God Promises a Loving Strength

Psalms 144:1-2 Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. 2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
 
DOES God’s love mix with God’s strength? Of course it does. How could it be possible for a weak, ineffective “god” to love his chosen people? How could his chosen people love God if he succumbed to opposition and even to our every desire?
   David celebrates God’s strength and his love because he has seen the benefits of both. When David had become the king of all Israel, he understood God’s magnificent love had empowered him to military victory. God’s strong love had remained a fortress against David’s sins. And God’s love had subdued political rivals..
   The LORD, the Rock, kept David safe to train his hands for war and his fingers for battle. God is a good commander who prepares his troops for battle. David needed this physically. And David needed this spiritually. The enormous challenges that confronted David would cause many men to call, “I surrender!” and return to the sheepfold. But David knew he reigned because, “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.” (2 Samuel 22:33)
   Our Christian life requires the same conviction, praise and worship to God the Father, Son and Spirit. Jesus, fully God and fully man, has displayed the depth of the Father’s strong love for you through the tortuous cross of his salvation. In the fullness of his glory Jesus reveals that he is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:26). And he reigns over all: Ephesians 1:22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.
   Thiis is the Holy Trinity’s great love work that allows you to confess Jesus is my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues people under me.
   How is it Jesus subdues people under you? This may seem a prideful statement as if we have control and authority over others. But think about your Christian life. Are there people in your life who look to you as a person of principle? Does anyone ask you a question about the Bible? Do unbelieves allow you to live in peace with your faith, so you can practice it as you desire?
   In that sense, the Spirit has subdued others. He has brought a peace between you and non-Christians. As you faithfully pursue God’s love, he will suppress conflict against your faith. When you speak of God, some will listen. And some will even respond to want to know more.
   It’s true that those who live under strong persecution for their faith do not know this in the world. Still, there are many stories of the ways God will subdue the persecutors and bring them to faith through a Christian’s strong testimony. Throughout the world each day, thousands of unbelievers come under Jesus’ authority as the Spirit calls them through loving Christians’ testimonies.
   David rejoiced in God’s strong love. May we do so each day.