(Psalms 18:37-38) “I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. (38) I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.”

In the past four devotions on Psalms 18, David has enumerated the Actions of God to him. Now, David adds the results of these actions of God to him and for him in (Psalms 18:37-38). As in verses 32-36, note the verbs of action; also the fact that these actions are taken by the pronoun “I”; meaning David, as powered by God working in him and through him.

Now look at our text verses:

First, “I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them:”

This may refer to David’s pursuing the Amalekites; David’s army overtook them and recovered all that had been carried away. (1 Sa 30:8) “And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”

In applying this to the believer today, refer to (Psalms 18:32-36), as to all that God does for the believer. God knows all things, even in the believer’s life. God knows the enemy, and all the enemies lies and deception that are pointed to the believer. God then enlightens the believer as to who the enemy is. God reveals to the believer that the path and method of victory over the enemy is not in the believer’s flesh; but, in the power of God that dwells within the believer (1 Jn. 5:4; Phil. 4:13). God manifests the weapons of warfare; and the weapons are not carnal, but mighty through God in pulling down the strongholds (2 Cor. 10:3-5). God reveals to the believer the armor he must be clothed in to win the battle (Eph. 6:10-18). But, the main thing God reveals to the believer is that the battle is not the believer’s – but, the battle is God’s. And thus, the victory comes through the Power of God.

The believer will never “overtake” the enemy in the believer’s own might. The enemy is too strong for flesh and blood; the Victory is only by God, working through the believer. God, who has defeated the devil (Heb. 2:14) and death (separation from God). This Victory was proven in Christ’s bodily resurrection from the grave (Rom. 1:4). The devil and the hounds of hell must stand down or be at bay; in the light of the Power and Glory and Victory of the Lamb of God over sin, death and grave, as the First-fruit of all the children of God (1 Cor. 15:21-28).

Second, “neither did I turn again till they were consumed.”

When you read the entire story of David’s pursuit of the Amalekites (1 Sam. 30:6-25), not a man escaped, save four hundred young men that rode on camels and fled. David defeated the enemy totally and completely and recovered all that had been taken. (1 Sam. 30:18-19), “And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives. (19) And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.”

The application for the believer to take away from this story of David’s victory over his enemy the Amalekites is, when the believer is operating in the faith of Jesus Christ, there is Total Victory over the enemy. The enemy will be consumed; Hallelujah!

Third, “I have wounded them that they were not able to rise…”

This was not only true of the Amalekites, but of all with whom David engaged in war; “…they are fallen under my feet.” That is, either dead, or had become subject and tributaries to him; as the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, and Edomites. (See 2 Sam. 8:1.) Praise God in Christ, and because of the Victory that Christ had on the Cross, when He said, “it is finished.” (What was “finished”? The work of Redemption for the sin debt of sinners; called the Atonement; the Propitiation for sinners; or the debt was settled by Christ for sinners in light of the wrath of God, or the curse of the Law.) (Eph. 1:7; Rom. 3:24-25; Gal. 3:13) Praise God – not the devil; not any demon; not any enemy of the Cross of Christ are able to “rise” up in victory again. No, No, the Victory has been secured for all eternity in the works of Jesus Christ, as God in the flesh, yet without sin, as the Sacrifice, Substitute, and Savior for sinners (2 Cor. 5:21).

Reader, this is the “Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” The Victor over sin, hell, and death is Christ. The devil has been dethroned; and he is no longer the holder of death. For in Christ, the believer has been set free, Hallelujah! Amen and Amen! The song that is sung in heaven is:

(Rev 5:9-14) “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

(10)  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

(11)  And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

(12)  Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

(13)  And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

(14)  And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.”

The song that is sung in hell is, ‘O, me; get me out of this place; for I am tormented in this flame.’ Think of being separated from God and the Light for all eternity; and being in the presence of the devil, his demons, and all the God-haters for all eternity. Never to see the Light again. Never to leave a place that the Apostle John called:

(Rev 20:10) “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

(Rev 20:14-15) “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  (15)  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

There are those who want to now argue if hell is real, and if there is real fire in hell – what they believe does not affect John’s description. What matters is if John was correct in his description. There is one thing for sure; there will come a time that all who have hated God and rejected Christ as Savior will indeed know first-hand if the Bible is a lie. All those who have preached and believed the Bible to not be the Divine, inspired, without-error Word of God, will come to know the Truth of God and His Judgment.

However, if the Bible is true (and it its), and you die in rejection of Christ as Savior; you will have lost it all for all eternity and you will know then that hell is real.