“When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.” (Psalm 27:2, ESV)
I love studying World War II. I’m intrigued by the rise of evil into one of the largest modern conflicts, with over 50 nations involved, fighting on land, in the air, and at sea. Fortunately, I can read about it knowing how the story ends: Good triumphs over evil!
It’s the good that shows up in the bleakest, most hopeless, terrifying situations that captivates me. It’s the kind of narrative that can’t explain escape or survival by any other means than Divine intervention.
I recently watched a documentary about the mysteries of the Second World War. These mysteries include bad decisions made by German leaders and war strategies that make no sense. These stories leave us wondering: “What were the Germans thinking?”
In our verse today, David says people bent on evil, hatred, and destruction will stumble and fall. The Old Testament gives many accounts of Israel’s enemies falling at the hands of the LORD. Severely outnumbered and inferior in power, the Israelites faced certain defeat. But trumpets, ram’s horns, shouting, broken jars, earthquakes, torrential rains, and hailstorms became weapons in the hands of a righteous God.
God doesn’t just show up for us when large numbers of people are involved—he shows up for even one person who loves Him. Listen to God’s words to Zerubbabel through the prophet Zechariah:
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6, NIV).
God appointed Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Zerubbabel wanted to fulfill this task, but he faced severe political opposition and limited resources. God encouraged him, reminding him that success depended not on anyone or anything but on God. Only God could—and would—make it happen.
David knew long before Psalm 27 that victory belongs to the LORD. Before the battle began, he yelled to Goliath, the Philistine giant:
“That all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.” (1 Samuel 17:47).
David recognized the victory was God’s, not his.
Armies fail, enemies stumble, giants fall, and even very intelligent people make totally illogical decisions, for “when God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31, ESV)
What about you? When things get tough, do you run? Do you fight? Do you pause to ask God for help? The world may tell you to look within, to manifest your own strength, or to rely on your inner light, but Scripture makes it clear that deliverance comes from God alone.
Today, if you still aren’t sure that God can deliver you from your fears, anxieties, and worries, or from the situations you are facing, open your Bible and read the stories of what God did and does for His people. The God who delivered the Israelites on multiple occasions is the same God who can deliver you today.
For the full accounts of God’s victories, see: Joshua 6, 10; Judges 4-5, 7; 1 Samuel 14; and 2 Kings 19.
Closing Prayer: Lord, there is no situation that is greater than You: no enemy, no adversary, no foe. Not even an army can stand against us when You are for us. You are a mighty God who saves. Teach us to trust You and remind us daily who we are in light of who You are.
