“Only by Your power can we push back
our enemies; only in Your Name can we trample
our foes.”—Psalm 44:5, New Living Translation
The Sons of Korah who penned several of the Psalms weren’t
just random people in history to be brushed aside. First, they were in King David’s
inner circle of servants of the Lord: musicians, songwriters, and writers, and
with a prophetic gifting. We can relate to them in the sense that, in this
Great Adventure we’re on, there’s nothing better than to be so intimate with
the King that all that you are and do is driven for His pleasure and yours (but
mostly, His). But we can also relate to the Korah guys in another way: They
were warriors, familiar with battles of good vs. evil in all of its
manifestations, goodness vs. injustice, and of ones (a lot, in fact) that
simply didn’t seem fair or make any sense.
Even if you’re in a good place this morning, and your “Life
is Good” t-shirt feels especially comfortable, the Sons of Korah in Psalm 44 offer some great nuggets on dealing
positively with the battles of life smorgasbord the next time they show up.
Because even though no one signs up for them, as Jesus reminds us, we all get
them simply because broken things, broken systems, and broken people have
always been the end result of Eden gone bad.
There is much good news flowing from the Korah boys—things we know, perhaps, but
tend to forget in the heat of the moment….
- It’s good to remember that in the battles of life, while it is true we are to put on the spiritual armor that the Lord has provided us, and to stand our ground, we can rest assured that God's motive is always love and never meanness; the battle and outcome is always His on our behalf because of His great heart toward us. (“They [those who have gone before us] did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was Your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from Your face that helped them, for You loved them.” —vs. 3)
- It’s good to remember that while battles may make us more vulnerable when we are tired, we shouldn't be shocked when they show up while “Life is Good,” and we feel especially tight with God. (“All this has happened though we have not forgotten You. We have not violated your covenant.”—vs. 17). Life happens to all, but He is in it all for the good, even when He seems nowhere to be found: "He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you."
- It’s good to remember that God is not shocked with our “Where are You?!” cries. (“Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever. Why do you look the other way?”—vs. 23-24). God not only can handle it, He may even delight in it in a sense because it is a sign of relationship, of “get real” communion. He longs for that intimate fellowship with us more than anything, just as He has since Adam walked in the garden. Seek Him—He cares for you, even in the midst of this whatever.
- It’s good to remember that in our “Where are You?!” to stir up faith-building truths of His faithfulness at all other times in your life, of promises always kept, of a Love that will never, ever quit. (“Rise up! Help us! Ransom us because of Your unfailing love.”—vs. 26)
It’s especially good to remember the best news
of all: “In the world, you have tribulation and trials and distress and
frustration; but be of good cheer—take courage; be confident, certain,
undaunted! For I have overcome the world. I have deprived it of power to harm
you and have conquered it for you.”—John 16:33, Amplified Classic
“Believing in the Gospel is not a passive, one-time
decision; it is an active, continual fight for faith in what God says is noble,
true, and good. We fight to believe that Jesus is more precious, satisfying,
and thrilling than anything else this world has to offer. This is faith in the
Gospel: the grand announcement that Jesus has defeated sin, death, and evil
through His own death and resurrection, and is making all things new — even us.” — Jonathan
Dodson, “Gospel-centered Discipleship”
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