Scripture: Psalm 59

I. The king wins because he is strong.

A. At first, it appears like King David’s enemies are stronger than he is. Verse 3 says that “fierce men stir up strife against me.” The word fierce in this verse literally means strong or mighty. David says his enemies are like dogs (vs. 6-7). These are wild dogs that run in packs and look for prey. Saul had an army that was chasing David like a pack of wild dogs. But God is the God of armies (vs. 5), the one who has all armies, heavenly and earthly, at his disposal. The God of Hosts is totally unimpressed by your enemies. He mocks them. And He will help you win.

B. In vs. 9 David refers to God as my strength. See also vs. 16-17. God strengthened David for this battle with Saul’s army, and as a result David was going to win. King Jesus lived a similar life to the life of King David. Mark 3:2: “And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him.” Jesus wasn’t afraid of His enemies. Why not? John 5:26: “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.” Jesus says, “You can’t kill me. You can’t win. I am the source of life.”

II. The king wins because of God’s steadfast love.

A. David prays in vs. 10, “My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.” God loves David so God will keep all His promises to David and save his life. God’s love is steadfast. It’s always there. So David prays in vs. 13 that the defeat of the king’s enemies would be clear, public and unambiguous. The public needs to see according to vs. 13 that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. God’s love will lead to victory for the king and his people.

B. The dogs come out at night to attack David (vs. 14). But David would still be alive in the morning. And when he woke up, David would be singing loud songs of praises (vs. 17). David would sing of victory because of the God who shows him steadfast love. Here’s what Jesus did in Colossians 2:14-15: “canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”