"Too long has my soul had its dwelling with those who hate peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war." Psalms 120:6-7
David's song does not reveal a man who rejoiced in pain. It shows us a man who complained about it. The song did not call hurting people to a new level of endurance against the treachery of man. It introduces us to David's new level of reliance upon the love of The Father.
God, The Father not only heard the cry of David. He answered it. Still, David found himself surrounded by sworn enemies who carried a smoldering hatred for him and everything he believed. Being at peace with God only made David's enemies hate him all the more. It was exhausting and demoralizing. War always is.
Those who hate peace understand the nature of The Conflict. They intend to exert their will over those who don't. The Conflict between good and evil is never about framing the debate. It is about annihilating the truth.
Remember this. Evil isn't interested in coexisting with good. Those who hate peace don't fight to win a political argument or to make new friends. They are intent on winning a war. This war is spiritual, not mythical. and it is very real.
When David found himself surrounded by enemies, he did not run from the fight. He ran to God. The wise warrior always will. This is how spiritual wars are won. They require men and women of God who are not ashamed to call on God for help. They are not trying to convince God to get on their side. They are already convicted of their need to get on God's side. This is where the battle is won.
Recently, Sen. Ted Cruz was quoted accurately by the press and then chastised by them for what he said. As my friend, Cong. Bob McEwen says, "This only happens,..EVERY TIME."
The Senator called for his volunteers assisting him with his Presidential campaign to, "put on the full armor of God." (Ephesians 6:11)
The Senator was quoting a passage of Scripture that outlines The Conflict that rages in this world. The fact that his statement alarmed the media elite says more about their allegiance than their ignorance. They were threatened by these words for good reason. Although the battle is not against flesh and blood, it is against an ancient enemy. Many in the mainstream media serve as hand-puppets of an evil power they do not understand. They may not believe in it, but they represent it, and they serve it nonetheless.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12
The Senator is right. There is armor for The Conflict and the enemy fears it. That is why the enemy will go to great lengths to try to intimidate you into setting it aside. The enemy marginalizes the armor, not by attacking it, but by ridiculing it.
Late night talk show hosts, and political pundits are masters at using this technique. It is not new, just effective. It started when God's Word was first questioned by the Bible's earliest recorded voice of evil. "Yea, hath God said?" Translation: You really believe this stuff?
Don't be deceived. Be informed, forewarned and armed. Though the enemy hates it, you need this armor. The armor is no laughing matter. Don't be shamed into setting it aside, or removing it from the public square. It is your only hope.
The armor listed is primarily defensive, but there is one offensive weapon in the arsenal. It is "the sword of The Spirit which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17)
This may explain why the Word of God is so offensive. It is designed to defend and to offend. Know wonder the enemy hates it and wants it to be removed from The Conflict.
The relentless efforts made in this nation to expunge the Word of God from the public square have resulted in its removal from history books, government buildings, schools, and in some cases even the pulpits of America. This is not a conspiracy hatched by a brigade wearing tin foil hats. It is a battle strategy of a relentless enemy seeking to steal, and destroy all that God values.
In Psalms 120 David cries out for peace. Most people do. When he tried to make peace with his enemies they saw it as a sign of weakness in David, not as a sign of strength. His enemies only turned up the heat on their hatred, and intensified their attack on him. Learn from this. Make peace with God, not the enemy.
Psalms 120 is the first of 15 Psalms of Ascents once sung along the way by the people of Israel, as they made their way up to The Temple Mount to worship God. It begins with David's cry for help, and God's immediate response to his pain. It ends with David at peace with God, but still at war with his enemies. Don't let that discourage you. Though a battle may rage around you, be at peace with God.
NOTE TO SELF: The closer you draw to God, the more visible you become. God's doesn't call you to hide in the tall grass in fear of the enemy. He calls you to the battle line to fight the enemy. Make no mistake about it. The battle is the Lord's, not yours, but prayer calls you to His side. Prayer provides you with the courage to stand in the armor of God while the whole world is trying to get you to lay it aside. Praying in the name of Jesus strikes fear in the heart of the enemy camp, and releases God's peace in your heart in the midst of the war.
TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!