Fighter Verse Songs

(Our guest post writer today is musician/song writer/sound technician Phil Krause)

Psalm 23:5-6

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

What a beautiful way to end the year!

There is so much gratefulness from the Psalmist David here, and we know that his life was far from pain free.

I’m struck by the phrase “in the presence of my enemies.”  David’s enemies were visible, physical.  Even though our worst enemies are not “flesh and blood” (Eph. 6:10), they’re nevertheless just as real as King Saul chasing David from cave to cave.  Theologians often refer to our spiritual enemies as the World (the world’s system that is set against Christ), the Flesh (my own selfishness/indwelling sin), and the Devil (Satan and the unseen demonic world).  It’s good to remember that our enjoyment of God’s blessings happens in the context of a battlefield–in the presence of our enemies.

And despite this reality, the psalmist seems to be in awe of how much goodness he has been given by his LORD. That’s the way we all should be.

Are you?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Fighter Verse Song Project!