Psalm 27:6

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

Abba,

There stands a little hill not too distant from me in Gettysburg called “Little Round Top.”  I can picture in my mind standing on top of that hill looking down.  The side of the hill is marked with boulders and stones.  The hill, while not steep per say, or long, became a key and critical point in the battle of Gettysburg.  Whoever captured and held that hill would gain a distinct advantage in the American Civil War.  In the end, the Union army won the hill and the Confederate army was set on a long decline to losing the war. 

This, Abba, is what I picture conjured in my mind upon reading these words…

“And now my head show be lifted up above my enemies all around me…”

To be lifted up above ones enemies pictures and denotes a place of strength, dominance, victory, even superiority.  To be lifted up denotes a place of advantage.  The defending army on top of the hill is fighting from a place of greater advantage and strength.  The army coming up the hill seeking to take it is at far greater risk and danger. 

An army is encamped around David.  To be lifted up above his enemies all around is a picture of strength, of advantage, even of cessation of war, of victory.  It echo’s that strain in verse 5 of being lifted up and set upon a rock, in a place of safety, refuge; the stronghold that was and continues to be You, O Great God!

Oh, My King, my great king!  What have I to fear when the defeat of the enemy is assured?  What have I to resent or hate?  Shouldn’t I rather pity my enemy?  His doom is sure.  His demise is secure.  For him, there is no escape.  For my human foes, while breath still exits in their lungs, ought not I be moved with pity and compassion to warn them of the coming destruction and show them the way to salvation?  What use is hate and resentment?  What good will it accomplish when the outcome of the war, and the eternal doom for unrepentance, is assured?  What good will it do when the grace of Jesus washes over those who repent and eradicates for all time the guilt and shame of sin?  What good will hate and resentment for our enemies do?

This assured victory over my enemies grants new light to the circumstances of my life.  It is because of sin and my adversary that pain, sorrow, disappointment, and loss exist.  It is because the adversary is still loose and sin has not yet been eradicated that our disappointment, resentment, anger, and bitterness persist.  But the end is sure.  Our victory is done; it is sealed.  Does that not give strength to endure and hope to continue?  Does that not give grace to forgive, joy to be content, and peace to rest in a world of conflict?  Does this not produce the joy and praise expressed in this verse? 

IT DOES!

Yes, Abba, IT DOES! 


May the praise of my life convey the truth that I am resting on the victory that you are for me!