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Spiritual Warfare 103

Bob Neumann, 11/2004

Someone asked how relationship with GOD has anything to do with what is called SPIRITUAL WARFARE. The fact that someone need to ask the question made me realize that maybe I was barking up the wrong tree. In Ephesians 6 Paul gives an explicit account of who our opposition is. 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. Just the concept of “SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS” should make you look at this from outside the prospective of the natural. Likewise to assume that what Paul writes of was something new on this planet as the disciple went forth to preach the GOSPEL of THE KINGDOM is facetious. What we call the public ministry of JESUS was warfare against the “SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS” wherever HE TRAVELED. So if you are honest you have to admit that David’s battles were not just in the natural.

⁴ The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

Verse 4 speaks of Sorrows of Death and Floods of ungodly men. Now you can try and take it literally and say that David was afraid of natural death at the hands of human men. But verse 5 takes it out of the natural plain.

⁵ The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

Here David speaks of DEATH a second time. And the TERM “SECOND DEATH” should be familiar to the student of the BOOK of REVELATION. In the Letter to the church in Smyrna we are introduced to a new concept, “the synagogue of SATAN”. JESUS HIMSELF has the answer on how to deal with this situation.

¹⁰ Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

¹¹ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Death in the natural is anticipated, but the “overcomer” shall not be hurt by THE SECOND DEATH. David was fighting in the natural realm where his own courage and skill was a great asset. But when HELL and DEATH come together as they do in verse 5 and in Rev 6:8 we are dealing with something very Supernatural. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. So David needed someone far greater than himself to call out to. How did he figure out WHO he needed? James 4 gives us some valuable information.

⁶ But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

⁸ Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Now David did not start Psalm 18 with a declaration of “submission”, it was a declaration of LOVE. David was well into the drawing nigh. “I LOVE YOU” is a lot more emotional than “I submit to your authority”. James is giving his readers a crisp scourging by addressing them as sinners and double minded sinners at that.

We all know that David too sinned, yet HIS GOD heard his call and acted. Once again we have a pattern.

¹⁶ He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

¹⁷ He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.

¹⁸ They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

Verses 16-18 addresses David’s rescue from the flood of “ungodly men”. The “waters” stirred up to destroy David were “many” but useless when compared to David’s GOD. In verse 17 David acknowledges both the strength and hatred of those that sought to kill the shepherd boy. Verse 18 reinforces his dependence on his GOD. And it is here that things change.

¹⁹ He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. It seems that DAVID’S GOD was mighty fond of DAVID. GOD must have a reason.

²⁰ The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

Look back at James’ words. David’s hands were clean… in GOD’S EYES. For which DAVID WAS REWARDED…. GOD saved and delivered him from all his foes… natural and spiritual. And it goes farther….

²¹ For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

²² For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.

²³ I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

²⁴ Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

Once again we have the clean hands, but what preceded it was clearly a single mindedness that I find worth emulating.

KEEP THE WAYS OF THE LORD! CLING TO GOD AND FLEE WICKEDNESS! BE AWARE OF HIS JUDGMENTS AND FOLLOW HIS STATUTES! WALK UPRIGHT BEFORE GOD ALWAYS! STAY FAR AWAY FROM INIQUITY!

All of this sounds sensible, even prudent. So why is this thing called “SPIRITUAL WARFARE” such a “BIG DEAL” in so many places?

Just maybe there are a whole bunch of “so called saints” whose hands GOD sees…and GOD does not delight in them as HE DID DAVID?

Selah

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