Post by Josh on Dec 7, 2011 16:24:26 GMT -8
Last week we talked about second meanings in the Psalms and specifically about possible references to Jesus in the Psalms.
Today, I’d like to extend that discussion to another second-meaning topic I believe we can discover in our reading of the Psalms: Spiritual Warfare
But, as we learned last week, instead of basing our supposed hidden meanings on superficial clues, it’s important to determine a good reason why we believe we can see passages pointing to the church and to spiritual warfare in the Psalms.
Spiritual Warfare in the Psalms
Read Psalm 3:
1 O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." "Selah" 3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. 4 To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. "Selah" 5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. 6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. 7 Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8 From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. "Selah"
Identify the immediate context (David's flight from Absolom)
Read Psalm 3:1-2
Is conflict a universal theme? Let’s ascertain at least a general correspondence to our lives first. Do we all have battles? Do we all have enemies?
Who are our enemies? Make a list of your external and internal foes.
Is there a real fight in our life?
Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Read Ephesians 6:10-17
I want you to think about Saul/Paul (think about the name even), growing up with the Old Testament stories, now a follower of Jesus, and notice how the warfare language just comes out in his writing, but with a surprising twist. Now remember what Jesus said about not coming to abolish the law but to fulfill it.
Jesus doesn’t nullify the import of sentiments like Psalm 3, he elevates them!
Read Psalm 3:3
Notice how even when David was writing, the shield was already ultimately God Himself, not just the physical gear of war!
Let’s try another warfare Psalm,
35:1-9
1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. 2 Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid. 3 Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, "I am your salvation." 4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay. 5 May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away; 6 may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them. 7 Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, 8 may ruin overtake them by surprise-- may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin. 9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.
Read Psalm 35:1-4
Similar language to Psalm 3. Who sought David’s life? (Absolom) Is there someone who seeks ours?
Read 1 Peter 5:8 (the devil)
Read Psalm 3:7
In our own individual spiritual lives, can we put to use even the most violent imagery of the Psalms? We’ve talked about the Psalmists use of extreme language (hypberbole) and also about the Psalmists working out their less than ideal feelings in prayers to God? (not all Psalms are models of perfect prayer).
In this case where David asks God to break the teeth of his enemies(3:7), David is using emotional hyperbole that he himself doesn’t really mean when thinking cooly (2 Samuel 18:5)
However, is there any use for this violent imagery in our spiritual battle? Yes, and again the text is elevated. If we are thinking of the appropriate enemies and using the appropriate weapons, we can speak this way about our enemies- the principalities, powers, arguments, and pretensions we battle against.
Notice how in Romans 16:20 Paul does just that.
Read Psalm 35:4-9
Is the mention of the angel of the Lord a reference to Jesus (I personally think so)?
What about this rejoicing at the fall of your enemy? It's problematic with human enemies (the Bible elsewhere tells us not to do it) but not with spiritual enemies. (Again, the meaning of these OT texts is elevated in light of the new covenant)
Can you imagine using a Psalm like Psalm 3 in your prayer life?
Let’s imagine a situation:
You’re encountering hostility from other through no fault of your own. Doubts and fears are rising in you. The old tapes start playing: God doesn’t really love you, the task God has given you is impossible, everyone hates you, etc..
Could you now pray Psalm 3 with full personal relevance?
Today, I’d like to extend that discussion to another second-meaning topic I believe we can discover in our reading of the Psalms: Spiritual Warfare
But, as we learned last week, instead of basing our supposed hidden meanings on superficial clues, it’s important to determine a good reason why we believe we can see passages pointing to the church and to spiritual warfare in the Psalms.
Spiritual Warfare in the Psalms
Read Psalm 3:
1 O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." "Selah" 3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. 4 To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. "Selah" 5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. 6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. 7 Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8 From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. "Selah"
Identify the immediate context (David's flight from Absolom)
Read Psalm 3:1-2
Is conflict a universal theme? Let’s ascertain at least a general correspondence to our lives first. Do we all have battles? Do we all have enemies?
Who are our enemies? Make a list of your external and internal foes.
Is there a real fight in our life?
Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Read Ephesians 6:10-17
I want you to think about Saul/Paul (think about the name even), growing up with the Old Testament stories, now a follower of Jesus, and notice how the warfare language just comes out in his writing, but with a surprising twist. Now remember what Jesus said about not coming to abolish the law but to fulfill it.
Jesus doesn’t nullify the import of sentiments like Psalm 3, he elevates them!
Read Psalm 3:3
Notice how even when David was writing, the shield was already ultimately God Himself, not just the physical gear of war!
Let’s try another warfare Psalm,
35:1-9
1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. 2 Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid. 3 Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, "I am your salvation." 4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay. 5 May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away; 6 may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them. 7 Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, 8 may ruin overtake them by surprise-- may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin. 9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.
Read Psalm 35:1-4
Similar language to Psalm 3. Who sought David’s life? (Absolom) Is there someone who seeks ours?
Read 1 Peter 5:8 (the devil)
Read Psalm 3:7
In our own individual spiritual lives, can we put to use even the most violent imagery of the Psalms? We’ve talked about the Psalmists use of extreme language (hypberbole) and also about the Psalmists working out their less than ideal feelings in prayers to God? (not all Psalms are models of perfect prayer).
In this case where David asks God to break the teeth of his enemies(3:7), David is using emotional hyperbole that he himself doesn’t really mean when thinking cooly (2 Samuel 18:5)
However, is there any use for this violent imagery in our spiritual battle? Yes, and again the text is elevated. If we are thinking of the appropriate enemies and using the appropriate weapons, we can speak this way about our enemies- the principalities, powers, arguments, and pretensions we battle against.
Notice how in Romans 16:20 Paul does just that.
Read Psalm 35:4-9
Is the mention of the angel of the Lord a reference to Jesus (I personally think so)?
What about this rejoicing at the fall of your enemy? It's problematic with human enemies (the Bible elsewhere tells us not to do it) but not with spiritual enemies. (Again, the meaning of these OT texts is elevated in light of the new covenant)
Can you imagine using a Psalm like Psalm 3 in your prayer life?
Let’s imagine a situation:
You’re encountering hostility from other through no fault of your own. Doubts and fears are rising in you. The old tapes start playing: God doesn’t really love you, the task God has given you is impossible, everyone hates you, etc..
Could you now pray Psalm 3 with full personal relevance?