Spurgeon Morning and Evening April 6 PM

Biblical Context

Psalm 118 is a vibrant song of praise and thanksgiving, often associated with a king’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem or a celebration of national deliverance. It’s thought to be one of the ‘Egyptian Hallel’ psalms (Psalms 113-118), sung during major Jewish feasts like Passover. While its author isn’t named, it speaks with the voice of someone who has faced extreme pressure and found God to be their helper. The psalm starts with a call to give thanks to the Lord because His kindness lasts forever. The speaker shares personal struggles, how they were surrounded by enemies, feeling hemmed in by trouble. Yet, through it all, their trust in the Lord brought them through. The verse, “In the name of the Lord I will destroy them,” comes from a place of confident reliance on God’s power, not human strength. It’s a declaration of faith in the face of overwhelming odds, a belief that God will act decisively against those who oppose His people and His will.

Key Word Study

Let’s look at the word “destroy” from Psalm 118:12. In the Hebrew, this word is `צָמַת` (tsamath). It means ‘to be cut off, to destroy, to put an end to, to perish.’ This isn’t just about weakening an enemy; it’s about a complete eradication, bringing something to a finish. When the psalmist declares, “In the name of the Lord I will destroy them,” they aren’t just saying they’ll win a small battle. They’re proclaiming a total victory, a cutting off of the enemy’s power and presence. This shows a deep conviction that God’s intervention doesn’t just help, it conquers fully. For us today, when we think about ‘destroying’ spiritual enemies like sin, it’s not about merely managing them, but trusting God to utterly remove their hold.

Jesus Paid for All of You

Our Lord Jesus, by His death, didn’t purchase a right to just a part of us. He bought the entire man. Think about it: when He died on the cross, He wasn’t just getting a piece of your heart or a slice of your time. He paid the full price for every single bit of you.

He thought about your complete holiness – your spirit, your soul, and your body – when He suffered. His aim was for Him to rule completely in this ‘triple kingdom’ of you, with no one else getting in His way. He wants to be the absolute King over your thoughts, your feelings, and even how you use your physical body.

Your New Nature’s Job

It’s the job of the new nature God gave you when you became born again to stand up for the rights of the Lord Jesus Christ. When you became a new creation in Him, you received something fresh and alive inside. That new part of you is meant to make sure Jesus gets what’s rightfully His in your life.

My soul, if you’re a child of God, you must conquer all the other parts of yourself that aren’t yet right with God. You’ve got to bring all your strengths and feelings under the kind rule of Jesus. Don’t ever be satisfied until He, who is King because He bought you, also becomes King by a kind crowning, ruling completely in you. This isn’t a passive waiting game; it’s an active surrender and struggle.

Fighting a Good Fight

Since sin has no right to any part of us, we’re in a good and lawful fight when we try to drive it out in God’s name. Sin doesn’t own you. It doesn’t have a claim on your thoughts, your body, or your choices. When you stand against it, you’re not fighting a battle you shouldn’t be in; you’re taking back what Jesus already paid for.

O my body, you are a member of Christ. Can I stand for you to be controlled by the prince of darkness? No! Your hands, your feet, your eyes – they’re meant to serve Jesus, not the enemy.

O my soul, Christ suffered for your sins and bought you back with His most precious blood. Can I let your memory become a storehouse of evil, or your feelings become firebrands of wrongdoing? No! Your past hurts, your old temptations – they don’t have to define you. Can I let my thinking get twisted by mistakes, or my will be led in chains of wrongdoing? Absolutely not! Your mind and your choices belong to Jesus, who redeemed you fully.

Be Courageous, Christian!

No, my soul, you belong to Christ, and sin doesn’t have any right to you. Understand this deep in your core. You are His, bought and paid for. This truth should settle things in your heart.

Be courageous about this, O Christian! Don’t get down, like your spiritual enemies can never be destroyed. It’s easy to feel defeated, to think the struggles will never end. But that’s not the truth of your situation in Christ.

You are able to overcome them – not in your own strength. The weakest of them would be too much for you that way. If you try to fight sin, bad habits, or old ways by yourself, you’ll always lose. They’re just too strong for you on your own. But you can and you shall overcome them through the blood of the Lamb. It’s the power of Jesus’s sacrifice, His victory on the cross, that gives you the ability to win.

Don’t ask, “How shall I get rid of them, for they are greater and mightier than I?” That’s the wrong question to start with. Instead, go to the strong One for strength. Wait quietly upon God, and the mighty God of Jacob will surely come to the rescue, and you shall sing of victory through His kindness. Your part is to lean on Him, to trust in His power, and He will fight for you, bringing you to a place of celebration.