“There brake He the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.” (Psalms 76:3)
This psalm is believed to be have been written by a descendant of Asaph who in David’s reign was the music leader of that time. The overall theme is the triumph of God in Jerusalem.
And it was in Jerusalem where God had His greatest triumph. Not the religious leaders who rejoiced in crucifying Jesus, not the Romans, not the Israelites, not spiritual darkness nor satan and not even His own disciples knew that at the cross was the victory of God over all. It was God’s greatest triumph. It was God reaching from heaven to embrace man. It was God’s wisdom, using the basest thing to bring glory to Himself.
When Jesus uttered the words, “It is finished” (John 19:30) all the weapons of warfare were broken, the arrow of the bow, the shield and the sword. The battle was over. The veil that separated man from God was ripped from the top to the bottom. “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;” (Matthew 27:51) No longer is an intermediary needed to approach God. No priest is needed. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
God made a way for man to be liberated from the bondage of sin and darkness. The wrath of God for our sin was poured out on the sacrificial Lamb of God. The shed Blood of the Lamb is available for the cleansing and purifying from sin. God’s Love has been poured out.
Now here we are. We are given a choice because love is not love if it’s forced or demanded. Love has to be freely given. And the Father above has given us that choice. Those who have chosen to love Him freely say, “We love Him, because He first loved us.” (1John 4:19) We love Him because He loved us with a love unknown and foreign to us that “...while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) While we were His enemies, haters, full of envy and strife, He delivered us.
This deliverance is freely given by His merciful and great love. It’s a gift, undeserved and unearned. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) It’s a gift received by many and rejected by many also. How foolish to reject life for death, deliverance for bondage, light for darkness, strife for peace, filthiness for purity and depravity for holiness. How can I be so harsh for those suffering death in their spirits, souls and bodies? How can I condemn those who suffer strife, filthiness and depravity? I can because I was there. I know how miserable life is in our fallen state. Sin is enjoyed but for a fleeting moment. There is no joy but in that moment. It’s an empty joy, temporary and destructive. There is no peace in sin.
But the Lord offers peace that is beyond our understanding in the harshest situation or circumstance that life throws our way. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7) We can trust God that in the impossible He is near. “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37) There is a hope with the Lord that is not available in the kingdom of sin and darkness. And because of that costly gift, we can trust God.
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