The Lord Is My Defense

Psalm 59:1-17 When we were in St. Petersburg, Russia, for an evangelical music festival designed to reach Jewish people, one of the musicians sang a song that I’ll never forget. The phrase “He is my defense” was repeated over and over again in the song. That phrase still resounds in my spiritual ears. God truly is our defense, and David knew this even though his enemies surrounded him and used their tongues as swords against him. He knew that God was his strong defense. David said, “God shall let me see my desire upon my enemies.”

David also knew the secret of dressing himself in the garment of praise continually. After reviewing what he wanted God to do to defeat his enemies, he said, “But I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble-.-.-.-for God is my defense” (Ps. 59:16-17). When we sing aloud to the Lord, demons are put to confusion, and all of our enemies have to flee. Praise is the devil’s death knell. When we praise the Lord, we place an invisible shield around us, and we can say with David, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Ps. 23:5).

My twin sister one time had a vivid picture of just how the Lord’s table looks as it is prepared in the midst of our enemies. She saw a table beautifully set with gold and silver, and laden with different kinds of fruits. The Lord Himself was at the head of this huge table. Above Him and all the people gathered was a shield that resembled a glass enclosure. The shield was in reality just a shelter of light. It was God’s glory shield over all those present at His table. Just past this shield was total darkness. The people gathered, however, could see through the darkness, and they saw that although Satan with all of his demonic spirits was trying to penetrate this shield—they could not. Those dining were singing beautiful songs of praise as they partook of their wonderful feast.

God is our defense. He is our rock, our high tower and our hiding place. The clothing worn by the guests at this wonderful feast were garments of light that glistened brighter as the guests began to praise the Lord. These were the garments of praise mentioned in Isaiah 61:3—the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. The Bible tells us that God dwells in the midst of our praises. Something supernatural happens when we praise the Lord. As we praise Him, we are dressed in these special glory garments. We cannot see it, but Satan sees it, and he hates it because he knows he is unable to get to us. One morning as I was singing an old hymn, “Oh worship the King all glorious above,” the phrase “pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise” stood out to me. At that moment I heard the Lord speak this to my spirit: “Yes, I do dwell in the midst of the praises of My people. As they praise Me, I too am dressed with the glory garments of praise. My glory intensifies as My saints on earth praise Me.”

READ: Numbers 24:1-25:18; Luke 2:1-35; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 11:14