(Psalms 18:39-40) “For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.  (40)  Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.”

In the previous devotions (on Psalms 18:37-38), David revealed that he “pursued” his enemies, rather than ran from his enemies. David pursued his enemies, and overtook them, and wounded them until they were “consumed.” In this devotion, which covers Psalms 18:39-40, David reveals the “how” he had defeated his enemies.

Let every believer in Christ, sealed by the Holy Spirit, rest in the fact that no enemy of the Cross of Christ can, or will, finally overtake the child of God. It is time for every child of God to stop running from the enemies of Christ, as if they have no promise of Victory. Since the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ, let the child of God take heart in Christ’s Victory; for so is their victory over the enemy – for Christ’s Victory over the devil is also the believer’s victory. This personal victory that is for the believer has been secured by Christ’s Victory, (Rom 8:31-33) “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  (32)  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  (33)  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.”

David’s explanation in these verses is three-fold:

1. “For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle”

The keys are the verb “girded” and the object “strength.” To “gird” someone is to “belt” that person. David said that it was God that “girded” him. The what God girded David with is “strength.”

First, this strength from God is inward, (Eph. 3:16) “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.”

The inner strength that God gives is the Power of the indwelling Holy Spirit in the spirit of the believer, giving revelation. The inner strength of the Spirit is revealed in the discernment of the believer of the Word of God (1 Cor. 2:10-16); especially, of the truth of the indwelling of Christ (Eph. 3:17-19) and of the Promises of God for the believer.

Note the Apostle Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian saints:

(Eph. 1:17-19) “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

(18)  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

(19)  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,”

God did this for David; and not only for David, but for every believer of Christ; for Christ indwells every believer. So, the believer experiences, “the working of his mighty power.”

Secondly, the “girding” of God of the believer is not only inward; but, also is evidenced outwardly in the believer’s actions. The spoken words of the believer reveal the condition of his heart, (Lk. 6:45) “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” The physical acts of the believer reveal the condition of his heart. If God lives in his heart; then, the believer will endeavor “to walk even as he (Christ) walked” (1 Jn. 2:6).

As the fruit of the Spirit is produced by the Spirit, and borne in the life of the believer (Gal. 5:22-23); those around the believer will be revealed the strength of the Holy Spirit in the life and words and deeds of the believer. The workers of evil, the enemies of the Cross of Christ, will have to bow to the Power of the Living God when in contact with a Spirit-filled believer. The workers of evil know and understand that the power of the Spirit-filled believer is not in the believer; but is in the Christ, (Mat 8:29) “And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?” The demons and devil and all workers of evil know Jesus, (Act 19:15) “And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” Therefore, the believer must be armed with the Power of Christ both inwardly and outwardly; for the evil workers cannot stand in the Presence of Christ.

2. “thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.”

Note the verb “subdued.” This word means, “to bend the knee; by implication to sink, to prostrate: – bow (down, self), bring down (low), cast down, couch, fall, feeble, kneeling, sink, smite (stoop) down, subdue.” This verb clearly manifests the preeminence of the Spirit-filled believer over the evil worker. When Christ said, “it is finished,” on the Cross; this meant that the devil, and all his imps, were defeated by the Atonement of Christ as the full payment for the curse of the law upon sinners (Heb. 2:14). But, this truth of victory by the Son of God over the devil, death, hell and the grave is declared in Christ’s bodily Resurrection (Rom. 1:4). Jesus declared in (Mat 28:18) “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Yes, Praise God, the battle is won; the Victory is the Believer’s in Christ.

3. “Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.”

This additional statement by David is a further proclamation of God’s Power over all enemies of the Cross. When the warrior has the “neck” of his enemy – he is in control; and the victory is eminent.

Application: “that I might destroy them that hate me.”

1). What is it that the 21^st Century Believer in Jesus Christ as his personal Sacrifice, Substitute and Savior does not understand in the word “destroy” concerning the enemies of the Cross?

2). What is the reason that many of the modern-day believers of Jesus Christ had rather live in fear, doubt, and defeat, as they depend upon something other than the Promises of God for deliverance?

3). This Century has produced the weakest believers in many cases; for they do not rest, rely, or depend, or even believe, that God will do exactly what He Promised He would do in His Word for them in the battle.     

Why is this? The answer is A LACK OF EXPERIENCES WITH GOD. Most stay in their “comfort” zone. When the believer hides from the world of Christ living in them; and their so-called love for Christ; their lack of taking any ‘stand’ for what is truth and what is right – then the result is that the believer is “neither hot or cold”; but insipid, of which God says He is not pleased and “I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Rev. 3:16). Many today, are “cave hiders”; and as long as the child of God hides in the cave of fear and doubt, he will never experience the power of God in his life.

What makes a positive experience with God is the “valley,” or “the backside of the desert with Moses.” It is when the believer needs God the most, or has faced the enemy of God with five small stones, as David did against Goliath; this is when the believer has the “burning bush experience”; or when as Elijah called on God to prove who He was to Israel, when fire fell from heaven and proved to the Baal worshippers that He and He alone was God. God shows up when the believer makes a stand for the Truth of God, such as the three Hebrew men did in the fiery furnace.

Every experience of God’s deliverance of the believer, in the face of the enemy, gives the believer more and more confidence to walk by faith. So, Believer, step out of the cave and stand on the Promises of God and see your enemies fall by the Power of God on your behalf for His Honor and Glory.