Psalm 27:2 (ESV):
2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
Abba,
“When.” Immediately this word stands out. Simple. Small. But informative. Instructive. It speaks of the evildoers assailment as a certain reality; a guaranteed event. Not “if” they assail me. But when. It is an inevitability. We will face opposition. Especially as we stand for you. In fact, the more we stand for you, the greater the opposition will be. For the devil, our flesh, and the world continually stand opposed to you. Evildoers assailment against us is a certainty of this life. It will come.
And when it comes….it comes with the most despicable intent…the destruction of our flesh. How heinous and yet subtle it can be. The adversary and his minions come whispering their deceitful lies promising pleasure, happiness, control, comfort, success, affirmation, and peace. The reality? They offer death. Behind the lie is the desire to “eat up our flesh,” to enslave, to kill, to utterly destroy and decimate our lives. And yet, their lies appeal to the fleshly part of us that is still tainted by sin. It appeals to our desire for instant gratification, easy acquisition of fleshly delights. All the enjoyment and minimal to no work, effort, sacrifice, blood, sweat, and tears, to obtain it.
Satan offers to us, and our flesh craves it, the very same thing he offered to Jesus in the wilderness…the easy way out. Worship me and I will give you the desires of your heart. What he does not divulge is the cost. EVERYTHING. Eternal death. Sure, we can satisfy all the fleshly pleasures of this life now. But at the cost of our soul and everything that matters for eternity. In the end, Satan would win. He would drag our souls to hell with him.
But he has already lost, Abba! For you have already claimed many to your name! And nothing can take that away! And yet, he persists, seeking to tempt and entice us into a life of indifference, apathy, and fleshly indulgence. He sends his men to oppose the truth and stand against us. He stands against all who worship you and battles fiercely to oppose you and all who honor you.
This means, Abba, we need to live with a sense of preparedness. We face a battle every single day of our lives upon this earth. Everyday we wake up to an enemy who has already lost the war and he knows it. He is a wounded animal lashing out in anger and pain. His only intent, to cause as much harm and destruction in his last dying breath as possible. The malice, hatred, and ill intent is dark and horrific. Keep this mental picture in our heads at all times! If we truly understand this, when the enticements and lies of that adversary come, may we always understand the intent and desire behind his whispering. When his attack comes in the form of man, may our hearts break with compassion and love for these ones enthralled by his lies and may we do all in our power to rescue them with the truth of your word.
For Abba, this is the truth of the final phrase of this passage! When these adversaries and foes come against us, it is they who will stumble and fall! For the victory is assured. The end is written, and you are already victorious! No matter how much opposition we face, from within, from without, from the devil himself, all opposition to you will stumble and fall. It cannot stand against so mighty and holy a one as you!
But may the end not lull us into careless apathy! May we be ever vigilant, for until the culmination of your divine plan comes to fruition, we face a wounded adversary who will stop at nothing to inflict pain and death. May we stand firm with the hope of victory and live with a sense of preparedness by lingering ever by your side, never straying far but ever deepening our intimacy for you and our fellowship with you. Ground our hearts and minds in truth. May your word be the meditations of our hearts every moment of every day. May our lips ever praise your name and the word of our mouths ever seek your throne! May we live near, as near as possible, to your presence and power. Protect us from all adversaries and foes, both within and without, and keep us by the strength and might of your name.
We love you, O Great God.
Keep us near!
Defeat our foes and bring us home!
2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
Abba,
“When.” Immediately this word stands out. Simple. Small. But informative. Instructive. It speaks of the evildoers assailment as a certain reality; a guaranteed event. Not “if” they assail me. But when. It is an inevitability. We will face opposition. Especially as we stand for you. In fact, the more we stand for you, the greater the opposition will be. For the devil, our flesh, and the world continually stand opposed to you. Evildoers assailment against us is a certainty of this life. It will come.
And when it comes….it comes with the most despicable intent…the destruction of our flesh. How heinous and yet subtle it can be. The adversary and his minions come whispering their deceitful lies promising pleasure, happiness, control, comfort, success, affirmation, and peace. The reality? They offer death. Behind the lie is the desire to “eat up our flesh,” to enslave, to kill, to utterly destroy and decimate our lives. And yet, their lies appeal to the fleshly part of us that is still tainted by sin. It appeals to our desire for instant gratification, easy acquisition of fleshly delights. All the enjoyment and minimal to no work, effort, sacrifice, blood, sweat, and tears, to obtain it.
Satan offers to us, and our flesh craves it, the very same thing he offered to Jesus in the wilderness…the easy way out. Worship me and I will give you the desires of your heart. What he does not divulge is the cost. EVERYTHING. Eternal death. Sure, we can satisfy all the fleshly pleasures of this life now. But at the cost of our soul and everything that matters for eternity. In the end, Satan would win. He would drag our souls to hell with him.
But he has already lost, Abba! For you have already claimed many to your name! And nothing can take that away! And yet, he persists, seeking to tempt and entice us into a life of indifference, apathy, and fleshly indulgence. He sends his men to oppose the truth and stand against us. He stands against all who worship you and battles fiercely to oppose you and all who honor you.
This means, Abba, we need to live with a sense of preparedness. We face a battle every single day of our lives upon this earth. Everyday we wake up to an enemy who has already lost the war and he knows it. He is a wounded animal lashing out in anger and pain. His only intent, to cause as much harm and destruction in his last dying breath as possible. The malice, hatred, and ill intent is dark and horrific. Keep this mental picture in our heads at all times! If we truly understand this, when the enticements and lies of that adversary come, may we always understand the intent and desire behind his whispering. When his attack comes in the form of man, may our hearts break with compassion and love for these ones enthralled by his lies and may we do all in our power to rescue them with the truth of your word.
For Abba, this is the truth of the final phrase of this passage! When these adversaries and foes come against us, it is they who will stumble and fall! For the victory is assured. The end is written, and you are already victorious! No matter how much opposition we face, from within, from without, from the devil himself, all opposition to you will stumble and fall. It cannot stand against so mighty and holy a one as you!
But may the end not lull us into careless apathy! May we be ever vigilant, for until the culmination of your divine plan comes to fruition, we face a wounded adversary who will stop at nothing to inflict pain and death. May we stand firm with the hope of victory and live with a sense of preparedness by lingering ever by your side, never straying far but ever deepening our intimacy for you and our fellowship with you. Ground our hearts and minds in truth. May your word be the meditations of our hearts every moment of every day. May our lips ever praise your name and the word of our mouths ever seek your throne! May we live near, as near as possible, to your presence and power. Protect us from all adversaries and foes, both within and without, and keep us by the strength and might of your name.
We love you, O Great God.
Keep us near!
Defeat our foes and bring us home!
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