If it had not been the Lord who was on our side... The wonderful thing that comes out in this Psalm is that, if we
are on the Lord's side, He is on our side. Or, as Romans 8 puts it, "If God be for
us, who can be against us." Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. What blessed
assurance! What security!
Now David did not always feel like this. There were times when he felt like giving up, or when he questioned
whether God was with him. He may have wondered why the Lord was allowing such circumstances. That may
happen to you too. However, David is now in a position to look back and review his situation. He can see those
places where the going was tough, but now, having gone through the experience, he can see the purpose of it
and how the Lord was there all the time. He can see that prayers were answered. How foolish to have worried!
The Psalm also reveals who it is that stands against us. As a Christian you are not only loved but you are also
hated. The world hates you: "...the world has hated them, because they are not of
the world, even as I am not of the world." John 17v14. In the Song of songs, where the bride is in search
of her beloved, the watchmen treat her roughly and try to hinder her search. As we go on, seeking to be closer to
the Lord and leaving the things of the world, the world will manifest its hate. The world system is governed by
Satan, whom the Bible calls 'the god of this world.' By the world system, the devil holds millions in blindness and
bondage. It is a huge network that ensnares people. It consists of political and economic systems which
determine its direction and which glory in the name of civilisation. It boasts of the Arts and Sciences, the repository
of all human ability and knowledge, the culture that is essential for 'life' today. Its social, philosophical and religious
framework is a selfish, twisted imitation of 'Love God and love your neighbour..' These systems rule where God
should rule. If it had not been the Lord who was on our side... they would have swallowed us up.
On earth today, there is a one world order emerging. It is happening day by day. Politicians have spoken openly
about a new world order. People will go along with it because it is an interlinking network, an organised system.
Be part of it and everything will go smoothly; break away from it and there will be problems. Everyone will be
against you. The world will hate you.
We have been delivered. By ourselves we could not have escaped, but He has translated us from Satan's
kingdom, the kingdom of darkness, into the kingdom of His dear Son. It is a work of His grace. David had
experienced this too. He speaks of all those that were against him; the moment he moved out, he found that
there was opposition. Nevertheless, he could say that he was where he was because the Lord had helped him.
To escape the force of gravity you need a rocket. An aeroplane will not do. Like religion it can not get you away
from the pull of the world. But a rocket breaks free. For a while you would have to endure the discomfort of
multiple G-force as the world tries to hold on to you, but eventually you escape. So too, as the Lord lifts us to
the heavenlies, for a while we may experience discomfort, but when the Son makes us free, we are free indeed.
I Peter 4 v 1 puts it like this: "Forasmuch then as Christ has suffered for us in the
flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; that
he should no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God."
The way in which the Satanic world order manifests itself is revealed in this Psalm. One way is beastlike. No
matter how 'nice' people may seem, the ungodly will ultimately show their beastlike nature. In the garden of
Eden, Satan appeared as a serpent; in the book of Revelation he is the dragon. These are they, says David
who would swallow us alive (A.V. quick) Yes, the world would love to squeeze the life out of us. You are free.