“It was a great game but really, I’m terrible at games. My brain just works too slowly. I don’t retain facts very well and I’m hopeless at quick recall. But I’m not a solo-player. The other team would have slaughtered us, had Sam not been on our side. He’s amazing. We had the best! He’s a walking encyclopedia and faster than Google Search or Alexa or Siri. As soon as Sam joined our side, I knew the other team didn’t stand a chance.”
Spiritually speaking, have you ever been overwhelmed by your own weakness when it comes to the strength of the enemy? Or, more accurately – enemies (plural)? Satan isn’t your only enemy this summer. He may not even be your worst enemy. Perhaps he is the strongest and the darkest and most experienced. And yes, there is every reason why we should run as fast as our legs can carry us in the opposite direction. But our other two enemies – the world around us and our flesh within us are sinisterly devious and connivingly treacherous as well. Don’t be fooled. They’re not ‘nicer’ and they are no less evil or sinister. There are two realities: 1) all three are deadly foes and 2) on our own, they’ll beat us every time.
The nation of Israel, on its own, was so vulnerable. It was prey to hostile nations on the outside, as well as forces of evil within. Enemies could gang up on the little nation and crush it. At some point one of their leaders – King David, composed a great little song of praise that went like this:
A Song of Ascents. Of David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side— let Israel now say— if it had not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters. Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124:1-8
Read the first few phrases of the Psalm again. Doesn’t it seem like David started to sing the words himself and then he paused and said: ‘C’mon, all you Israelis, let’s all sing it: one, two, three…here we go:
… if it had not been the LORD who was on our side…
Dear child of God, are you feeling swamped or overwhelmed by some threat that’s looming on your horizon or has landed on your lap today unexpectedly? Of all the other supports and help you may think you have on your team – none can be compared to the Lord who is on your side. It’s not a smart-Sam or a fast-Fred or a muscled-Mike you have on your team – it is the Lord Himself, who made and sustains heaven and earth.
What ever ‘other’ resources you may have on your team and regardless of any little successes you think you’ve achieved in the past, focus on the LORD today. Only through the Lord will you experience victory. Who’s on your team? You have the best on your side – and it’s not Sam!
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ
Peter Ramsay
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