Powered by God

Guest speaker Rev. Jeff Walsh

What we do with success tells a lot about who we are. As a follower/disciple of Jesus Christ our deepest goal in life should be to reflect Him in our character, to be shaped by God’s Holy Spirit living within us into the image of Christ. There are a lot of things that reveal Christ’s life in us (or the lack thereof). Success/victory is one them.

“Circumstances do not make a man, they reveal him.”  – Wayne W. Dyer

“The real test of greatness is not whether a man possesses fame or power, but how he employs them.” – David Vaughn

Proverbs 27:21 (NLT): “Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised.”

Did you ever feel really good about accomplishing something? Success / victory comes in lots of different forms. It might be…

• …building something
• …seeing a project completed
• …seeing people come to faith in Christ
• …completing physical therapy after surgery

With whatever victories / successes we experience in life, God’s word helps us celebrate them in ways that reflect the glory of God and the life of Christ Jesus our Lord within us. God’s word gives us the lenses to view victories and successes properly. Psalm 18 is written for that purpose.

Point: Our victories are powered by God himself.

David attributed his glorious military victories to God.

1. This psalm is a thanksgiving psalm. Designed to lead God’s people in giving thanks to God for victory.
2. To do this David uses his incredible experiences of victories in battle as his reference point.
3. The title of Psalm 18 is taken from 2 Samuel 22:1
4. 2 Samuel 8 gives us some examples of David’s God-enabled victories over the enemies of Israel.
5. David’s career as King of Israel was defined by escaping from enemies and subduing them.
6. David was at the height of his power as king when he wrote this psalm.
7. Probably none of us have led thousands of soldiers in victorious battles like David, but the intent of this psalm is that we would follow David’s pattern of attributing our victories to God and lavishing God with thanksgiving.

Key principles to notice that will help us internalize the truth that God powers our victories:

Our victories / successes derive from God’s character and his action.

Character-wise– God is perfect and flawless in power. He is always able to achieve everything he wants to do. And that perfection of power / ability is mirrored in what he produces in you and me.

1. 30: “This God – his way is perfect (tamim)…”
2. 32: “…the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless (tamim).
3. Point: Though we are not perfect like God, as followers of Christ, we become little displays of his perfection.

God’s action– Our victories / successes are possible only because God stoops down to make us great.

1. 35: “…your gentleness made me great.” – The word translated “gentleness” (ESV) has the same root meaning in Hebrew as the word that is often translated “humility” or “meekness” or “condescension.”

This psalm has another layer to it.

When we read Psalm 18 in light of the whole witness of Scripture, especially the NT, we see this psalm finds its fulfillment in Christ Jesus.

This psalm of thanksgiving, with all its descriptions of God’s mighty acts and the way he enabled David to be victorious in battles, ultimately describes Christ himself and the ultimate victory he has won over sin and death, and the ultimate victory that will be realized when he returns.

1. John Calvin: Much in this psalm agrees “better with Christ” than with David.
2. In Romans 15:9 Paul quoted from v.49 to reinforce the idea that Christ’s victory is for non-Jewish people as well as Jewish.
3. As we thank God for our successes and victories, let it be a reminder that we live in the victory of Christ. Any success or victory (no matter how tiny it may seem) can be a pointer to the great victory God has won for us in Christ.

Conclusion

If we live outside the truth of this psalm, our successes get stained with our own pride and self-centeredness. So in the pattern of Psalm 18, give thanks to God for your victories:

• Give thanks to him for your skills and abilities.
• Give thanks to him for your achievements.
• Give thanks to him for the victories he’s given you over life’s difficult battles.
• Give thanks to him always for the victory he’s given in Jesus.

When we lived in the Philippines I remember on one occasion attending a Vacation Bible School at one of the churches. The teacher told the children something very simple but very profound. She said, “Always do your very best for the glory of the Lord.” Successes and achievements are great, but as Christians we recognize their purpose is to bring glory to our God.

Discussion Starters

1. What is one victory or accomplishment you’ve had that means a lot to you? Why?
2. What were some of the victories David experienced? (eg. 1 Sam. 17; 2 Sam. 8)
3. What was David’s response to victory? (eg. 1 Sam. 17:45-47; 2 Sam. 22)
4. How can we apply this message in our own lives? What are some ways we can give God credit for our successes?