STILL STANDING
Every victory we win over the flesh and the devil will soon be followed by an even greater temptation and attack. Satan simply will not give up in his war against us. If we defeat him once, he’ll redouble his forces and come right back at us. And suddenly we’re in a spiritual war we thought we’d already won.
Scripture tells us, “The Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him” (2 Samuel 10:17). Suddenly, David was facing the same old enemy—one he thought he had defeated soundly. It is important to note that David was not living in sin at this time. He was a godly man who walked in the fear of the Lord. Yet David was also human—and he must have been awfully confused about what was happening. Why would God allow this enemy to come against him again?
Have you stood in David’s shoes? Have you prayed, “Lord, all I want is to please you—to obey your Word and do what is right. You know that I fast, pray and love your Word. I don’t ever want to grieve you. So why am I being tempted so severely? Why am I facing this same battle with an old enemy?”
“And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people
In the midst of his confusion and soul-searching, David remembered the promise God had made with him. So while the devil was throwing every weapon in hell at David, the Lord was showing him that even before he entered battle he would emerge a victor. David got his eyes off the oncoming enemy. Instead he basked in the revelation of God’s lovingkindness. This is what God intends for every one of his children when the enemy comes on them like a flood. The Lord “prevents” them with his love. In other words, he comes to them saying, “I promise you are going to come out of this standing. You may be wounded—but that doesn’t matter. I have already made you victorious.”