God EQUIPS us! Psalms 18-20

Psalms 18:31-35 (ESV)

For who is God, but the LORD?

And who is a rock, except our God?—

the God who equipped me with strength

and made my way blameless.

He made my feet like the feet of a deer

and set me secure on the heights.

He trains my hands for war,

so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You have given me the shield of your salvation,

and your right hand supported me,

and your gentleness made me great.

Stop and meditate on all that!   Note:

1. God is our ROCK.   In the Old Testament the term ROCK is used to denote Christ.  David started this psalm with a reference to the ROCk. 

Psalms 18:2 (ESV)

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

2.  God EQUIPS us for battle.   This is such a marvelous thoughts.  David states it again in 18: 39.   We have this promise in the book of Hebrews, as well.  That writer tells us that Jesus .... 

Hebrews 13:21 (ESV)

equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

3.  God makes our FEET like the deer to walk anywhere.  The sure footedness of the deer is a metaphor in the Old Testament used many times.  Here is a favorite:

Habakkuk 3:19 (ESV)

GOD, the Lord, is my strength;

he makes my feet like the deer's;

he makes me tread on my high places.

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

4.  God trains our HANDS for war.  God does not always fight for us.  He often fights with us.  We are to carry out the battle with the hands of war He has equipped.  David knew this first hand (no pun intended) when God used his boyhood hands with a sling to kill a giant.   

5.  God makes are ARMS so strong we can bend a bronze bow.  That is strong.   This is God doing the work in us to provide strength for us.   

6.  God gives us a SHIELD for salvation.   This is what we read in Psalm 91.  The SHIELD is God’s faithfulness to us:

Psalms 91:4 (ESV)

He will cover you with his pinions,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

7.  God gives us GENTLE SUPPORT.  God is not heavy handed with us, unless we are disobedient.  He steps into our lives to give us support and treat us with gentleness.   

This is the God we serve.  Meditate on that!