“Through God we shall do valiantly: for  he it is that shall tread down our enemies” (Psalm 60:12; 108:13).

INTRODUCTION:

Texts:  “O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.  Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.  Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.  Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.  Selah.  That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.  God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.  Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver; Moab is my wash pot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.  Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?  Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?  Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.  Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies” (Psalm 60:1-12). “Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.” (Psalm 108:13).

The question of the hour is:  Can a “valiant man” be found in you?

DISCUSSION:

I. DEFINITION… “VALIANTLY.”
 A. Hebrew “chayil”; force; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength; the same word is used for
  “virtuous” woman in Proverbs 31:10 (Strong’s Concordance/Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek).
 B. To be of worth; to be strong; possessing or acting with bravery or boldness; courageous; 
  marked by, exhibiting, or carried out with courage or determination; heroic; (Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary).

II. READ PSALM 60:1-12.
 
 A. At contrast is the help of man and the help of God.  There are battles that can only be won 
  if God is our commander.
 B. When God’s people are in trouble, they turn to Him for deliverance.  The warrior is not 
  easily moved by threats.  Why?  God is his shield, his refuge, and his deliverer.

III. WE SHALL DO VALIANTLY BECAUSE--
 
 A. The arm of God is stronger than the arm of man.
  1. He threw down the armies of Pharaoh (Exodus 14:1-31).
  2. He drove out seven nations from Canaan (Deuteronomy 7:1-11).
  3. He fought for David and crushed the Philistine giant (I Samuel 17:1-58).
 B. The power of God is greater than the power of Satan.
  1. He is omnipotent, all powerful--Satan is not (Genesis 1:1-31; 17:1).
  2. He is omniscient, all wise, all knowing--Satan is not 
   (Romans 11:33-36; Hebrews 4:13).
  3. He is omnipresent, all places at all times--Satan is not (Proverbs 15:3).
 C. The peace of God is needed more than the love of sin.
  1. Peace from worry (Philippians 4:6-8).
  2. Peace from fear (Psalm 27:1-14).
  3. Peace from the world (Isaiah 57:21; John 16:33).
 D. The love of God is needed more than the love of sin.
  1. He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:31,32).
  2. He gave all to redeem man from the bondage of sin (Romans 5:6-8).
  3. He desires that man will follow after righteousness (II Corinthians 6:17,18).

IV. APPLICATION.
 
 A. The valiant man is one who acknowledges the holiness and purity of God (Habakkuk 1:13).
 B. The valiant man is one who leans on God when in distress (Psalm 23:1-6).
 C. The valiant man is one who is prayerful and confident in his prayers (Hebrews 4:16).
 D. The valiant man is one who wears the armour provided by God (Ephesians 6:10-18).

CONCLUSION:
  
King David found himself face to face with his enemies many times over the course of his life.  After all, David was a warrior.  He was refused permission to build the temple because he had shed much blood as a warrior.  From the very beginning as a shepherd he faced a bear and a lion to protect his sheep.  David was a “good” shepherd, and that’s what good shepherds do (John 10:11-14).

Perhaps the greatest battle that David ever fought was against the great Goliath, standing nearly ten feet tall.  The giant had held Israel in check for forty days, going out morning and evening, with threats and ridicule.  David knew there was a “cause,” and that God would deliver him from the enemy of his people.  Armed with a sling, a few stones, and the attitude and posture of a valiant man, David slew the giant.  David proved to the enemy that there was a God in Israel.  He gave full credit for the victory to God.

Both Psalm 60 and 108 end with identical statements.  The affirmation is, “we shall do valiantly.”  The statement is qualified by “through God.”  Yes, it is God who makes all our victories possible.  When a man is taught this basic truth, and continues to deny it, then he is a fool, and proud, knowing nothing at all.   

“Through God” is the battle cry, banner, and motto of the righteous and the victorious.  This idea is expressed throughout the Psalms.  Notice the following:

“Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God.  Selah.  But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory and the lifter up of mine head” (Psalm 3:2,3).

“Shew thy marvelous loving kindness, O thou that sayest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them” (Psalm 17:7).

“He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.  They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay” (Psalm 18:17,18).

“It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.  He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man” (Psalm 18:47,48).

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7).

“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” (Psalm 118:6).

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” (Psalm 118:8).

The saints of old knew they were limited in what they could do alone.  But with God on their side, they knew the enemy was at a disadvantage.
What about saints today?  What do we have for strength, comfort and deliverance?  Satan and all the works of unrighteousness are still around to destroy us.  Though our enemies generally do not carry swords and spears, they are no less our enemies.  Enemies today can operate just as effectively through the pen and the tongue to oppose the saints of
 God. We, too, must lean on God and His word for courage and deliverance.  We cannot do it alone.

Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, faced all types of opposition to the spreading of the gospel.  Read II Corinthians 11 and 12 with this thought in mind.  Paul recognized his own limitations and weaknesses in carrying out an overwhelming task.  The key to Paul's success and to the saints' success today can be summed up in what he wrote to the church at Philippi:  "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).

We have noticed what valiant men faced of old, and how we can walk valiantly today.  We shall indeed do valiantly if we keep the commandments of God.  Are you a valiant man today?  Have you obeyed the gospel of Christ?  Do it today while you have time!