New Titles, Eternal Titles
Note: This post, the third in our three-part series on Psalm 63, is a guest contribution from Kyle Bjerga.
Those who want to kill me will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals. But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced. (Psalm 63:9-11)
David had no idea how long he would be running for his life from his son, Absalom. However, he was confident that at some point, justice would be done, that those chasing him would be destroyed and would no longer be a threat to him (verses 8-9).
We find ourselves in a similar position. Initially, we thought we’d be stuck at home for a couple of weeks; then it was six weeks, and now we are almost done with week ten! As I’ve talked with many of you over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed an increase in the number of prayer requests related to stress, frustration, anxiety, and loneliness. In the previous two devotionals, we’ve seen David face these same experiences and emotions. Like David, we don’t know when our enemy, Covid-19, or its effects will finally be destroyed.
What we can do, though, is stand up with David and say, “We will rejoice in God” (verse 11). David, a king running for his life, knew that his true identity was not grounded in circumstances or human titles; instead he grounded his identity in God. David was king according to the promise of God, and Absalom couldn’t take that from him. One day he would be back in his rightful place.
Like David, many of us have had some titles stripped away and replaced by new titles during this pandemic. New titles, like non-essential, unemployed, furloughed, vulnerable, and home-school parent can leave us anxious, depressed, discouraged, and frustrated. But those titles don’t define you, because they aren’t ultimate. Remember the promises of God, and rest in the titles that never change if you are in Christ. Rejoice in God that you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), a child of God (1 John 3:1), and more than conquerors through Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37).
Brothers and sisters let us be strengthened in the truth that our identity is rooted in the one who has destroyed death and who will bring us through this storm. Why is this important? Just as David knew his enemies would eventually fail and would never gain victory over God, this virus and all its effects will not have the final word. Remember the words of David at the beginning of this Psalm and pray it today, “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands” (verses 3-4).