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Analysis | Arms too short to box with God: Psalm 23 KO's His enemies

Writer's picture: Reginald SpannReginald Spann

A woman shadow boxing



The evil enemies of God have arms that are too short to box with Him as He champions His people.


"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear." (Isaiah 59:1)


He hovers over the baneful like a butterfly, stings Beelzebub like a bee. That is why I thank the Lord for going forth to fight for you and me. He's the Lion of Lightning, Theo of Thunder. Your arms too short to box with God who casts all heinousness asunder.


"The LORD your God, who goes before you, will fight for you, just as you saw Him do for you in Egypt." (Deuteronomy 1:30)


He crowned us with the 23rd Psalm so fling it like a spiritual spear, a righteous right hook, a knockout punch, a lethal weapon against diabolical spirits which use fear as a weapon.


The prodigious Psalm reminds demons that they must fight the Lord before they fight His sheep. The metaphorical epiphany of God Almighty as our defender was fully understood by King David who wrote it.


To pen a poem that still perfectly describes the relationship between Jesus the Good Shepherd and His sheep, it took the God-inspired brilliance of a former shepherd boy anointed warrior king who with a smooth stone killed a giant of an enemy.


Not only one of the Holy Bible's most messianic, majestic and poetic six verses, it is also effective in casting down our fearful imaginations. It clips the proverbial spiritual chin of every effective enemy that walks in the flesh and wars against our spirit: every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.


Here it is:


1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.


Verse one divulges Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior as our personal protector against predatory persons. We shall not want for food, shelter, clothing or safeguarding.


God's people rest peacefully in prolific prairies confident of His care and absolved from all anxieties while we think of Him. In the freshness of the noonday's meadow not smitten we enjoy the breeze's coolness alongside calming waters.


He brings forth our fruit in due season. Our leaves shall not wither and whatsoever we do according to His will shall prosper in righteousness. As the troubled waters of life roll, the Lord speaks and peace be still.


When we walk in the Spirit He leads us like squires steer sheep. Whatever rocky paths, hills or mountains we are climbing or have overcome He provided the footprints in harmony with His deterrent nature.


Psalm 23 harmonizes with Psalm 121:


1 (A Song of degrees.) I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.


He keeps our feet from falling to the left or to the right so we enter peacefully through the straight gate to the place prepared for us.


Be still, be quiet so that when God speaks to us via the inaudible Holy Spirit we may discern His voice and obey it by sprinting at Him like sheep to their master.

The Redeemer anointed our heads with oil as a repellent against the viper's venom.


The Lord showed His tender mercy via the cross of crucifixion where He laid down His life for whosoever believes in Him that we should not perish but have everlasting life.


Like an obedient lamb going to the slaughter of sacrifice He thereby dripped blood and graciously remissioned our sins: the Gospel message embodied by the 23rd Psalm's penultimate verse.


"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."


Long live the Gospel of Jesus Christ!


"But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." (Acts 5:39)

_______________________


Reginald Spann is the Publisher and Senior Content Editor of both The Christian Commander and Seven Angels Sentinel. He has been writing and editing professionally for over 20 years and is the author of the book: The Healing of a Nation.


A graduate of the University of Missouri - St. Louis' school of psychology (BA) with a minor in communications, he is a freelance journalist who is available for editing and writing about a variety of content including sports, religion, politics, entertainment and pop culture.


You may contact him through our Partnership page at christiancommander.com.




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wyoung1949
Mar 13, 2024
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Amen! Nice article.

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