Day 18: The Summer of His Face Shining Upon Us- Psalm 18

Day 18 – Join Johnny Enlow for a 67-day walk through Psalms.

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THE BRONZE BOW

Key Verse: “For by thee I have run through a troop and by my God Have I leaped over a wall.” (v.29)

Key Theme: David’s song the day he was delivered from Saul

Key Descriptives of God: Lord, My Strength; My Rock; My Fortress; My Savior; My Shield; The Power that Saves Me; My Place of Safety

Psalm 18, is one of these chapters we could easily take a whole week on as it is 50 verses long and just full of meaty revelation. I had listed nine different verses as possible “key verses” of the Psalm but had to choose one. Even it being 50 verses is a truth all on its own as 50 is the number of Jubilee, of Pentecost (means 50 days), and by extension the number of the Holy Spirit. Essentially the entire chapter is repeated in 2 Samuel 22 and how important do you have to be to have two, word for word, Bible passages. The context of course is huge. The chapter heading tells us that this is the song that David sang on the day he was delivered specifically from King Saul— but also all his enemies. So this is a chapter celebrating LIBERTY AND JUSTICE and God’s hand in it all. This chapter is prophetic for us right now and is to be a rock for us the rest of this year.

WHEN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WON’T STEP ASIDE

In our present-day application, we have David who has already been anointed king by the prophet Samuel but King Saul is still trying to kill him. Think of it as the previous administration not accepting the election’s result. Can we relate? I was shown by the Lord when President Trump was first elected that he had a call to fulfill the acronym of his first name. The Trump part is obvious. A trumpet or the high card on any play. But DONALD stands for David, Obededom, Nehemiah, Abraham Lincoln, Daniel. President Trump has a call associated with all these names. He is to be David as he has to take down big mouth Goliath (“the media-driven swamp”)). He is to be Obededom in that his embracing of God’s priorities brings the presence back. Nehemiah because he is to build the wall in every sense. Abraham Lincoln because he is to be an emancipator of every kind of human trafficking. Daniel because he is in a lion’s den but God is shutting the mouth of the lions. We all identify with all of the assignments in his name as we are living it out and become exposed to the same dangers and challenges that he faces. The relevancy of scripture has never been greater.

ABSOLUTELY DEPENDENT, ABSOLUTELY MIGHTY

What is so awesome about this Psalm is that it juxtaposes two seemingly contradictory realities. David sounds tiny, overwhelmed, and in imminent danger in several verses and he sounds like Superman in others. Verse 4, he mentions “floods of ungodliness” (DEMS presently?) making him afraid. Verse 5, “snares of death confronted me” (COVID?). Verses 16-19 speaks of needing heaven to “rescue” him. “He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong from me.” “They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me.” “He led me to a place of safety.” If you read only those verses David seems small and pitiful and like the school kid being picked on by bullies needing help.

But then David says some things that make you think why was he ever calling for help at all. Verse 29, “I can run through a troop, I can leap over a wall”, (and mind you that word means city wall). Verse 37,38 “I chased my enemies and caught them; I did not stop until they were conquered. I struck them down so they could not get up; they fell beneath my feet.” Verse 41, “They called for help but no one came to their rescue. They even cried to the Lord, but He refused to answer.” Wow, how strong is that? And then, verse 42, “I ground them as fine as dust in the wind, I swept them into the gutter like dirt.” This is a one-man army and wrecking machine (bull in the China shop?). We remember he kills lions and bears by running them down and tearing their jaws, which is the hardest way to kill either animal (but very significant as well). David is the guy that says  “one can put a thousand to flight” and he is talking about himself. The women of Israel have already been singing “Saul has killed his thousands, David his ten thousands” — probably not helping his overall cause. Goliath was a lightweight for him as he killed him easily the very day he first saw him. Is there anybody who should sound less distressed and helpless or in need of a “rescue”?

BY THEE, BY MY GOD: RUNNING THROUGH TROOPS, LEAPING WALLS

What seems like a contradictory reality is actually the key to David’s strength. As you read the whole chapter, you see that David has not one drop of self-confidence or self-assurance outside of God. HE is the absolute source of everything that sustains David— and not in some cursory “tip his cap to the Big Man upstairs.” First of all, I love the way that David describes the Lord rescuing him. “I prayed to my God for help” (v.6). “Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the mountains shook; they quaked because of His anger. Smoke poured from His nostrils; fierce flames leaped from His mouth.” Wow, this is some kind of response that David sees or perceives! Was it actually that or is David just embellishing? Whatever it is, he is not done telling about His Mighty God. “Dark storm clouds were beneath his feet. Mounted on a mighty angelic being (“cherub” in other versions), He flew.” (v.9, 10) “The Lord thundered from heaven.” “His lightning flashed, and they were confused.” (v.13, 14) For a full eight verses (v.7-15) David describes a very present, active, responsive TO HIM God. Every description could lead us on another pursuit of revelation treasure. (“Foundations of the mountains shook”— think 7 Mountains. “His lightning flashed” and remembering the huge bolt of lightning striking the Washington Monument etc.etc.)

Next, it has to be noted how fully David gives God the absolute credit for whatever might he, David might have. “BY THEE” I can run through a whole troop. “BY MY GOD” I can leap over a city wall. (and that is worth digging into as when you can do this it means “gates” and “gatekeepers” no longer can stop you). Look at all the descriptives of God “My Strength” (which was immense), My Rock, Shield, Fortress, Power, Safety, etc. Just look at all the He, You, God references that David makes about the Lord. David is absolutely dependent— and in that he is absolutely mighty. Your neediness can access His mighty-ness and then you can say, “God arms ME with strength” (v.32)

THE SWAMP LAID BARE

I am having to leave so much unaddressed but must comment on verse 15. “Then AT YOUR COMMAND, O Lord, at the blast of your breath, THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were LAID BARE.” Can you tell this is going on today? Exposure, exposure, exposure. Furthermore, the bottom of the sea gets seen when a great tsunami earthquake has taken place and the waves have pulled out to sea momentarily. Many of us have seen the tsunamis in revelation from God.  I believe we have only had the earthquake so far and the tsunami waves portion has not yet happened. Pentecost this year released the earthquake and immediately we saw the riots and so many “bottom of the sea” matters and agendas. Be patient. The waters have gathered and incoming tsunami rescue waves are on the way. Perhaps a little wave of glory has hit us so far in some worship gatherings. But the bigger and deeper the earthquake the longer it takes for the game changer waves to show up.

THE BRONZE BOW

We couldn’t leave this chapter without addressing the bronze bow. “He trains my hands for battle; He strengthens my arm to draw a BRONZE BOW.” Now, the bronze bow has been such a dilemma for Bible translators. There is no evidence of them having existed and supposedly it couldn’t even be made. Some have suggested it refers to a bow from heaven that came down that David used. No human could pull a bronze bow. Whatever it is, I love it. Whether David has just accessed the weapons vault of heaven or somehow become strong enough to pull an actual bronze bow it is a great visual. The only other Biblical reference to a bronze bow is Job 20:24. In that chapter which was part of my prophetic word for 2020 given in early January, it is all about “the deep state” going down. Verse 24, essentially says of the enemy, “though he escapes” from other forms of judgment, he will not escape “the bronze bow”. I really do think it is spiritual weaponry that gets entrusted to us—  as we become extreme worshipers and magnifiers of God. David’s “He trains my hands for battle” may have been more about lifting his hands in worship than what we might think it was. His worship of God is clearly the source of his might. How else can you “train for battle” with a weapon that doesn’t even exist? I believe “the bronze bow” gets released to intercessors and prophets who engage in the rare discipline of seeing and magnifying God, rather than seeing and magnifying the enemy— as if that was somehow key. 50 verses long—  and notice how often David details plans and strategies of the enemy? NONE. The enemy’s plans and plots are always simultaneously frightening—  and laughably irrelevant. Think on that for a moment. Studying the enemy (second heaven dreams and revelation) ALWAYS leads to foreboding. Studying God (third heaven dreams and revelation) ALWAYS leads to the belly-laughing God (Ps.2:4) of the bronze bow. The first is a present plague in the Body of Christ and must be stopped. The more detailed it is, the more dangerous it is. Stop considering it a useful revelation. “Ten spies” are experts on the enemy. Caleb was an expert on God. Saul was an expert on studying Goliath. David was an expert on studying God. Saul shakes in fear for 40 days. David gets the bronze bow. You choose.

 

 

Written by: Johnny Enlow

Featured Image by chris ganser on Unsplash


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The 67 Day Countdown Series is brought to you by Johnny and Elizabeth Enlow, founders of Restore7 ministry, as well as international speakers and best-selling authors. Among Johnny’s books are The Seven Mountain Prophecy, The Seven Mountain Mantle, Rainbow God, The Seven Mountain Renaissance, Becoming A Superhero, and RISE. Elizabeth serves as CEO and penned Rainbow God: The Seven Colors of Love and God in Every Season.

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About the Author

Kingdom Winds Contributors - Johnny and Elizabeth Enlow are social reformers at heart, as well as international speakers and authors of The Seven Mountain Prophecy, The Seven Mountain Mantle, and Rainbow God. As ones focused on the reformation of the 7 primary areas of culture, they are spiritual mentors to many in Media, Arts and Entertainment, Government, Family, Religion, Economy, and Education. Their passion is to awaken our generation to the reality of the God of all of life, Who not only cares for our souls but also has practical solutions to offer through His sons and daughters for every problem that exists in society.