(Psalms 18:43-45) “Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me. (44) As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. (45) The strangers shall fade away and be afraid out of their close places.”

In this devotion, David concludes the Actions of God and the Results of God’s actions to, and through, him personally as the anointed king of Israel. (David began this in Psalms 18:32.) The obvious deduction from these verses is that God gave David rule over all of Israel (2 Sam. 22:44) and over the surrounding Gentile nations; the Philistines, Syrians, Moabites, and Edomites, being subdued by him, and becoming tributaries to him (2 Sam. 8:1).

The key phrases are: “Thou hast delivered me from,” and “thou hast made me the head of.” David gave God the honor and preeminence in the Victory over all his enemies, “…Thou hast…” David knew and acknowledged that it was God’s Power working in him to give him the rulership and victory over all his enemies, and not his own merit.

It is worthy to note the results that happened to David’s enemies in relation to the believer today and to the believer’s enemies today when the believer has followed God’s instructions in enemy warfare.

Note, David said:

“Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people…”

In (2 Sam. 22:44), we read, “…from the strivings of My people…” This meaning the people of Israel; “either Saul and his men, who contended with David, and sought his life; or rather the tribes of Israel, who, after Saul’s death, refused to acknowledge David as their king, but afterwards came and anointed him in Hebron.”

The obvious truth to take away from this example of Israel finally bowing and submitting to the Rule of David as king over all Israel is that God’s ordained Purpose will be performed. God commanded the prophet Samuel to go to the house of Jesse and anoint the next king of Israel (after Saul) (1 Sam. 16:1-13). This did not come to fruition for several years; but, at God’s appointed time it did come about.

Many believers need a class in the Sovereignty of God 101. God is not asleep; God is not weak; and God does have a Plan and Purpose for each believer’s life; and God is the Performer of His Plan and Purpose. The Scriptures are very plain in (Job 14:1-4; 23:13-14; Ps. 37:23; 139:11-24; Prov. 19:21; Isa. 46:9-11) that God is the Creator, Controller, and Consummator of His entire creation.

So, it is with every believer; God created you; He has appointed the day of your birth, your everyday steps, and the day of your death. This is called the Secret Will of God; of which no man can change. God is the Origin, Source, and Sustainer of Salvation in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3-11; Rom. 8:29-39). Thank God; what God has Purposed, He will perform, from conception to death in the believer. Therefore, the victories and successes in the believer’s life against the enemies of the cross are owing to God and His power; and not to the merits of the believer.

But, there is another side to the coin; that is God’s Will of Command to the believer. This is the side of God’s Commandments to the believer. An example of this is found in (Jos 1:6-8):

“(6) Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

(7) Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

(8) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”     

Here God gives the road map of success for the believer. God does not tell Joshua His Secret Will; but, rather, God gave Joshua His Will of Command. The road for the success of the children of Israel was to “Obey”; “Turn Not”; “Not to Depart”; “Meditate”; “Observe to Do All”; and then “Thou Shall Have Good Success.”

What is the believer to learn from this? The lesson is that God will do His Part (His Secret Will) – but for the believer to have daily victory, he must “obey” the commands of God; if not, he will not have success. Some say: ‘Well, if God is Sovereign as you say He is; then, why do have to do anything?’ The answer is: ‘The truth of the Sovereignty of God and the Responsibility of the believer are like a railroad track; two rails that are parallel to each other; but, they never cross.’ If that answer is not sufficient; then, either “obey” God and have success; or “do nothing” and have defeat in your daily life against the enemies of the cross. It is really that simple; God has ordained that His people should obey His commandments to show they love Him (Jn. 14:15); and obey His commandments because He said to do it; and to have success. So, not only has God ordained the believer’s steps; but, God has also ordained that the believer “obey” His commands. All the writers of the Bible exhort and command the believers to be not only “hearers”; but, also, “doers” of the Word of God (Jas. 1:21-25). God did not ordain His people to do nothing; but, God has ordained His people to “Good Works” in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:10).   

Again, David said, “Thou hast delivered…” and “thou hast made me the head”

1. “Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people;”
2. “and thou hast made me the head of the heathen:”
3. “a people whom I have not known shall serve me.”
4. “As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me:
5. “the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.”
6. “The strangers shall fade away
7. “and be afraid out of their close places.”

For these things to have happened in David’s life, the Secret Will of God must have been in play – but, also, David had to go, go, go, and do, do, do; or obey the commands of God. Yes, believer, you are responsible to Surrender to the Sovereignty of God; Submit to the Will of God; Obey the Word of God; and Endure to the end to receive the Prize of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:7-14).

(Php 3:7-14)

“(7) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

(8)  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

(9)  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

(10)  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

(11)  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”

Notice Paul’s Responsibility to Obey:

“(12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

(13)  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

(14)  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

This is the pattern for every believer. God will do His Part.

But, will you do your part and obey God?