The best is yet to come

Psalm 118:5-7

When I was a child I was very thin and so I was quite often threatened by the stronger children.  Sometimes I was scared when I walked home.  However, after a while, I found a friend who was strong and respected.  When I walked with him, I was safe.

These verses tell us, twice, “The Lord is on my side” (v6-7).  This is the Lord of the universe.  This is the Lord who is Almighty.  This is the Lord who sent His Son to save you – the Son who defeated sin and death and set you free (v5).  This is the Lord who dwells in you by His Spirit.  HE is on your side.

So, “I will not fear” (v6).  What can we fear when the Lord is on our side?  Not even the worst that people can attack us with (v6 – “what can man do to me?”).

And more – “The Lord is on my side as my helper” (v7).  He doesn’t just stand with you but He helps you.  He protects you.  He gives you strength.  He gives you peace.  He gives you comfort.

So, “I will look in triumph on those who hate me” (v7).  David had physical enemies who tried to kill him.  We have that sometimes, but behind every physical enemy is the enemy of souls (“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities… against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12).

The Lord is our helper against the enemy of our souls, the devil.  The Lord is our helper against sickness, against depression and discouragement, against fear.  Even when we face “the last enemy” of death (1 Corinthians 15:26), the Lord is our helper: He will either deliver us from death (Psalm 118:17) because our time on earth is not finished, or He will deliver us through death to be with Christ, which is far better (Philippians 1:23).

Whatever “attacks” us, the Lord is our helper.  Even if the devil were to turn up with all the demons of hell, he could not win, because, “The Lord is on my side as my helper.”