, "We'll thwart their plans. You come on behind them this time. Don't fight the way you fought the first time." So David said, "It's God who girded me with strength. It's God who ties on my battle harness. And it's God who makes my way perfect."

Now, let me give you another quote by Spurgeon. Spurgeon was very, very perceptive. He said this, "Gird about the loins with power from heaven. The warrior was filled with vigor far above all created might, and whereas, without this wondrous belt, he would have been feeble and effeminate, with relaxed energies and scattered forces, he felt himself embraced with the girdle of truth, to be compact in purpose, courageous and daring, and concentrated in power, so that his course was a complete success."

Feet Like Hinds' Feet: Swiftness and Sure-footedness (Psalm 18:33)

Weaver describes how God makes believers swift and agile like deer, able to stand in dangerous places. He cites 2 Samuel 2:18, 1 Chronicles 12:8, and Isaiah 40:30-31.

Now listen, "so undisturbed by thoughts of disastrous defeat, as to be called perfect. Have we been made more than conquerors over sin? And has our life hitherto been such as becometh the gospel? Let us ascribe all the glory to Him who gird us with His own inexhaustible strength, that we may be unconquered in battle and unwearied in pilgrimage." So what he's saying is this. Whatever God did for David physically, He can do for us spiritually. You see, God not only equips us, or undergirds us, He also equips us. He enables us through His strength to do that which otherwise would be impossible to accomplish.

Let me show you. Look back in Psalm 18. Let me try to tie this together. This is going to be the last verse I'm going to try to cover today, but look if you would please back in Psalm 18 and verse 32, David said, "It is God that girdeth me with strength." It's God that puts on my battle harness and maketh my way perfect. In other words, God led him and directed him. And then he said this. "He maketh my feet like hinds' feet and setteth me upon my high places." He maketh my feet like hinds' feet.

Now, the illustration and picture should be exceedingly clear. Deer are known for their swiftness, agility, balance, grace, and sure-footedness. David is here saying that God has made his feet like hinds' feet. In other words, it is God who is not only enabling David to swiftly overtake his enemies, but He is also enabling and empowering David to do so even in the most dangerous situations. David literally says, "He maketh" or "matcheth my feet like hinds' feet." You know, if you notice the mountain goats, mountain sheep, usually wherever their front hooves go, that's where the back hooves go. If they safely stand where their front hooves are, they will certainly safely stand where their hind hooves are. David says, "You've made my feet like hinds' feet." Let me show you what David is talking about. I want you to turn back in your Bibles to 2 Samuel 2. 2 Samuel 2.

And look, if you would please, at verse 18. 2 Samuel 2, verse 18.

2 Samuel 2 verse 18. Zeruiah had three sons. And by the way, Zeruiah was a woman, not a man. There were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel. And Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe or a wild deer. He was as light of foot as a wild roe. When you hear that, you ought to know that Asahel could really run. He was swift. He was fast.

Now, I want you to turn to 1 Chronicles chapter 12. Remember now, David is saying, "He maketh my feet like hinds' feet." So we can see right now he's talking about swiftness and speed. But look in 1 Chronicles chapter 12 and verse 8. 1 Chronicles 12 verse 8. Because here's something else. 1 Chronicles 12 verse 8. "And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions and were swift as the roes upon the mountains." So here's some other men who were battle-hardened, whose faces were like faces of lions, that is, they were fearsome men, and yet they were swift as the roes upon the mountains. Now I want you to hold this passage, OK? Turn right over to Isaiah 40. Isaiah 40. Let me show you a passage that everyone should be aware of.

And once again, this is the blessing of God. Look in Isaiah 40, beginning there of verse 30. Isaiah 40, verse 30. I like this. Isaiah 40, verse 30. "Even the youths shall faint and be weary. Even the youths shall faint and be weary. And the young men shall utterly fall." Human strength in and of itself is worthless. Now watch. "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."

"They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint." You're talking about swiftness, you're talking about speed, you're talking about perseverance. Now look back to 1 Chronicles 12 because here's something else. Now look, when David said, "He maketh my feet like hinds' feet," he's not only talking about swiftness and speed, but in 1 Chronicles 12 and verse 8, look carefully, "and of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were swift as the roes upon the mountains." Did you notice that last phrase? "were as swift as the roes upon" where? "The mountains."

Now, we're not just talking about swiftness and speed. We're talking about agility and perseverance. Let me ask you. I know Joe probably has, but have you ever hunted in the mountains or done any mountain climbing? I know Dean and Trip have. I want to tell you something, folks. There's a vast difference between hunting and walking on the mountains than there is walking on this flat land in South Georgia, I can assure you.

Not only are you going up, up, up, up and you're using leg muscles that you hardly ever used if you were a flatlander, but the air is thinner and the rocks are sharper and the banks are steeper and it's far more dangerous. And what does the Bible say? These men were like young roes upon the mountains. Have you ever watched these mountain goats and mountain sheep? They go places it looks impossible. I remember some years ago, Tripp and Lacey and Alice and I were out at Yellowstone National Park. We were at a place called Artist Point. And I mean, it was absolutely gorgeous. Here's a huge waterfall. And I don't know how many thousands of feet the water was falling. The sides of the mountain were different colors of rock. And we were just looking at the beauty. And that's why it's called Artist's Point. I mean, everybody was taking pictures. Everybody was, you know, snapping.

Some folks would stand there and paint and all this kind of stuff. And then I took pictures and pictures, too, because I looked to my right and here was this mountain wall straight up. And here are animal trails, not only going straight up, but going at an angle just every which way. What could be walking in places like that? I knew the answer. But I asked the ranger who was standing by, I said, "What animal made those trails over there?" Deer, mule deer. And probably some black tails that they had there, but I mean, walking straight up. David said, "You've made my feet like hinds' feet." What's that mean? I'm not only swift. I not only have speed. But I'm sure-footed, even in the most dangerous places.

Spiritual Application: The Armor of God

Weaver applies the lesson to spiritual warfare, urging believers to prioritize spiritual victories using Ephesians 6:10-18. He emphasizes that strength comes from the Lord, not human ability.

It is absolutely amazing that we are more concerned with the physical than the spiritual. We want physical victories more than we want spiritual victories. Or sometimes we want physical victories and do not even want spiritual victories. Interestingly enough, the truth is that if we are unwilling and unable to conquer spiritually, we will certainly be unable to conquer physically. Scripture teaches that first and foremost our battles are spiritual battles. Listen carefully. The physical manifestation of our enemies is merely a representation of the fact that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places. Let me show you.

Look at Ephesians 6, beginning there in verse 10. Look what he says.

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 6:10-18

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication of the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

Now, Ephesians 6, verses 10-18 gives us all of the spiritual equipment that we need to face our enemies. Listen, what we forget is this, that David was first of all, a man after God's own heart, and then secondly, a man of war. We want the physical victory without the spiritual victory, when in reality, the spiritual has to come first. Our hearts must be first given to the Lord, and if they're not, our bodies will be weak and useless. Look in verse 10 again of Ephesians 6. This is where we are. This is what we need. And Paul says,

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 6:10-18

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."

If we are strong in Him, we may not only face our enemies, but we may face all enemies. If we are not strong in Him, we will not be able to face any enemy. David said, "It's the Lord who defends me. It's the Lord who girds me to battle. It's the Lord who gives me strength and gives me every ability that I need."

Study Guide

Major Themes

God as the Source of Victory and Defense

Summary: God alone gives strength, guidance, and protection in battle; human effort is insufficient without His enabling.

Evidence: Weaver repeatedly emphasizes that David ascribes all glory to God: 'For by thee I have run through a troop' (Psalm 18:29) and 'It is God that girdeth me with strength' (v. 32). He cites Exodus 23:22, Deuteronomy 20:1-4, and Proverbs 21:31 to show God fights for His people.

The Necessity of a Biblical Attitude Toward Enemies

Summary: Believers must not become bitter or vengeful; they should suffer wrongfully rather than sin, and not rejoice when enemies fall.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'We do not become bitter, hateful, and vindictive' (08:54.8-09:54.9). He cites Proverbs 24:17-18 and 1 Peter 2:19 to support this.

Obedience and Patience Precede Victory

Summary: God rewards trust and faithfulness; victory is connected to patience and obedience, as seen in David's refusal to kill Saul.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'Is there a connection between patience, obedience, and victory? And again, the answer is a resounding yes' (04:07.8-05:11.0). He illustrates with David's waiting for God to give him the kingdom.

Spiritual Warfare as Primary

Summary: Physical battles are secondary; the real battle is spiritual, against principalities and powers, requiring God's armor.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Scripture teaches that first and foremost our battles are spiritual battles' (57:57.4-59:02.5) and reads Ephesians 6:10-18.

God's Perfect Way and Tried Word

Summary: God's way is perfect because He is perfect; His word is proven and reliable, providing a sure foundation for trust.

Evidence: Weaver expounds Psalm 18:30: 'As for God, his way is perfect. The word of the Lord is tried' (30:39.6-31:19.8).

Divine Enablement for Impossible Tasks

Summary: God equips believers with strength and agility to overcome obstacles that are humanly impossible, like scaling walls or standing on high places.

Evidence: Weaver explains 'leaped over a wall' and 'feet like hinds' feet' as God enabling David to take fortified places and stand securely in danger (26:55.6-27:32.0; 45:01.5-45:54.7).

Key Arguments

Victory depends on God, not human resources

Summary: Weaver argues that the battle belongs to the Lord; victory is not determined by soldiers, weapons, or strategy, but by God's grace and power.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'Victory is not determined by who has the most soldiers, or who has the most weapons, or who has the best strategy. Victory really depends upon the grace and mercy and power of God' (04:07.8-05:11.0).

Enemies should be due to righteousness, not personal sin

Summary: Weaver contends that believers will have enemies, but they should be enemies because of godly living, not because of personal misconduct.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Our enemies should be our enemies simply because they are enemies to God, His law, His righteousness, and His people. They ought not to be our enemies because of our own personal misconduct' (05:11.9-06:02.3).

God fights for the obedient

Summary: Weaver uses multiple Old Testament passages to show that God promises to be an enemy to our enemies if we obey Him.

Evidence: He cites Exodus 23:22: 'If thou shalt indeed obey his voice... I will be an enemy unto thine enemies' (16:10.6-16:50.3).

David's patience and refusal to take vengeance were rewarded

Summary: Weaver argues that David's biblical conduct toward Saul was worth it because it brought God's blessing and power.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'Was it worth it for David to act biblically toward his enemy?' and answers by showing the blessings of obedience (14:29.5-15:13.2).

God equips believers for both physical and spiritual battles

Summary: Weaver explains that God girds with strength and makes feet like hinds' feet, enabling swiftness and sure-footedness in dangerous places.

Evidence: He expounds Psalm 18:32-33, using illustrations from 2 Samuel 5 and 1 Chronicles 12 (42:10.5-42:53.0; 49:05.9-50:29.4).

Spiritual victory must precede physical victory

Summary: Weaver argues that if we are unwilling to conquer spiritually, we cannot conquer physically; the heart must be given to God first.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'If we are unwilling and unable to conquer spiritually, we will certainly be unable to conquer physically' (57:57.4-59:02.5).

Scripture References

Psalm 18:29-33

Context: The main text of the sermon, describing God enabling David to run through a troop, leap over a wall, gird with strength, and make feet like hinds' feet.

Psalm 18:1-2

Context: Reviewed from previous sermons: David's determination to love the Lord and the names of God as strength, rock, fortress, etc.

Psalm 18:3-6

Context: Reviewed: David's distress and crying to God.

Psalm 18:7-19

Context: Reviewed: God's deliverance of David.

Psalm 18:20-28

Context: Reviewed: David's deportment, acting biblically and not taking vengeance on Saul.

Matthew 5:11

Context: Used to show that persecution comes for Christ's sake when living righteously.

John 15:20

Context: Jesus taught that servants will be persecuted as He was.

2 Timothy 3:12

Context: All who live godly in Christ will suffer persecution.

1 Peter 2:19

Context: It is commendable to endure grief suffering wrongfully for conscience toward God.

Proverbs 24:17-18

Context: Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, lest God turn away His wrath.

Exodus 23:22

Context: If you obey God, He will be an enemy to your enemies.

Leviticus 26:7-8

Context: Obedience brings blessing: five shall chase a hundred, a hundred put ten thousand to flight.

Joshua 21:44

Context: The Lord gave rest and delivered all enemies into their hand.

Joshua 23:10

Context: One man shall chase a thousand, for the Lord fights for you.

Deuteronomy 20:1-4

Context: Do not fear enemies; the Lord goes with you to fight for you.

Deuteronomy 28:7

Context: The Lord will cause enemies to be smitten and flee seven ways.

Deuteronomy 33:29

Context: God is the shield and sword; enemies will be found liars.

Psalm 127:1

Context: Unless the Lord builds and keeps the city, human effort is vain.

Proverbs 21:31

Context: The horse is prepared for battle, but safety is of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:10-18

Context: The full armor of God for spiritual warfare; believers must be strong in the Lord.

Historical References

David's persecution by Saul

Context: Weaver references David's refusal to kill Saul when given the opportunity, demonstrating patience and trust in God's timing.

David's victory over Goliath

Context: Mentioned as an example of God teaching David to fight; David had no armor, only a sling.

David's pursuit of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 30)

Context: Possible interpretation of 'run through a troop' as David pursuing the Amalekites who burned Ziklag.

David's capture of Jerusalem from the Jebusites

Context: Possible reference for 'leaped over a wall' as scaling the fortress of Zion.

Ben-Hadad and Ahab (1 Kings 20)

Context: Used to illustrate the metaphor of girding for battle; Ahab's reply about not boasting while putting on armor.

David's victory over the Philistines at Baal-perazim and the Valley of Rephaim (2 Samuel 5)

Context: Illustrates God making David's way perfect by giving different strategies for two battles.

Asahel's swiftness (2 Samuel 2:18)

Context: Example of swiftness like a wild roe, illustrating 'feet like hinds' feet.'

The Gadites who joined David (1 Chronicles 12:8)

Context: Men with faces like lions, swift as roes upon the mountains, illustrating agility and sure-footedness.

Charles H. Spurgeon's commentary on Psalm 18

Context: Weaver quotes Spurgeon multiple times to emphasize God's enabling and the need to give God glory.

Important Quotes

For by thee I have run through a troop, and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

Significance: David ascribes all victory to God, the central theme of the sermon.

It is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect.

Significance: Highlights God's equipping and guidance in battle.

He maketh my feet like hinds' feet and setteth me upon my high places.

Significance: Illustrates God-given swiftness and sure-footedness in dangerous situations.

Victory is not determined by who has the most soldiers, or who has the most weapons, or who has the best strategy. Victory really depends upon the grace and mercy and power of God.

Significance: Summarizes the sermon's argument that God is the source of victory.

Our enemies should be our enemies simply because they are enemies to God, His law, His righteousness, and His people. They ought not to be our enemies because of our own personal misconduct, hatefulness, and ungodliness.

Significance: Defines the proper basis for having enemies as a believer.

If thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak, that I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

Significance: Promise that God fights for the obedient.

Discussion Questions

How does David's example of refusing to take vengeance on Saul challenge our natural responses to personal enemies?

Context: Weaver discussed David's deportment in Psalm 18:20-28, where David had opportunities to kill Saul but waited on God.

In what ways might we have 'enemies of our own making' rather than enemies for righteousness' sake?

Context: Weaver distinguished between enemies due to godly living and those caused by personal misconduct.

Why does God command us not to rejoice when our enemy falls, and how can we cultivate that attitude?

Context: Weaver expounded Proverbs 24:17-18, warning that premature rejoicing may cause God to relent from judgment.

How do the Old Testament promises of God fighting for Israel (e.g., Exodus 23:22, Deuteronomy 20:1-4) apply to believers today in spiritual warfare?

Context: Weaver cited multiple passages to show God's commitment to defend the obedient, then applied them to spiritual battles.

What does it mean for God to 'gird us with strength' and 'make our way perfect' in our daily struggles?

Context: Weaver explained the metaphor of girding for battle and God's guidance, using David's victory in 2 Samuel 5.

How can we experience the 'feet like hinds' feet'—swiftness and sure-footedness—in our spiritual walk?

Context: Weaver described the agility and stability God gives, enabling believers to stand in dangerous places.

Why is it tempting to desire physical victories over spiritual ones, and how can we reorder our priorities?

Context: Weaver challenged the congregation to prioritize spiritual warfare, using Ephesians 6:10-18.

How does ascribing all glory to God for our victories protect us from pride and self-reliance?

Context: Weaver emphasized David's humility in giving God credit, quoting Psalm 147:10 and Philippians 4:13.

Applications

Maintain a biblical attitude toward enemies

Summary: Believers should not become bitter or vengeful when persecuted, but trust God to handle justice.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'We do not become bitter, hateful, and vindictive' and cites Proverbs 24:17-18 (08:54.8-09:54.9; 12:45.6-13:15.1).

Obey God to have Him fight for you

Summary: Obedience to God's voice brings the promise that He will be an enemy to our enemies.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Exodus 23:22: 'If thou shalt indeed obey his voice... I will be an enemy unto thine enemies' (16:10.6-16:50.3).

Prioritize spiritual warfare over physical battles

Summary: Recognize that the real battle is spiritual, and put on the full armor of God as described in Ephesians 6.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Scripture teaches that first and foremost our battles are spiritual battles' and reads Ephesians 6:10-18 (57:57.4-59:02.5; 59:08.0-1:00:02.4).

Ascribe all victory and strength to God

Summary: Like David, give God the glory for any success, acknowledging that He enables and equips us.

Evidence: Weaver emphasizes David's words 'by thee I have run through a troop' and quotes Psalm 147:10 (24:00.3-25:25.7; 55:31.7-56:20.2).

Wait on God's timing for deliverance and justice

Summary: Do not take matters into your own hands; trust God to deal with enemies in His time, as David did with Saul.

Evidence: Weaver recounts David's refusal to kill Saul: 'His time will come. Or he'll die in battle, or God will take care of him' (03:07.6-04:07.2).

Rely on God's strength, not human ability

Summary: In facing challenges, depend on the Lord's girding of strength rather than personal resources.

Evidence: Weaver explains 'It is God that girdeth me with strength' and cites Philippians 4:13 (35:23.1-35:34.4; 56:48.8-57:02.2).

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T22:51:00Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:11:26Z

Clean Transcript

The Lord as Defender

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

We'll take just a few moments to review after we read, but look in Psalm 18, beginning with verse 29. David said, "For by thee I have run through a troop, and by my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect. The word of the Lord is tried. He is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God, save the Lord, or who is a rock, save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect."
#1 | 0:01 to 0:31 | cleaned
He maketh my feet like hinds' feet and setteth me upon my high places. You remember, we started this psalm with verse one, of course, we saw there David's determination when he said, "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength." And I showed you what biblical love was and how that there is three parts of what I call an irreducible minimum. When you explain love, it included attitude, affection, and action. If you have a biblical attitude, then you will have a biblical affection. If you have a biblical affection, it will always demonstrate itself with a biblical action. And so I showed you how David was responding to God's love because no one can love God first. And then secondly, I showed you the reasons why David said, "I will love the Lord," because he said the Lord is my strength, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my strength, my trust, my buckler, the horn of my salvation and my high tower. And I went through all of those and showed you from Scripture what was involved there.
#2 | 0:32 to 1:40 | cleaned
Then in verses three through six, we looked at David's distress and how that he was in deep, deep trouble, and I pointed out that oftentimes God will indeed back us up against the wall, put us in distress that we may learn to call upon Him, cry unto Him, and trust in Him. And then in verses 7 through 19, we looked at David's deliverer. Here David is describing all of these mighty attributes of God and the grace and the power and the strength of God, and how God just simply delivered him. And then last week we looked in verses 20 through 28 and we saw David's deportment. And I pointed out the fact how that David was acting biblically and scripturally. If you wanted to be delivered, then you have to act right. You have to act biblically, basically speaking. David kept his heart. David kept his life.
#3 | 1:41 to 2:37 | cleaned
He did not take vengeance into his own hand. He had a perfect opportunity on several occasions to kill his personal enemy Saul, and yet he would not. At those particular times, although Saul was looking for him, his life was not in imminent danger. And although he was encouraged to take Saul's life, he refused. On another hand, Abishai said, "Let me smite him to the ground even this once." In other words, David, if you just let me kill him, I won't have to take a second lick.
#4 | 2:38 to 3:07 | cleaned
I'll do it clean the first time. He'll never know what hit him. No, David said, "Don't do that. His time will come. Or he'll die in battle, or God will take care of him. He's not going to die at my hand." Now, what David was saying was this. God had already promised David the kingdom. But David is saying, "I'm not going to have the kingdom at the expense of violence at my own hand, especially me taking it." So what David was doing was this. He was patiently waiting upon the Lord to give him the kingdom. What David demonstrated was this, that he was a person that could be trusted with authority and power. David was not going to abuse the situation even when God delivered Saul into his hand. So David then was willing to wait upon God for God to take Saul's life or for God to give him the kingdom on God's terms.
#5 | 3:07 to 4:07 | cleaned
And certainly that's what happened. Now, let me ask a question as we begin today. Does God reward trust and faithfulness? And the answer is yes. Here's another question. Is there a connection between patience, obedience, and victory? And again, the answer is a resounding yes. We must understand that in reality, as David confessed, the battle belongs to the Lord. Victory is not determined by who has the most soldiers, or who has the most weapons, or who has the best strategy. Victory really depends upon the grace and mercy and power of God. We must maintain a biblical attitude if we desire for God to give us victory over our enemies. Now, listen carefully. While it is an undeniable fact that we have enemies, they should not be enemies of our own making.
#6 | 4:07 to 5:11 | cleaned
Now let me explain what I mean by that statement. What I meant by that statement is simply this. Our enemies should be our enemies simply because they are enemies to God, His law, His righteousness, and His people. They ought not to be our enemies because of our own personal misconduct, hatefulness, and ungodliness. So when you and I conform our attitude and our actions to the Word of God, mark it down, we will have enemies. However, at the same time, they're going to be the enemies of God and the enemies of righteousness and the enemies of truth. So we're not denying the fact that we're going to have enemies. But they should not be enemies based upon our own misconduct. Let me show you what I mean.
#7 | 5:11 to 6:02 | cleaned
Turn in your Bibles, if you would, holding Psalm 18, of course. But turn in your Bibles, if you would, first of all, to Matthew chapter 5 and verse 11. This is one of those verses in the Sermon on the Mount. Notice what our Lord says in Matthew 5 and verse 11. Our Lord says this, "Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake." Now, wait a minute. Somebody has some enemies. Because they're reviling, they're persecuting, they're talking evil and they're saying things falsely against you. Why? Our Lord said, "for my sake."
#8 | 6:02 to 6:48 | cleaned
In other words, you're living a righteous, godly, holy life. And you would think if you live that way, well, who in the world is going to be your enemy? The truth is, an enemy of God is going to be your enemy. An enemy of righteousness is going to be your enemy. Look, if you would please, in John 15 and verse 20. John 15 and verse 20. It's interesting how that the Scripture teaches that we're going to have enemies if we live righteously. In John 15 and verse 20, our Lord said it like this. "Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord."
#9 | 6:48 to 7:27 | cleaned
"If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my saying, they will keep yours also."
#10 | 7:28 to 7:34 | cleaned
Now, Jesus Christ was the sinless Son of God. He was the most perfect and the most holy man who ever lived. And look at all the enemies He had. Look at the ones who tried to murder him constantly. And by the way, they were the religious leaders of the day. They're the ones who put forth themselves as the great ones. But our Lord said, "Look, if they persecuted me, they're going to persecute you."
#11 | 7:34 to 8:09 | cleaned
The servant is not greater or the servant is not above its master. If they receive my words, they'll receive yours. If they didn't receive mine, well, don't think they're going to receive yours. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 12. 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 12. Paul really hits the nail on the head and he sums it up. Here's a very broad, general truth. In 2 Timothy 3, verse 12, he says, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." So if you live godly in Christ Jesus, mark it down, you're going to have enemies.
#12 | 8:09 to 8:54 | cleaned
Now, when I speak about maintaining a biblical attitude, here's what I'm talking about. When we have enemies of our own making, and we aren't lied about and persecuted and slandered. When we maintain a biblical attitude, we understand that although we have enemies and they are God's enemies as well, we do not become bitter, hateful, and vindictive. Now, please understand that in maintaining a biblical attitude, we do not become bitter, hateful, and vindictive. Now, listen carefully. We do not deny the fact that we have enemies. We do not deny that reality, nor do we try to whitewash the facts. We do indeed have enemies, and we do not deny that something must be done on certain occasions.
#13 | 8:54 to 9:54 | cleaned
But still, we still learn to think biblically and act biblically, maintaining that biblical attitude and that biblical action. You know what the Bible says in 1 Peter 2 and verse 19?
#14 | 9:55 to 10:10 | cleaned
Now you've got to remember that even though we have enemies, that doesn't mean that they're all trying to kill us, nor does it mean that they're trying to all kill us at one time. Think of slander. Think of rumors. I've been talked about, you've been talked about. You know what my standard answer is when someone comes to me and says, "Did you hear what so-and-so said about you?" or "Do you know what's being said about you?" My standard answer is this. "You know, if they really knew me the way God knows me, they'd probably say worse things than that about me." Come on. That doesn't hurt. You remember that old saying we used to have as kids, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." Well, hey, it does hurt some, but it is not life threatening. The Bible says in 1 Peter 2 and verse 19.
#15 | 10:10 to 11:02 | cleaned
"For this is thankworthy if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully." In other words, here's what Peter is saying. We'd rather suffer than sin. I'd rather suffer wrongfully than suffer rightfully. I'd rather suffer wrongfully because I've done that which is right and holy than suffer rightly because I violated the law of God and brought reproach upon his name.
#16 | 11:02 to 11:38 | cleaned
Now let me just point out the fact God will indeed exact his vengeance upon our enemies. There's no two ways about that. But even when he does, we still must maintain a biblical attitude. Let me show you. I want you to turn to Proverbs 24, because this is not only a very important passage, it's a passage that you and I really need to learn if we want our Lord really and truly to take care of our enemies. Look what he says in Proverbs 24, beginning with verse 17. Proverbs 24, verse 17. He says, "Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth." Now, wait a minute. Why does God say, "Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth"? Why is it we can't just jump up and down and say, "Thank God, you finally nailed him, Lord. Praise the Lord." Now, why did he say don't do that? Here's why. Look in verse 18.
#17 | 11:38 to 12:45 | cleaned
"Lest the Lord see it and it displeased him and he turned away his wrath from him." In other words, God says, "Now, if you really want me to clean his plow, you don't start rejoicing too soon. You just wait and say, 'Lord, you take care of him.' And when I've really got him taken care of, then you can say, 'Thank you, Lord.' But you don't just simply jump up and down simply because the Lord is destroying your enemies. Don't rejoice too soon."
#18 | 12:45 to 13:15 | cleaned
That's exactly what he's telling us now. Let me ask you a question in light of Psalm 18, verses 20 through 28, in which we looked at David's deportment. Here's the question that I want to ask you. David was indeed being persecuted by Saul. I gave you illustration after illustration of that last week. Now, here's my question. Since Saul was persecuting David, and David controlled himself and acted biblically and rightly in his attitude and in his actions toward Saul, he would not render vengeance for vengeance or hatred for hatred. Although Saul was doing wrong, David did what was right. Here's my question. Was it worth it? Was it worth it for David to act biblically toward his enemy? Now, I could ask this question another way. I could ask this.
#19 | 13:15 to 14:28 | cleaned
How much is it worth to have the blessings and the power of God upon us as we fight against our enemies? Wow.
#20 | 14:29 to 14:40 | cleaned
Now you just stop and think about this. What Saul was doing to David in reality was just a minute portion of David's life. It was a short time. It may have seemed like a long time while he was being persecuted by Saul, but it was a short time. David reigned on the throne for 40 years. Let me show you what I mean when I ask the question, was it worth it?
#21 | 14:42 to 15:13 | cleaned
For David had exercised patience and control and acted rightly toward his enemy in order to have the blessing and the power of God upon himself. I want you to hold Psalm 18. We're going to come back there, but look in your Bibles, beginning with Exodus 23. I want to show you a number of verses. Here is why I keep telling you and emphasizing the fact that we must maintain a biblical attitude and biblical actions at all times. Look in Exodus chapter 23 and verse 22. Look what the Bible says. Exodus 23 verse 22. God says, "But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak, that I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries."
#22 | 15:15 to 16:09 | cleaned
Whoa, wait a minute now. Did you hear that? "But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice," the angel of the Lord, who is Christ, "and do all that I speak," says God, that is, if you obey me, "then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries." I don't know about you, but I believe I'd rather have God on my side than all the armies in the world. God says now if you want me to be on your side, you obey me. And if you do, I'm going to be an enemy to your enemy and an adversary to your adversaries.
#23 | 16:10 to 16:50 | cleaned
Look in your Bibles to the book of Leviticus chapter 26 and verse 8. Leviticus 26 and verse 8. I'm just showing you what it was worth for David to exercise patience and control towards Saul. Look in Leviticus 26 and verse 8. In fact, let's read verse 7. Look what he says, verse 7, "And you shall chase your enemies and they shall fall before you by the sword, and five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight, and your enemy shall fall before you by the sword." Now, Leviticus 26 happens to be another one of those places where God is giving the blessings and the curses concerning His law. And God says now, one of my blessings for your obedience is this, that five of you will be able to chase a hundred, a hundred of you will be able to put ten thousand to flight, and your enemy shall fall before you. I don't know about you, but to me it seems worth it to act biblically and to act scripturally for five to chase a hundred.
#24 | 16:50 to 18:09 | cleaned
A hundred to put ten thousand in flight? Well, look in your Bibles to the book of Joshua chapter 21 and verse 44. There are plenty of other verses, but look in Joshua 21 verse 44. Joshua 21 and verse 44.
#25 | 18:11 to 18:26 | cleaned
"And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that He sware unto their fathers." Are you looking now? "And there stood not a man of all their enemies before them. The Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand." How many were able to stand? Not one. And what did the Lord do? The Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. Look in Joshua 23 and verse 10. Joshua 23 and verse 10. This even gets better. "One man of you shall chase a thousand. For the Lord your God, He is he that fighteth for you, as He has promised." One man of you shall chase a thousand. Is it worth it to conduct yourself biblically to have a right attitude and right action in order to have the blessing and the power of God upon you, where one man shall chase a thousand? Why? Because God is fighting for us. Look in your Bibles, Deuteronomy chapter 20.
#26 | 18:43 to 19:58 | cleaned
Just trying to answer this question before we begin looking at Psalm 18. But go to Deuteronomy chapter 20. Deuteronomy chapter 20. And look if you would please to verse one. Deuteronomy 20, verse one. Look what he says. "When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them." Why? "For the Lord thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and it shall be when you are come nigh unto the battle, the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, and shall say unto them, 'Hear, O Israel, you approach this day unto the battle against your enemies.'"
#27 | 19:58 to 20:52 | cleaned
"Let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies, and to save you."
#28 | 20:53 to 21:06 | cleaned
Now let me ask you, is it worth it to have victory in every area? Well, of course it is. Turn right on over to Deuteronomy 28. Deuteronomy 28, here's the passage that Hobie referred to on the blessing and the curses of the law. Deuteronomy 28, look at verse 7. "The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face. They shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways." So whenever they run at you in one concerted effort, God said, when you get through, they're going to be running seven different ways just trying to get away from you. Look at Deuteronomy 33 and verse 29. Deuteronomy 33, verse 29. Here's another passage we should put down. God says, "Happy art thou, O Israel, who is like unto thee, O people, saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, who is the sword of thy excellency, and thine enemy shall be found liars unto thee, and thou shalt tread upon their high places." God is here referred to as our shield and our sword.
#29 | 21:09 to 22:35 | cleaned
And it is God that enables us to tread upon our high places, or their high places. We take them from them and make them ours.
#30 | 22:36 to 22:46 | cleaned
Now, you don't have to turn to this passage, but I'm sure that most of you can quote it. Do you remember the passage in Psalm 127, verse 1? Here it is. "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." In other words, what he's saying is, if God doesn't protect us, if God doesn't fight for us, no amount of watchmen are going to do you any good. And I love this verse. I'll quote it this week. I'll probably quote it next week. Proverbs 21 and verse 31. I love it. "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but safety is of the Lord." Safety is of the Lord. I want you to go back to Psalm 18. Because I want us to examine our section today in light of all of these verses. We have to examine this portion in light of God's gracious provisions and blessing upon David, in relationship of deliverance that God gave him from his enemies now.
#31 | 22:48 to 23:58 | cleaned
When we talk about David, we immediately think of this great warrior. And truly he was indeed a great warrior. But we must remember that David was not initially a warrior. Initially, he was a shepherd, a musician, and a poet. When he met Goliath in 1 Samuel chapter 17, he had no armament. He had no shield. He had no spear. He had no sword. The only thing he had was a sling. It was God who taught David to fight. And it was God who gave David his victories. Now with that in mind, I want you to look at David's defense, beginning with verse 29. Look what David said in Psalm 18 and verse 29. "For by thee I have run through a troop, and by my God have I leaped over a wall." Now notice, if you would, how David is emphasizing this one central important fact, "for by thee I have." David carefully and accurately ascribes all glory to God.
#32 | 24:00 to 25:25 | cleaned
He arrogates nothing to himself. Now this phrase, "run through a troop," has been variously interpreted. Some interpret this to mean that he met a troop with courage and skill. Others would interpret it, "I have run after a troop," as David pursued the troop of the Amalekites who burned Ziklag in 1 Samuel 30 and verse 8. But others just simply take it as it is right here. "I have run through" or "broken through a troop," which signifies that he broke it into pieces. And it is a word that is fitly used for destroying and cutting into pieces an enemy. So it doesn't really matter in one sense of the word where you say, "I met a troop" or "I ran after a troop" or "I cut through a troop." Really and truly, each one of them are talking about the fact that God has given him the victory. David then fought without fear. He pursued without failure and he destroyed without flinching.
#33 | 25:26 to 26:34 | cleaned
He was fighting God's battles in God's way. So he says, "By thee, I've run through a troop. I've cut them in pieces. If they ran away, I pursued them. I overtook them. When they came at me, I met them courageously and skillfully."
#34 | 26:35 to 26:53 | cleaned
Now, look in verse 29. He says this again. "By thee I have run through a troop, and by my God I have leaped over a wall." Which refers then to scaling walls and taking fortified places. So it was by God, then, that he scaled the walls and took fortified places, which was literally true of David in many instances. You remember, and it could possibly refer to this, where David took the fortress of Zion, Jerusalem, from the Jebusites and made it his own.
#35 | 26:55 to 27:32 | cleaned
I like what Charles H. Spurgeon said on this verse. Listen carefully. He said this, "Whether we meet the foe in the open field, or leap upon them while they lurk behind the battlements of a city, we shall by God's grace defeat them in either case. If they hem us in with living legions, or environ us with stone walls, we shall with equal certainty obtain our liberty. Such feats we have already performed, hewing our way in a run through host of difficulties, and scaling impossibilities at a leap. God's warriors may expect to have a taste of every form of fighting, and must by the power of faith determine to quit themselves like men."
#36 | 27:33 to 28:19 | cleaned
"But it behooves them to be careful to lay all their laurels at Jehovah's feet, each one of them saying, 'By my God, have I wrought this valiant deed!' Our spolia optima, the trophies of our conflicts, we hereby dedicate to the God of battles and ascribe to him all glory and strength."
#37 | 28:20 to 28:43 | cleaned
Now listen to what Spurgeon said, "God's warriors must expect to have a taste of every form of fighting." Now that's true not only physically, but that is true spiritually as well. Our spiritual fighting is really and truly more important than our physical fighting. And God does indeed give us a taste of all of it. Now, Spurgeon said this, "our spolia optima." What in the world is he talking about?
#38 | 28:44 to 29:15 | cleaned
The trophies of our conflicts. Let me show you what he's talking about. Turn in your Bibles, hold Psalm 18, but turn back to 1 Chronicles 26 and look at verse 27. 1 Chronicles 26 and verse 27. I love this verse. 1 Chronicles 26 verse 27. "Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the Lord." So when he says that we give God our spolia optima, that is all the spoils that you and I win, we give God credit for because it's by His grace and by His mercy. So David says in verse 29, "For by thee I have run through a troop, and by my God I have leaped over a wall." And David is giving God all the praise and all the glory. Now, look at verses 30 and 31. "As for God, His way is perfect. The word of the Lord is tried, he's a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God, save the Lord, or who is a rock, save our God."
#39 | 29:15 to 30:37 | cleaned
Now, folks, let me just tell you, God's way is perfect in every aspect. It is perfect because he is perfect. He deals with us in a perfect way. Now, that perfect way may be incomprehensible to us, and even at times it may be indiscernible, yet it is still perfect. His word has been tried. It has been demonstrated over and over throughout history and throughout the saints' lives that he is faithful. His word is faithful, true, accurate, and infallible.
#40 | 30:39 to 31:19 | cleaned
I want you to note, if you would, that David, again, in verse 30, refers to God as a buckler. I don't know if you remember, but I explained this when I preached on verse 2 of Psalm 18. And I told you that a buckler is something that is much larger than a shield. A shield, of course, was used offensively and defensively, but it still differs from a buckler in this respect, that a shield usually defends or covers primarily a small portion of the body, while a buckler is large and enables one to shield his entire body. Let me show you. Look in your Bibles, first to Psalm 35 and verse 2. Psalm 35 and verse 2. In fact, let's read verse 1 in light of this. David prays and he says, "Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me." Now look, "Fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler and stand up for mine help."
#41 | 31:21 to 32:40 | cleaned
"Draw out also the spear and stop the way against them that persecute me. Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation."
#42 | 32:41 to 32:48 | cleaned
Now, he asks God to take hold of shield and buckler and to stand up for my help. Well, look in your Bibles to Psalm 91. Psalm 91. And you'll remember now that a buckler was large enough that a man could hide his entire body. So in Psalm 91 and verse 4, the scripture says concerning God, in fact, let's begin with verse 1. Let's read those four verses. They're wonderful verses.
#43 | 32:48 to 33:23 | cleaned
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, and Him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence." Now look, "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings thou shalt trust."
#44 | 33:24 to 33:43 | cleaned
"His truth shall be thy shield and thy buckler." And then if you would turn to Psalm 140 and look at verse 7. Psalm 140 and verse 7, because here David puts the icing on the cake. And he says it like this. Psalm 140 and verse 7, he says, "O God, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle." What did God do? God placed that buckler over David. His head and his body was under it. And David was thus protected. So David then is giving us a very pictorial illustration of how God defends him, and how God is indeed his defense. Now look what else he says in verse 31. He says, "For who is God save the Lord? Or who is a rock save our God?" So David is now giving us another picture of how God is the rock, and how David is trusting in God for his defense and his preservation. It is God who receives all the honor and the glory. Now look in verse 32 because I want to spend the rest of my time on verses 32 and 33.
#45 | 33:44 to 35:23 | cleaned
In verse 32 he says that "it is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect." It is God that girdeth me with strength.
#46 | 35:23 to 35:34 | cleaned
Now, the girding with strength is a metaphor that is taken from the belt or the girdle of a warrior or sometimes from the reins, R-E-I-N-S, which the scripture sometimes places a man's vigor and strength in the reins of my body, he would say. When David is saying that he has girded me with strength, he's put on the warrior's belt around me. David is saying without this divine girding, I would have been weak, effeminate, and anemic. In other words, here now he is saying I've been made strong and powerful and courageous by the hand of God. So he is telling us it is God who upheld him. It is God who sustained him.
#47 | 35:35 to 36:27 | cleaned
Now, soldiers always girded themselves for battle. You did not go into battle without putting on your battle harness or your battle girdle, so to speak. In fact, I want you to see this. This is really neat to me. If you look in 1 Kings chapter 20 and hold, of course, Psalm 18. But look in 1 Kings chapter 20. You have two ungodly men, Ben-Hadad and Ahab, but yet Ahab gives a pretty good answer, as ungodly as he was, to Ben-Hadad. Now, Ben-Hadad was the king of Syria, and he was picking a fight with Ahab, who was king of Israel. And everyone knows that Ahab was a wicked, ungodly king. So, Ben-Hadad in 1 Kings chapter 20 and verse 10 says this to King Ahab, all right? 1 Kings 20 and verse 10. "And Ben-Hadad sent unto him and said, 'The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.'"
#48 | 36:27 to 37:42 | cleaned
In other words, here's what he's saying. "Man, you don't have enough to stand against me. I'm going to whack you out. I'm going to take you and pull you apart." And here was Ahab's answer. Look in verse 11. "And the king of Israel answered and said, 'Tell him, let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself, as he that putteth it off.'" In other words, we ain't fought yet, Ben-Hadad.
#49 | 37:42 to 38:10 | cleaned
You're counting your chickens before they hatch. Don't go boasting when you're putting on your battle girdle, because you haven't taken it off yet. David said, "It is God who has girded me with strength." It was God who placed the battle harness upon David. And I got news for you folks. If God places a battle harness upon you, then the outcome is assured. The victory is absolutely yours. David said further, "It is God who's made my way perfect."
#50 | 38:12 to 38:56 | cleaned
Notice that if you would in Psalm 18, and verse 32, "It is God that girded me with strength." And notice what he says, "and maketh my way perfect." Now the word "way" here has to be understood of the course of actions and language, whatever David undertook. What God was doing was this. God was leading and guiding and directing David so that the outcome of David's efforts would be extremely successful. And they had to be successful because everything was ordered by God.
#51 | 38:58 to 39:41 | cleaned
If you will turn in your Bibles to 2 Samuel chapter 5. 2 Samuel chapter 5. Let me give you an illustration of what David means when he said, "He maketh my way perfect." In 2 Samuel chapter 5, David has already defeated the Philistines one time. Look in verse 18, 2 Samuel 5 verse 18. "The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of the Lord, saying, 'Shall I go up to the Philistines?'"
#52 | 39:42 to 40:22 | cleaned
"Wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, 'Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.' And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there and said, 'The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me as the breach of waters.' Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim." Now, God has delivered David. Look in verse 21. "And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them with fire." David whipped them so badly, the few who remained alive right away left their gods, and David burned them. Now watch. David has had a momentous victory. But you know, sometimes a temporary victory may not necessarily be a full victory.
#53 | 40:22 to 41:12 | cleaned
They could have something planned. They could be trying to lure him into a trap. And watch verse 23. "And when David inquired of the Lord," he said about going up, verse 22, "and the Philistines came up yet again and spread themselves in the Valley of Rephaim." In other words, they came up just like they did the first time. "And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, 'Thou shalt not go up.'" In other words, they've got something planned for you, boy. "Thou shalt not go up, but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself, for then shall the Lord go out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gezer." Now, what did David mean when he said, "Thou makest my way perfect"?
#54 | 41:13 to 42:10 | cleaned
This is exactly what he meant. David was going to go out and fight them the second time exactly the way he fought them the first time. He got a victory that way the first time. God says, "Don't do that. You fetch a compass behind them, and you don't attack until you hear going in the mulberry trees." They had evidently planned something, and David was unaware of it, but God said, "We'll thwart their plans. You come on behind them this time. Don't fight the way you fought the first time." So David said, "It's God who girded me with strength. It's God who ties on my battle harness. And it's God who makes my way perfect."
#55 | 42:10 to 42:53 | cleaned
Now, let me give you another quote by Spurgeon. Spurgeon was very, very perceptive. He said this, "Gird about the loins with power from heaven. The warrior was filled with vigor far above all created might, and whereas, without this wondrous belt, he would have been feeble and effeminate, with relaxed energies and scattered forces, he felt himself embraced with the girdle of truth, to be compact in purpose, courageous and daring, and concentrated in power, so that his course was a complete success."
#56 | 42:53 to 43:28 | cleaned
Now listen, "so undisturbed by thoughts of disastrous defeat, as to be called perfect. Have we been made more than conquerors over sin? And has our life hitherto been such as becometh the gospel? Let us ascribe all the glory to Him who gird us with His own inexhaustible strength, that we may be unconquered in battle and unwearied in pilgrimage." So what he's saying is this. Whatever God did for David physically, He can do for us spiritually. You see, God not only equips us, or undergirds us, He also equips us. He enables us through His strength to do that which otherwise would be impossible to accomplish.
#57 | 43:29 to 44:21 | cleaned
Let me show you. Look back in Psalm 18. Let me try to tie this together. This is going to be the last verse I'm going to try to cover today, but look if you would please back in Psalm 18 and verse 32, David said, "It is God that girdeth me with strength." It's God that puts on my battle harness and maketh my way perfect. In other words, God led him and directed him.
#58 | 44:22 to 44:45 | cleaned
And then he said this. "He maketh my feet like hinds' feet and setteth me upon my high places." He maketh my feet like hinds' feet.
#59 | 44:45 to 45:00 | cleaned
Now, the illustration and picture should be exceedingly clear. Deer are known for their swiftness, agility, balance, grace, and sure-footedness. David is here saying that God has made his feet like hinds' feet. In other words, it is God who is not only enabling David to swiftly overtake his enemies, but He is also enabling and empowering David to do so even in the most dangerous situations. David literally says, "He maketh" or "matcheth my feet like hinds' feet."
#60 | 45:01 to 45:54 | cleaned
You know, if you notice the mountain goats, mountain sheep, usually wherever their front hooves go, that's where the back hooves go. If they safely stand where their front hooves are, they will certainly safely stand where their hind hooves are. David says, "You've made my feet like hinds' feet." Let me show you what David is talking about. I want you to turn back in your Bibles to 2 Samuel 2. 2 Samuel 2.
#61 | 45:59 to 46:39 | cleaned
And look, if you would please, at verse 18. 2 Samuel 2, verse 18.
#62 | 46:39 to 46:43 | cleaned
2 Samuel 2 verse 18. Zeruiah had three sons. And by the way, Zeruiah was a woman, not a man. There were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel. And Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe or a wild deer. He was as light of foot as a wild roe. When you hear that, you ought to know that Asahel could really run. He was swift. He was fast.
#63 | 47:05 to 47:49 | cleaned
Now, I want you to turn to 1 Chronicles chapter 12. Remember now, David is saying, "He maketh my feet like hinds' feet." So we can see right now he's talking about swiftness and speed. But look in 1 Chronicles chapter 12 and verse 8. 1 Chronicles 12 verse 8. Because here's something else. 1 Chronicles 12 verse 8. "And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions and were swift as the roes upon the mountains." So here's some other men who were battle-hardened, whose faces were like faces of lions, that is, they were fearsome men, and yet they were swift as the roes upon the mountains. Now I want you to hold this passage, OK? Turn right over to Isaiah 40. Isaiah 40. Let me show you a passage that everyone should be aware of.
#64 | 47:51 to 49:03 | cleaned
And once again, this is the blessing of God. Look in Isaiah 40, beginning there of verse 30. Isaiah 40, verse 30. I like this. Isaiah 40, verse 30. "Even the youths shall faint and be weary. Even the youths shall faint and be weary. And the young men shall utterly fall." Human strength in and of itself is worthless. Now watch. "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."
#65 | 49:05 to 49:36 | cleaned
"They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint." You're talking about swiftness, you're talking about speed, you're talking about perseverance.
#66 | 49:37 to 49:48 | cleaned
Now look back to 1 Chronicles 12 because here's something else. Now look, when David said, "He maketh my feet like hinds' feet," he's not only talking about swiftness and speed, but in 1 Chronicles 12 and verse 8, look carefully, "and of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces
#67 | 49:48 to 50:17 | cleaned
of lions, and were swift as the roes upon the mountains." Did you notice that last phrase? "were as swift as the roes upon" where? "The mountains."
#68 | 50:17 to 50:29 | cleaned
Now, we're not just talking about swiftness and speed. We're talking about agility and perseverance. Let me ask you. I know Joe probably has, but have you ever hunted in the mountains or done any mountain climbing? I know Dean and Trip have. I want to tell you something, folks. There's a vast difference between hunting and walking on the mountains than there is walking on this flat land in South Georgia, I can assure you.
#69 | 50:32 to 51:05 | cleaned
Not only are you going up, up, up, up and you're using leg muscles that you hardly ever used if you were a flatlander, but the air is thinner and the rocks are sharper and the banks are steeper and it's far more dangerous. And what does the Bible say? These men were like young roes upon the mountains. Have you ever watched these mountain goats and mountain sheep? They go places it looks impossible.
#70 | 51:08 to 51:41 | cleaned
I remember some years ago, Tripp and Lacey and Alice and I were out at Yellowstone National Park. We were at a place called Artist Point. And I mean, it was absolutely gorgeous. Here's a huge waterfall. And I don't know how many thousands of feet the water was falling. The sides of the mountain were different colors of rock. And we were just looking at the beauty. And that's why it's called Artist's Point. I mean, everybody was taking pictures. Everybody was, you know, snapping.
#71 | 51:44 to 52:20 | cleaned
Some folks would stand there and paint and all this kind of stuff. And then I took pictures and pictures, too, because I looked to my right and here was this mountain wall straight up. And here are animal trails, not only going straight up, but going at an angle just every which way. What could be walking in places like that? I knew the answer. But I asked the ranger who was standing by, I said, "What animal made those trails over there?" Deer, mule deer. And probably some black tails that they had there, but I mean, walking straight up. David said, "You've made my feet like hinds' feet." What's that mean? I'm not only swift. I not only have speed. But I'm sure-footed, even in the most dangerous places.
#72 | 52:20 to 53:26 | cleaned
Let me give you one more quote by Spurgeon. Listen to what he said. Oh, I love this. This is nice. "The conqueror's feet had been shod by a divine hand. And the next note must thereof refer to them. 'He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.' Now listen. Pursuing his foes, the warrior had been swift afoot as a young roe. But instead of taking pleasure in the legs of man, he ascribes the boon of swiftness to the Lord alone."
#73 | 53:30 to 54:00 | cleaned
"When our thoughts are nimble and our spirits rapid, like the chariots of Amminadib, let us not forget that our best beloved hands have given us the choice favor. Climbing into impregnable fortresses, David had been preserved from slipping and made to stand where scarce the wild goat could find a footing, herein whilst preserving mercy manifested." We too have had our high places of honor, service, temptation, and danger, but hitherto we've been kept from falling.
#74 | 54:01 to 54:33 | cleaned
"Bring hither the harp and let us emulate the psalmist's joyful thanksgiving. Had we fallen, our wailings must have been terrible. Since we have stood, let our gratitude be fervent." What did he say? He says, just like David was able to stand where places were scarce a wild goat could stand, we too have had our places of honor sometime in service, sometime in temptation, sometime in danger. If we had fallen, there'd have been great wailing. But God preserved us. So let there be great gratitude and praise. The truth of the matter is we must always remember to give God the honor and glory and ascribe all of our victories to Him. How easy it would have been for David to have said, "Did you see what I just did?"
#75 | 54:33 to 55:27 | cleaned
"Ah, do you know what I accomplished? Look at me." No, David said, "It is God who giveth me strength. It is God who preserves me." Let me show you. I want you to turn to Psalm 147. Here, David gives us the truth. Here's why David ascribed all the honor and glory to God. Look at Psalm 147 and verse 10. What David says concerning God. Psalm 147 verse 10. "He delighteth not in the strength of the horse."
#76 | 55:31 to 56:20 | cleaned
"He taketh not pleasure in the legs of man." David could not say, "Lord, I've run. My legs are strong. I can climb. My legs are strong. Lord, look what I did." No, no, no. David said he didn't take pleasure in the legs of man. It's not what we do. It's what God enables us to do. It is His strength. It is His power, and we do it through Him.
#77 | 56:21 to 56:48 | cleaned
That is why the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4 verse 13, help me now, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." It is His strength. It is His honor.
#78 | 56:48 to 57:02 | cleaned
Now, I want you to turn to one last passage because I've got an application to make, and I just want you to be ready. I want you to turn to Ephesians chapter 6. I want you to turn to Ephesians chapter 6 and we'll read it in just a moment. Find Ephesians chapter 6. OK. Here's my application. Too often we look back on the Old Testament with a wish. And our wish is something like this, "Oh boy. I wish I could have been there. I wish I could have helped. I wish I could have experienced that. I wish I could have seen that. I wish I could have been a part of that power and excitement."
#79 | 57:03 to 57:54 | cleaned
It is absolutely amazing that we are more concerned with the physical than the spiritual. We want physical victories more than we want spiritual victories. Or sometimes we want physical victories and do not even want spiritual victories. Interestingly enough, the truth is that if we are unwilling and unable to conquer spiritually, we will certainly be unable to conquer physically. Scripture teaches that first and foremost our battles are spiritual battles. Listen carefully. The physical manifestation of our enemies is merely a representation of the fact that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places. Let me show you.
#80 | 57:57 to 59:02 | cleaned
Look at Ephesians 6, beginning there in verse 10. Look what he says.
#81 | 59:03 to 59:06 | cleaned
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication of the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."
#82 | 59:08 to 1:00:02 | cleaned
Now, Ephesians 6, verses 10-18 gives us all of the spiritual equipment that we need to face our enemies. Listen, what we forget is this, that David was first of all, a man after God's own heart, and then secondly, a man of war. We want the physical victory without the spiritual victory, when in reality, the spiritual has to come first. Our hearts must be first given to the Lord, and if they're not, our bodies will be weak and useless. Look in verse 10 again of Ephesians 6.
#83 | 1:00:02 to 1:00:46 | cleaned
This is where we are. This is what we need. And Paul says, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." If we are strong in Him, we may not only face our enemies, but we may face all enemies. If we are not strong in Him, we will not be able to face any enemy. David said, "It's the Lord who defends me. It's the Lord who girds me to battle. It's the Lord who gives me strength and gives me every ability that I need."
#84 | 1:00:46 to 1:01:40 | cleaned
I want to encourage you to do this. I want to encourage you to make sure you're here next week because by God's grace and in God's providence, I'm going to spend the entire time next week dealing with verse 34. "It is God who teacheth my hands to fight." If you want to understand where we are and how we must be taught of God, I would encourage you to make sure you hear the message. Let's pray.
#85 | 1:01:41 to 1:02:27 | cleaned
Father, we're so thankful today for Jesus Christ. And we're thankful, dear Lord, that we know that you are our God. And if we're obedient to thee and honor thee, that you will be an enemy to our enemies and an adversary to our adversaries. If we want you on our side, Lord, we must be on Thy side. Make us obedient. Make us holy and godly. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray, Amen.
#86 | 1:02:28 to 1:03:04 | cleaned

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T22:51:00Z

The Lord as Defender

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver expounds Psalm 18:29-33, emphasizing that God is the ultimate defender and source of victory for His people. He reviews David's deportment in the face of persecution by Saul, highlighting the necessity of a biblical attitude—patience, obedience, and refusal to take personal vengeance. Weaver argues that God rewards trust and faithfulness, and that victory depends on God's grace, not human strength. He illustrates from Scripture that God fights for the obedient, making them swift and sure-footed like deer, and calls believers to prioritize spiritual warfare over physical battles, ascribing all glory to God.

Introduction and Review of Psalm 18:1-28

Weaver reviews David's determination to love the Lord, his distress, God's deliverance, and David's deportment—acting biblically by not taking vengeance on Saul.

We'll take just a few moments to review after we read, but look in Psalm 18, beginning with verse 29. David said,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 18:29-33

"For by thee I have run through a troop, and by my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect. The word of the Lord is tried. He is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God, save the Lord, or who is a rock, save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect."

The Connection Between Patience, Obedience, and Victory

Weaver asserts that God rewards trust and faithfulness, and that victory depends on God's grace, not human resources. He stresses that enemies should be due to righteousness, not personal misconduct.

Biblical Basis for Righteous Persecution

Using Matthew 5:11, John 15:20, and 2 Timothy 3:12, Weaver shows that living godly in Christ will bring persecution, but believers must maintain a biblical attitude without bitterness.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:11

"Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake."

Now, wait a minute. Somebody has some enemies. Because they're reviling, they're persecuting, they're talking evil and they're saying things falsely against you. Why? Our Lord said, "for my sake."

Scripture Reading — John 15:20

"Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord."

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 3:12

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

So if you live godly in Christ Jesus, mark it down, you're going to have enemies.

God's Vengeance and Our Attitude

Weaver teaches from Proverbs 24:17-18 that believers should not rejoice when enemies fall, lest God turn away His wrath. He emphasizes suffering wrongfully rather than sinning.

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 2:19

But still, we still learn to think biblically and act biblically, maintaining that biblical attitude and that biblical action. You know what the Bible says in 1 Peter 2 and verse 19? Now you've got to remember that even though we have enemies, that doesn't mean that they're all trying to kill us, nor does it mean that they're trying to all kill us at one time. Think of slander. Think of rumors. I've been talked about, you've been talked about. You know what my standard answer is when someone comes to me and says, "Did you hear what so-and-so said about you?" or "Do you know what's being said about you?" My standard answer is this. "You know, if they really knew me the way God knows me, they'd probably say worse things than that about me." Come on. That doesn't hurt. You remember that old saying we used to have as kids, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." Well, hey, it does hurt some, but it is not life threatening. The Bible says in 1 Peter 2 and verse 19.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 24:17-18

"Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth."

Now, wait a minute. Why does God say,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 24:17-18

"Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth"

? Why is it we can't just jump up and down and say, "Thank God, you finally nailed him, Lord. Praise the Lord." Now, why did he say don't do that? Here's why. Look in verse 18.

The Worth of Acting Biblically: Old Testament Promises

Weaver asks if David's patience was worth it, then cites Exodus 23:22, Leviticus 26:7-8, Joshua 21:44, 23:10, Deuteronomy 20:1-4, 28:7, and 33:29 to show God's promises to fight for the obedient.

Scripture Reading — Exodus 23:22

"But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak, that I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries."

Scripture Reading — Leviticus 26:7-8

"And you shall chase your enemies and they shall fall before you by the sword, and five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight, and your enemy shall fall before you by the sword."

Scripture Reading — Joshua 21:44

"And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that He sware unto their fathers."

Are you looking now?

Scripture Reading — Joshua 21:44

"And there stood not a man of all their enemies before them. The Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand."

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 28:7

"The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face. They shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways."

Scripture Reading — Psalm 127:1

"Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."

David's Defense: God as the Source of Victory (Psalm 18:29-31)

God Girds with Strength and Makes the Way Perfect (Psalm 18:32)

Weaver explains the metaphor of girding with strength as God equipping for battle, and making the way perfect as divine guidance, illustrated by David's victory over the Philistines in 2 Samuel 5.

Feet Like Hinds' Feet: Swiftness and Sure-footedness (Psalm 18:33)

Weaver describes how God makes believers swift and agile like deer, able to stand in dangerous places. He cites 2 Samuel 2:18, 1 Chronicles 12:8, and Isaiah 40:30-31.

And look, if you would please, at verse 18. 2 Samuel 2, verse 18.

Spiritual Application: The Armor of God

Weaver applies the lesson to spiritual warfare, urging believers to prioritize spiritual victories using Ephesians 6:10-18. He emphasizes that strength comes from the Lord, not human ability.

Look at Ephesians 6, beginning there in verse 10. Look what he says.

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 6:10-18

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication of the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 6:10-18

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."

The Lord as Defender

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	34081354150
Subject	Covenant Theology
Course	Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: The Hallelujah of Confession
Genre	Sermon
Date	2008-02-03
Dictation Name
Book	Book 042: Covenant Theology: Blessings, Curses, and Sanctions: God's Answer to America's Problems — Chapter 10
Source Timed Segments	86

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review of Psalm 18:1-28: Weaver reviews David's determination to love the Lord, his distress, God's deliverance, and David's deportment—acting biblically by not taking vengeance on Saul.
The Connection Between Patience, Obedience, and Victory: Weaver asserts that God rewards trust and faithfulness, and that victory depends on God's grace, not human resources. He stresses that enemies should be due to righteousness, not personal misconduct.
Biblical Basis for Righteous Persecution: Using Matthew 5:11, John 15:20, and 2 Timothy 3:12, Weaver shows that living godly in Christ will bring persecution, but believers must maintain a biblical attitude without bitterness.
God's Vengeance and Our Attitude: Weaver teaches from Proverbs 24:17-18 that believers should not rejoice when enemies fall, lest God turn away His wrath. He emphasizes suffering wrongfully rather than sinning.
The Worth of Acting Biblically: Old Testament Promises: Weaver asks if David's patience was worth it, then cites Exodus 23:22, Leviticus 26:7-8, Joshua 21:44, 23:10, Deuteronomy 20:1-4, 28:7, and 33:29 to show God's promises to fight for the obedient.
David's Defense: God as the Source of Victory (Psalm 18:29-31): Weaver expounds verses 29-31, showing David ascribes all glory to God for running through a troop and leaping over a wall. He explains God's way is perfect, His word tried, and He is a buckler and rock.
God Girds with Strength and Makes the Way Perfect (Psalm 18:32): Weaver explains the metaphor of girding with strength as God equipping for battle, and making the way perfect as divine guidance, illustrated by David's victory over the Philistines in 2 Samuel 5.
Feet Like Hinds' Feet: Swiftness and Sure-footedness (Psalm 18:33): Weaver describes how God makes believers swift and agile like deer, able to stand in dangerous places. He cites 2 Samuel 2:18, 1 Chronicles 12:8, and Isaiah 40:30-31.
Spiritual Application: The Armor of God: Weaver applies the lesson to spiritual warfare, urging believers to prioritize spiritual victories using Ephesians 6:10-18. He emphasizes that strength comes from the Lord, not human ability.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Victory depends on God, not human resources

Weaver argues that the battle belongs to the Lord; victory is not determined by soldiers, weapons, or strategy, but by God's grace and power.

Weaver states, 'Victory is not determined by who has the most soldiers, or who has the most weapons, or who has the best strategy. Victory really depends upon the grace and mercy and power of God' (04:07.8-05:11.0).

Enemies should be due to righteousness, not personal sin

Weaver contends that believers will have enemies, but they should be enemies because of godly living, not because of personal misconduct.

Weaver says, 'Our enemies should be our enemies simply because they are enemies to God, His law, His righteousness, and His people. They ought not to be our enemies because of our own personal misconduct' (05:11.9-06:02.3).

God fights for the obedient

Weaver uses multiple Old Testament passages to show that God promises to be an enemy to our enemies if we obey Him.

He cites Exodus 23:22: 'If thou shalt indeed obey his voice... I will be an enemy unto thine enemies' (16:10.6-16:50.3).

David's patience and refusal to take vengeance were rewarded

Weaver argues that David's biblical conduct toward Saul was worth it because it brought God's blessing and power.

Weaver asks, 'Was it worth it for David to act biblically toward his enemy?' and answers by showing the blessings of obedience (14:29.5-15:13.2).

God equips believers for both physical and spiritual battles

Weaver explains that God girds with strength and makes feet like hinds' feet, enabling swiftness and sure-footedness in dangerous places.

He expounds Psalm 18:32-33, using illustrations from 2 Samuel 5 and 1 Chronicles 12 (42:10.5-42:53.0; 49:05.9-50:29.4).

Spiritual victory must precede physical victory

Weaver argues that if we are unwilling to conquer spiritually, we cannot conquer physically; the heart must be given to God first.

Weaver says, 'If we are unwilling and unable to conquer spiritually, we will certainly be unable to conquer physically' (57:57.4-59:02.5).

Scripture References

Psalm 18:29-33: The main text of the sermon, describing God enabling David to run through a troop, leap over a wall, gird with strength, and make feet like hinds' feet.
Psalm 18:1-2: Reviewed from previous sermons: David's determination to love the Lord and the names of God as strength, rock, fortress, etc.
Psalm 18:3-6: Reviewed: David's distress and crying to God.
Psalm 18:7-19: Reviewed: God's deliverance of David.
Psalm 18:20-28: Reviewed: David's deportment, acting biblically and not taking vengeance on Saul.
Matthew 5:11: Used to show that persecution comes for Christ's sake when living righteously.
John 15:20: Jesus taught that servants will be persecuted as He was.
2 Timothy 3:12: All who live godly in Christ will suffer persecution.
1 Peter 2:19: It is commendable to endure grief suffering wrongfully for conscience toward God.
Proverbs 24:17-18: Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, lest God turn away His wrath.
Exodus 23:22: If you obey God, He will be an enemy to your enemies.
Leviticus 26:7-8: Obedience brings blessing: five shall chase a hundred, a hundred put ten thousand to flight.
Joshua 21:44: The Lord gave rest and delivered all enemies into their hand.
Joshua 23:10: One man shall chase a thousand, for the Lord fights for you.
Deuteronomy 20:1-4: Do not fear enemies; the Lord goes with you to fight for you.
Deuteronomy 28:7: The Lord will cause enemies to be smitten and flee seven ways.
Deuteronomy 33:29: God is the shield and sword; enemies will be found liars.
Psalm 127:1: Unless the Lord builds and keeps the city, human effort is vain.
Proverbs 21:31: The horse is prepared for battle, but safety is of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:10-18: The full armor of God for spiritual warfare; believers must be strong in the Lord.

Historical References

David's persecution by Saul: Weaver references David's refusal to kill Saul when given the opportunity, demonstrating patience and trust in God's timing.
David's victory over Goliath: Mentioned as an example of God teaching David to fight; David had no armor, only a sling.
David's pursuit of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 30): Possible interpretation of 'run through a troop' as David pursuing the Amalekites who burned Ziklag.
David's capture of Jerusalem from the Jebusites: Possible reference for 'leaped over a wall' as scaling the fortress of Zion.
Ben-Hadad and Ahab (1 Kings 20): Used to illustrate the metaphor of girding for battle; Ahab's reply about not boasting while putting on armor.
David's victory over the Philistines at Baal-perazim and the Valley of Rephaim (2 Samuel 5): Illustrates God making David's way perfect by giving different strategies for two battles.
Asahel's swiftness (2 Samuel 2:18): Example of swiftness like a wild roe, illustrating 'feet like hinds' feet.'
The Gadites who joined David (1 Chronicles 12:8): Men with faces like lions, swift as roes upon the mountains, illustrating agility and sure-footedness.
Charles H. Spurgeon's commentary on Psalm 18: Weaver quotes Spurgeon multiple times to emphasize God's enabling and the need to give God glory.

Important Quotes

For by thee I have run through a troop, and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

David ascribes all victory to God, the central theme of the sermon.

It is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect.

Highlights God's equipping and guidance in battle.

He maketh my feet like hinds' feet and setteth me upon my high places.

Illustrates God-given swiftness and sure-footedness in dangerous situations.

Victory is not determined by who has the most soldiers, or who has the most weapons, or who has the best strategy. Victory really depends upon the grace and mercy and power of God.

Summarizes the sermon's argument that God is the source of victory.

Our enemies should be our enemies simply because they are enemies to God, His law, His righteousness, and His people. They ought not to be our enemies because of our own personal misconduct, hatefulness, and ungodliness.

Defines the proper basis for having enemies as a believer.

If thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak, that I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

Promise that God fights for the obedient.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does David's example of refusing to take vengeance on Saul challenge our natural responses to personal enemies?

[Context]

Weaver discussed David's deportment in Psalm 18:20-28, where David had opportunities to kill Saul but waited on God.

[Question]

In what ways might we have 'enemies of our own making' rather than enemies for righteousness' sake?

[Context]

Weaver distinguished between enemies due to godly living and those caused by personal misconduct.

[Question]

Why does God command us not to rejoice when our enemy falls, and how can we cultivate that attitude?

[Context]

Weaver expounded Proverbs 24:17-18, warning that premature rejoicing may cause God to relent from judgment.

[Question]

How do the Old Testament promises of God fighting for Israel (e.g., Exodus 23:22, Deuteronomy 20:1-4) apply to believers today in spiritual warfare?

[Context]

Weaver cited multiple passages to show God's commitment to defend the obedient, then applied them to spiritual battles.

[Question]

What does it mean for God to 'gird us with strength' and 'make our way perfect' in our daily struggles?

[Context]

Weaver explained the metaphor of girding for battle and God's guidance, using David's victory in 2 Samuel 5.

[Question]

How can we experience the 'feet like hinds' feet'—swiftness and sure-footedness—in our spiritual walk?

[Context]

Weaver described the agility and stability God gives, enabling believers to stand in dangerous places.

[Question]

Why is it tempting to desire physical victories over spiritual ones, and how can we reorder our priorities?

[Context]

Weaver challenged the congregation to prioritize spiritual warfare, using Ephesians 6:10-18.

[Question]

How does ascribing all glory to God for our victories protect us from pride and self-reliance?

[Context]

Weaver emphasized David's humility in giving God credit, quoting Psalm 147:10 and Philippians 4:13.

Applications

Format deepseek deepseek-v4-pro structured study JSON | Source Commentary.net transcript enrichment

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:11:26Z