Part 3 – War Room – Under Attack

Patrick J van Rensburg

David under Attack

2Sa 16:5  When King David arrived at Bahurim, one of Saul's relatives, Shimei son of Gera, came out to meet him, cursing him as he came.  2Sa 16:6  Shimei started throwing stones at David and his officials, even though David was surrounded by his men and his bodyguards.  2Sa 16:7  Shimei cursed him and said, "Get out! Get out! Murderer! Criminal!  2Sa 16:8  You took Saul's kingdom, and now the LORD is punishing you for murdering so many of Saul's family. The LORD has given the kingdom to your son Absalom, and you are ruined, you murderer!"  2Sa 16:13  So David and his men continued along the road. Shimei kept up with them, walking on the hillside; he was cursing and throwing stones and dirt at them as he went.

David is under attack here. He has lost everything.  His own family and servants are turning against him.  His own son Absalom is turning against him.  In this time that David is under attack, he wrote Psalm 42 and 43.

Psa 42:1  As a deer longs for a stream of cool water, so I long for you, O God.  Psa 42:2  I thirst for you, the living God. When can I go and worship in your presence?

David is under attack and as a deer longs for water David longs for God to help him. He is running from his son that wants to over-through his throne.

What to do when you are under attack?

1. Recognise that you are in a battle

Psa 42:3  My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”  Psa 42:4  My trane is my spys dag en nag, omdat hulle die hele dag vir my sê: Waar is jou God? 

The enemy is asking “Where is your God?”  What to do when you are under attack?

Who are they?

Psa 42:9  I will say to God my Rock, Why have you let me go from your memory? why do I go in sorrow because of the attacks of my haters? Psa 42:10  The cruel words of my haters are like a crushing of my bones; when they say to me every day, Where is your God? 

You have served God and you have lost your job, marriage, business, health and a loved one, where is your God? The is how the enemy operates.  You must recognise that you are in a spiritual battle.  You are under attack.

When you are under attack rebuke Satan

Jud 1:9  Maar toe Mígael, die aartsengel, met die duiwel in woordestryd was oor die liggaam van Moses, het hy geen oordeel van lastering durf uitspreek nie, maar het gesê: Die Here bestraf jou! 

Jud 1:9b "The Lord rebuke you!"

Jas 4:7  So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.

Eph 4:27  Don't give the Devil a chance.

1Pe 5:7  Turn all your anxiety over to God because he cares for you.  1Pe 5:8  Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour.  1Pe 5:9  Be firm in the faith and resist him

1a.  Your battle is real

Psa 42:4  My heart breaks when I remember the past, when I went with the crowds to the house of God and led them as they walked along, a happy crowd, singing and shouting praise to God.

Psa 42:5  Why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled?

Psa 42:5  Hieraan wil ek dink en my siel uitstort in my: hoe ek gewoond was om voort te trek met die skare, hulle gelei het na die huis van God, met die stem van jubel en lof—’n feesvierende menigte! 

Psa 42:6  Wat buig jy jou neer, o my siel, en is onrustig in my?

1b.  But it is a lie

Your battle is a real lie. Satan will produce evidence to show that it is real. Joseph’s brothers made his father believe that Joseph was dead when he was still alive.

Gen 37:31  Then they killed a goat and dipped Joseph's robe in its blood. Gen 37:32  They took the robe to their father and said, "We found this. Does it belong to your son?"  Gen 37:33  He recognized it and said, "Yes, it is his! Some wild animal has killed him. My son Joseph has been torn to pieces!"  Gen 37:34  Jacob tore his clothes in sorrow and put on sackcloth. He mourned for his son a long time.

• Stop Listening to yourself

Psalm 42:4  (NKJV) When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

Eseg 37:11  Toe sê Hy vir my: Mensekind, hierdie bene is die hele huis van Israel. Kyk, hulle sê: Ons bene is verdor, en ons verwagting is verlore; dit is klaar met ons! 

Your body and soul is telling you that you will not make it.  There is no hope.

Isa_24:16b But there is no hope for me! I am wasting away!

When you are depressed don’t listen to yourself.  Listen to the Word of God.  When you are under attack, attack back.  Get in the presence of God.  Focus your Mind - Put some worship music on.  Attack back, but stop listening to yourself.

• Start talking to yourself

It is your soul – Thought, emotions and will that you are having problem with. Stop listening to your soul, start talking to your soul. What to do when you are under attack?

Psa 42:5  Why are you crushed down, O my soul? and why are you troubled in me? put your hope in God; for I will again give him praise who is my help and my God. 

Crushed down means depressed, push down, cast down. Depressed means to push down.   The enemy is pushing you down. David is recognising this.  The enemy is pushing him down. 

Psa 42:5  Why are you crushed down, O my soul? and why are you troubled in me? put your hope in God; for I will again give him praise who is my help and my God. 

Troubled means: roar.  My soul is roaring within me.

Psa 131:2  See, I have made my soul calm and quiet, like a child on its mother's breast; my soul is like a child on its mother's breast. 

Ps 131:2  Waarlik, ek het my siel tot bedaring gebring en stilgemaak; soos ‘n gespeende kind by sy moeder, soos ‘n gespeende kind is my siel in my. 

1Sa 30:6  And David was greatly distressed for the people were talking of stoning him, because their hearts were bitter, every man sorrowing for his sons and his daughters: but David made himself strong in the Lord his God. (Encouraged himself in the Lord)

Isa 61:3b , Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness

Let your spirit take control of your soul. Your spirit should take control over you soul.

4. Go to God

Psa 42:2  Soos ‘n hert wat smag na waterstrome, so smag my siel na U, o God!  Psa 42:3  My siel dors na God, na die lewende God; wanneer sal ek ingaan en voor die aangesig van God verskyn?  Psa 42:6  Wat buig jy jou neer, o my siel, en is onrustig in my? Hoop op God; want ek sal Hom nog loof—die verlossing van sy aangesig!

Psa 42:12  Wat buig jy jou neer, o my siel, en wat is jy onrustig in my? Hoop op God, want ek sal Hom nog loof—die verlossing van my aangesig en my God!

Wanneer David kyk na God se aangesig, verander sy aangesig. Die verlossing van my aangesig. 

Psa 43:5  Wat buig jy jou neer, o my siel, en wat is jy onrustig in my? Hoop op God, want ek sal Hom nog loof—die verlossing van my aangesig en my God!

David is saying in when he looks at God’s face, his face is changing. 

When you are under attack, attack back.  When you are under attack get to some water. 

War room Prayer

Quiet Your Mind

Psa 46:10  Be still, and know that I am God

Psa 37:7 Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act.

Focus Your Mind – Worship

Psa 100:2  Serve the LORD cheerfully. Come into his presence with a joyful song.

Pray Your Mind

1 Pet 5:7 Cast all your burdens unto him, because he cares for you.

Php 4:6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 

Renew Your Mind – Read the Bible

Ps 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path

Listen to Your Mind

Ps 45:1 My heart overflows with a pleasant theme.

Psa 45:1  Beautiful words fill my mind, as I compose this song for the king. Like the pen of a good writer my tongue is ready with a poem.

2Sa 23:2  The spirit of the LORD speaks through me; his message is on my lips.

Write your Mind

Hab 2:2b Write down clearly on tablets. Hab 2:3  Put it in writing

Write what you think is God’s will for you. Write what God has spoken to you through his word.

Share your Mind

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Ask the Lord who you should encourage with the word that you have received today and do it.