The Way Of The Warrior
In our past devotions, we looked at King David’s career. He had great success, and blockbuster failures. We also noted, that the Lord did not throw David to the trash-heap though he deeply hurt the Lord, with his sin. Remember, the Lord is not immune to our sin. Every person’s sin leaves a mark. Not collective sin, each sin!
The Lord does not act like the Incredible Hulk, storming into our lives, nostrils flaring, a scowl on his face, wanting to smash us to bits, when we morally fail. David notes three things about God: 1) You are a hiding place for me; 2) you preserve me from trouble; 3) you surround me with shouts of deliverance. (Ps. 32:7). These are fantastic characteristics, that give us confidence and assure us of safety and comfort, in the Lord — even after epic fails.
After David sexually abused a married woman – Bathsheba, then had her husband killed – Uriah, he tried to hide the affair. It is a silly idea trying to fool an omniscient God. Be sure your sin will find you out. (Num. 32:23). The consequences of sin will seep into your life, somehow, someway. The longer sin is ignored, the deeper its roots, the more it is uncomfortable when the Lord identifies it, then begins to deal with it.
Yet David notes something fantastic: Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. (Ps. 32:10). If you are a genuine believer in the Lordship of Jesus Christ, you have an advocate, one who is on your side. He doesn’t over-look your sin, he helps you conquer it. The way he starts the process, is to assure you that: steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. The Lord is not tired of your moral failures, they don’t exhaust him. But, he will not allow them to let them rule your life. Every day he works with you to purify you. It’s not instantaneous, it’s a process.
You may punish yourself with shame and guilt, when you fail. He won’t. That does not mean he won’t use pressure on you, sometimes he uses crushing force to get your attention. But he uses force that channels you toward victory living. David notes this: Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. (Ps. 51:8). Whaaat!?
Let the bones that you have broken rejoice!!! Alarm bells should be going off here. Broken bones! Really? And this is a loving God?
David is using symbolic language from his old profession of shepherding. When a shepherd had a headstrong lamb that kept wandering away from his care, the shepherd took that lamb and broke its two front legs. Then he would set the bones, place the lamb around his neck, carrying it, wherever he took the flock. The lamb became attached to the shepherd, then trusted the shepherd, learning to delight in the nurture and care of the shepherd. The shepherd and the rebel lamb, bonded. When the broken bones of the lamb, mended and were strong, the shepherd put the lamb down, and the lamb never left the shepherds side, to wander away.
Will the Lord do that with you? Yep. He loves you too much to watch you self-destruct!
You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. (Deut. 13:4). He’s already got a sure and steady grip on you, now you hold onto him. What happens when you hold on?
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6). You and he are joined at the hip. What then? It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deut. 31:8). The little lamb turns into a lion.
Then, David warns us to not be spiritually obtuse. He uses another animal metaphor: Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. (Ps. 32:9). You can be a spiritual doorknob. You can live life virtually unaware, going through the motions of living, like a horse or mule. You can live life without insight, being spiritually mindless. You know people like this. Religious matters are fairytales to them. These people are empty spiritual vessels. David begs us to be spiritually dynamic, to be forward leaning in sacred matters.
In the early part of the Bible, Moses wanted the Lord to give a description of himself. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, (Exod. 34:6). Libraries of books can be written about this verse.
Merciful and gracious are the first attributes listed. Mercy is not giving you what you do deserve. Grace is giving you what you don’t deserve. That is the best deal in the Universe! Sin clouds your mind, deceiving you into believing that you can manage your life and future. Forget that nonsense. Take the mercy and grace – it’s free to you. It costs the Lord – dearly. He pays an exorbitant price for you.
The Lord goes on describing himself: keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty; (Exod. 34:7). He keeps on keeping on, loving you, even when you do what David did. He desires to forgive. But if there is no repentance? Who will by no means clear the guilty. The Lord is just, because he is holy, and his holiness will not let his love supersede purity.
David got to the place of repentance. Again, read Psalms 32, and 51.
David recognized his own moral failures, and spiritual weaknesses. David let his desires rule his decision-making process. He lived for the moment, thinking he would be satisfied with carnal pleasures. Sin does have an immediate payback, but the consequences are eternal. Will you settle for short term gratification? Or: create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Ps. 51:10). Choose the latter – you’ll never be sorry.
I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live (Deut. 30:19). The Lord gives a choice, and the Lord whispers the answer: CHOOSE LIFE!!!! Don’t choose death! This is not rocket science.
The Warrior’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Help me conquer my mind, so sin does not rule my heart: Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. (Rom. 6:12). Lord, often I am a victim to my own desires, though I want to live a life free from things that hurt you. I thank you for being so faithful to me, for not abandoning me to my desires. Thank you for holding on to me, even when I’ve been stubborn and rebellious. I don’t want to sin, but I frequently fail. At times, I allow sin to control me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10). Lord, you created the entire Universe, I’m confident you can help my heart, making it dynamically new, energizing it with the fuel of spiritual vigor.
I hate my sin, yet at times love it. Let sin’s hold on me diminish, let me have less satisfaction, in its value. Let my sin, become tarnished, and old, having less and less enjoyment in my life. And let spiritual delights grow, satisfying me as nothing else can. Let me be fully satisfied in you. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:12). Thank you for faithfully, lovingly, caring for me, and never letting me be satisfied with anything other than you. Do not let success, wealth, passions, anything — replace you in my life. Fill me with you, so my mind is like your mind, simply delighting in holiness, and satisfied in your love.
Then, let my life reflect you, so others get a glimpse of the divine. I want people to see and know you. If you choose to use me, help me to be faithful. I want to be fully satisfied in you, so others can believe that you truly are magnificent. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
