On A Personal Note

Psalm 18

Today is a bit of behind the scenes line of thought for me both of my recent flury of posts and behind the scenes for Jesus. I know the posts have been fast and furious the last couple of days. It was a means to get a little caught up here. Since starting posting these journal entries and being uncertain how to use this media source I fell a little behind in posting. The intent is now to begin posting only one journal entry per day. You patience in my doing so is greatly appreciated.

This psalm of David may seem like a theme in David's life, one of victory, and making it through hard times, but this one was specific for the completion of a very difficult time in his life, that of rescue from his enemies and from the pursuit by Saul in particular. Were there difficulties ahead? Certainly, but at this time there was much to praise the Lord for at this moment.

David's description of how the victories played out brought to mind the narrative of Job. "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord.” (Think “behind the scenes”) And then Daniel waiting from the time he prayed, an angel was sent with the answer to that prayer immediately, but was held up three weeks before he could deliver the answer. (Daniel 10). Then there was the time when the king of Syria went after Elisha. Elisha's servant went into full panic mode even though Elisha told him, "They that be with us are more than those that be with them". The servant wasn't convinced. Elisha asked the Lord to open his servant's eyes. When the Lord answered that servant saw horses and fiery chariots surrounding Elisha and throughout the mountains. (II Kings 6) So reading David's celebration psalm, Psalm 18, his behind the scenes descriptions do not seem to be just flowery poetic with artistic license, but very real actual behind the scene possibilities.

So again I asked myself, "Is this something Jesus would have prayed?" What possible scenarios happened for Jesus that He might pray this praise to His Father? In asking about the possibilities for Jesus praying this psalm I found it needful to read His longest recorded prayer in John 17. Fascinating to learn that while seeking to learn how Jesus lived as a man fully human, not holding tightly to His divine nature, one with God, but became a slave, obedient as only a man could be obedient. As it says in Philippians 2 He became obedient even unto death. But even though He set aside His deity He didn't loose it either. In John 17 He speaks of the glory He had with the Father before the world was. And He knew the Father loved Him before the foundation of the world. So though not exercising His deity, His deity was still there with Him. Even when Peter cut off Herod's servant's ear He said, "Don't you know if I wanted to I could ask of my Father twelve legions of angels?"

So yes, Jesus could have readily prayed this prayer, but when? What circumstances would be for Jesus similar to what David had just experienced? When might Jesus have experienced what He considered a victorious day? Remember this is the man who is normally thought of, portrayed in films and stories as an even tempered and mild mannered man. Oh, wait, from what it says in Scripture that would be a totally incorrect understanding. Let's see. Could He maybe have thought about when His hometown synagogue was ready to toss Him over the cliff for blasphemy? He just walked through them and left. A couple of times He did something similar. And then there was that time just teaching people about His Father and His kingdom. His teaching was interrupted by four men letting down a crippled man down in front of Him. The first thing Jesus told him was that his sins were forgiven. Jesus knew there were Pharisees watching who had been listening to His teachings. We're told that Jesus looked around at them with anger and said exactly what they were thinking, "Who is this that forgives sins." The final point is clearly made when Jesus says, "So you know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" He then tells the man laying before him to "Rise up and walk." When the man stands and walks it is like two victories. One is that the Pharisees recognize they have much more to find answers for because the people are beginning to understand the truth of who He is. But much more is that a man has had his sins forgiven, spiritually healed, and had been healed physically as well. So yes, these are only possible instances. There could also be the wild man of Gadara, the healing of the woman with the bloody flow and then Jairus's daughter, the woman taken in adultery when all her accusers left. More could possibly be seen as double victories bringing peace. In any of these rightly so then Jesus could finish His long prayer:

Therefore I will praise thee, O Lord, among the nations, and will sing unto thy Name. Great deliverances giveth he unto his King, and sheweth mercy to his anointed, even to David, and to his seed for ever.

Psalms 18:49 - 50 GNV