Written by David, Psalm 144 is primarily a prayer for rescue. Having gone through intense attack by his archrival Saul, David was is in deep despair and anguish many times. There were times even his very life was in threat and through all these situations, David tasted the protection of God, who became his Rock of Escape. God was always a fortress for David and in His safety, David always puts his trust. However, there is a spiritual aspect of this physical battle that David went through – it points us to the spiritual battle that a child of God would encounter in his journey of faith.

What is basically spiritual battle? In a layman's words, it is battle against an unseen enemy- but not imaginary. The Bible clearly warns in Eph.6:12, we have a battle against a host of foes, who are really mightier than us : “For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.” 

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Understanding our real enemy, we need to be cautious and we need to fight him. Since the fight is not visual, our worldly tactics of war are of no use. Let us look to God's Word, how to withstand this spiritual battle:
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—" (Eph 6:13-18)

We need to be trained in this kind of battle. One help we can be certain of is GOD Himself- He is always there to guard and lead us triumphantly against our foe. The Psalmist outlines one important principle in this battle- total dependence on God. David calls God as: “My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my deliverer, My shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me.” (Ps. 144:2)

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Be cautious! Our spiritual enemy, the devil loves to trap us into difficult situations, temptations etc; and then we lose our peace, joy and our right standing with Lord. In such a state he comes in with deceiving thoughts like: “you have already fallen; now there is no problem in going down the hill.” When we buy into that lie, he takes us further downhill to trap us and make us sin. Once we sin, we feel guilty and will be afraid even to look to our Lord for help and we walk defeated. 

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Let us take guard: we need to know that our Lord loves us so much and He has provided us a way of escape. So as soon as we understand we are fallen, we should go back to Him. When we confess our sin, His blood cleanses us from all sin (1 John 2:1-2). So if any of us has been under attack of this evil one, come back GOD who will rescue and teach us to war. Praise God!

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Thought for the Day:

“Therefore submit to God.

Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

James 4:7