The passage today, for instance, is one such text that refers to Jesus Christ and His future victory over His enemies.
The Psalmist looked forward to the coming of Jesus Christ and prophesied about the defeat of the enemy, the deliverance from, and dominion over the enemy. The climax of his prayer-prophecy concerns Christ’s victory on the cross and after the cross, for the Church.
Referring to the victory of Christ after the cross, the Psalmist said, “He would not remain in the depths of the earth but rise again and “increase (in) greatness.” He would establish His kingdom and reign in our hearts. Righteousness will flourish and He will grant the righteous “abundance of peace.” “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” The name of Jesus, by which we have salvation, victory, dominion and all the blessings that He purchased for us at Calvary, ‘shall endure forever… and men shall be blessed in him.’
Before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, He had granted deliverance to the people of old. Hence, the Psalmist had confidence to pray against his enemies because he knew that God would grant him victory. “Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.”
We must not pray for God to destroy, judge and send our enemies to hell. If we are called to fulfil a ministry like David, it is legitimate to pray that God should not allow the enemy to hinder us from doing His will and accomplishing our ministry. Knowing that God’s children cannot spend all their lives under the burden of oppression of an enemy, David prayed thus: “Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion that desires my hurt.” And God delivered him.
God delivers His children for a purpose. He delivered David because He needed a king in Israel to raise the nation to receive Abraham’s blessings. He needed someone at the forefront, who would be a spiritual and secular leader. He also had interest in the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage. Had they remained and become assimilated in Egypt, His covenant with Abraham would not have been fulfilled.
If the deliverance did not happen, God would be perceived as being unfaithful. So, God chooses or appoints us to lead, preach or do any other assignment for His kingdom because He needs us and we need Him. Since the Lord has a vested interest in us, He will not abandon us in times of challenges and problems; He will “fight for (us), and (we) shall hold (our) peace.” If God delivered the Psalmist and other saints of old before the cross, He will be faithful to deliver us today as well.
• Further reading (King James Version): Psalms 69: 4, 9, 21, 26; 70: 4; 71: 20, 21; 72:7, 8; Psalms 69:14; 70:1, 2; 71:9; 18: 48-50; Exodus 14:14, 24, 25; Joshua 21:44, 45; Psalm 32: 6, 7.
