Have you ever been hunted down? Today, I was out walking. A family was outside with their dog. As I cordially walked by, the dog came up behind me. As I turned to check out my safety, the dog barked loud and ferociously. My heart skipped a beat and fell into my stomach. I was terrified, thinking the dog was coming after me to attack.
Thankfully, the family rescued me from the animal. The family was my strength, they were my hero, they went to battle on my behalf against my “enemy”. The thinking I had for the family was thankful praise. They had delivered me out of the paws of the one who “hunted me”.
How about you? You may not be hunted down by an animal, but maybe you feel hunted by a family member, stalked by someone who wants to hurt you, or overrun by circumstances that are steamrolling you. The attacks you experience are spiritual and unseen. They are real and identifiable, but there’s no “family” to rescue you.
What can you do? What are some tactics that you can do to help you overcome the enemies in your life? Today, in the dog conflict, I avoided the dog. I looked to the family to rescue me. Your situation is likely more serious and involved than a dog and a walk.
In Psalm 18, when David was being hunted down by King Saul, running for his life knowing he was on the receiving end of Saul’s sharp sword, and distressed with it all . . . these are some things David did. We can learn from David’s example and implement these things in our life when we are bombarded with the stresses of life.
- I love the Lord – choosing to love God was a plan, pleasure, and purpose in David’s life.
- O Lord, my strength – David admitted he had no ability to act on his own or personal power.
- The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my buckler, the horn of my salvation, my high tower – The places God stood in the gap for David were identified as a hard place to put his feet (belonging), a shelter of protection (covering), a shield to hide behind (defense), music of my deliverance (song), the one who takes me above the fight (lifter).
- I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy of praise – David declared the reputation of God. His opinion of God was that God deserved praise.
When the fight got heated and more severe, it was these 4 resolves in David’s life that gained him the victory and that will gain us the victory too.
- David planned, purposed, and took pleasure in loving God.
- David identified God as his ability and personal power. (He likely said this over and over to himself . . . self talk.)
- David put God all around him in standing on him securely connected, protected and covered by God, defended by God so that God would take the blows, lifted up above his circumstances, and filled with song.
- David considered God deserving of praise because he was able to get the “job” done, David called on him to get the job done.
David did not deny his responsibility before God. He admitted God helped him for the following reasons:
- David called upon the Lord.
- David identified the Lord as his security.
- David was helped because of his right standing before God.
- David protected the ways of God – treated them respectfully.
- David stayed close to God.
- David regularly thought, considered, and meditated on what God said about everything.
- David stayed away from things displeasing to God.
- David joined in pursuing to destroy his enemies.
If we were to take the time to list all the things God did for David, the list would be 3 or 4 times the length of the responsibility David showed toward God. This helps us to truly understand, the battle is the Lord’s.
Saul, the enemy of David, the one that was hunting him was told one time by a godly man, “to obey is better than to sacrifice“. What David chose to do was to obey God. The best way to love God is to obey God. We obey God best when do the following:
- Have a clear picture of who God is, who you are, and how the two can be reconciled.
- Call on God’s reputation and what He’s known for to save you from all the enemies (like a family is helpful in saving a passerby from their dog).
- Surround yourself with God and His standing in the gap for you.
- Keep yourself close to God, depending on His Words of guidance and direction, persevering with Him to destroy all your enemies.
The stress you experience in life may not change, but when your view of God is clear, close, and coming to Him in an attitude of His being worthy of praise; God wins you the victory every time.
Set aside an hour in your calendar to read Psalm 18, focus on who God is, how He won the victory for David, and ask God to teach you how to let Him win the victory in the stressful battles of your life.
Written By: Anne Gurley
