Temple Baptist Church - 4-26-2026
Psalms 144
Introduction:
A. In our day, many denominations teach pacifism, and many of god’s people have developed that same thinking. God’s people are not and never have been pacifists, and war (spiritual or physical) is a way of life.
B. The bible is clear on both killing and war as being, at times, a necessity.
Ecclesiastes 3:3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
Ecclesiastes 3:8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
C. Psalm is both contemporary as well as prophetic, both in David’s time and our time. The Psalms are relevant!
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
It is also prophetic concerning the Second Coming of Christ in Revelation chapter 19.
Revelation 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (12) His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. (13) And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (14) And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (15) And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (16) And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
D. Verse 1. King David was a man of war! Psalms 144:1 A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
1. King David was a man after God’s own heart! Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
2. King David was a man of war from his youth. 1 Samuel 16:18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
3. King David, as a Warrior, was feared by his enemies. 1 Samuel 18:6-7 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. (7) And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
E. To fully understand the concept of war, we need to remember that God is a Man of War!
Exodus 15:2-6 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. (3) The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. (4) Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. (5) The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. (6) Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
Psalms 24:8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
Revelation 19:11-14 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (12) His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. (13) And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (14) And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
F. Verses 1-2. “Blessed be the LORD! Who is “My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.”
1. The Lord is our Goodness. In both times of peace and times of war. Ecclesiastes 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
2. The Lord is our Fortress. Psalms 94:22 But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
3. The Lord is our High Tower. Isaiah 40:29-31 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. (30) Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: (31) But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
4. The Lord is our Deliverer. Psalms 37:39-40 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. (40) And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
5. The Lord is our Shield. Psalms 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
6. The Lord is our Confidence. Proverbs 3:25-26 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. (26) For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
7. The Lord is our Might. Deuteronomy 7:21 Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.
G. Look at verse 1. Psalms 144:1 A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
1. It was the LORD who taught David how to fight and wage war. From a shepherd boy to a soldier, from a shepherd to a general, and from a general to a warrior king.
2. Our military uses Basic Training to teach the basics of combat and to teach soldiers to follow orders without question. AIT (Advanced Infantry Training) teaches specialized weaponry and tactics for warfare.
3. We parents are to teach our children to fight for the things we cherish and that are right! Today’s children, for the most part, are soft and non-confrontational.
H. Now, let us look at King David as our example of warring a good warfare.
1. King David knew how to fight!
a. He Fought With Courage - 1 Samuel 17:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. (He was fearless in his attack upon the giant!)
b. He Fought With Conviction - 1 Samuel 17:26, 29 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? 29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? (He fought with the knowledge that he was on the right side!)
c. He Fought With Confidence - 1 Samuel 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. (He fought in the name and power of the Lord!)
2. King David knew who to fight. 1 Samuel 17:26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
David always fought the right enemy. A man once said, “The church is the only army in the world that shoots its own soldiers in the back.” How sad, but how true. So many good men are divided by things that do not matter and united by things they should be divided over. We are not here this morning to fight with one another; we are not here to fight with other churches; we have a common enemy. In both WWI and WWII, nations that were different came together to fight a common enemy and defeated it in both cases.
a. David Never Fought God’s Man. 1 Samuel 24:10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’S anointed.
b. David Never Fought God’s People - 1 Samuel 28:1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
c. David fought the enemies of God. Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
3. King David knew when to fight. 3. David Knew When To Fight – 1 Samuel 16:29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
God’s men do not just fight for the sake of fighting. I do not want to leave you with the impression that David went around killing people just for the fun of it. A man after God’s own heart fights when his cause is just. He fought when no one else would! This had been going on for forty days! The “cause” was right, making the fight right.
4. He Knew Where To Fight - 1 Samuel 17:40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
David did not take a defensive position; he took the offensive one. Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
I still do not care for the message in the song “Hold The Fort!” We are not holding ground! The best defense is still a good offense. You do not win wars in a defensive position. The church is to be the aggressor, not the defender.
Conclusion: We are in a battle in our day!
1. A battle for our Children.
2. A battle for our Convictions. Our Homes.
3. A battle for our Church.
4. A battle for our Country.
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