Are you looking for deliverance? Do you want God to set you free from internal problems or external enemies?
In Psalm 144, David asks God to rescue him from unnamed enemies. He provides a model for how believers can pray for deliverance in the midst of any opposition.
It starts with our mindset. Will we think positively or negatively? Will our thoughts be thankful or ungrateful?
When preaching about how to be Grateful for Deliverance from the Grave, Charles Spurgeon insightly declared:
“How very differently we view things at different times and in differing states of mind! Faith takes a bright and cheerful view of matters, and speaks very confidently, ‘I shall not die, but live.’ When we are slack as to our trust in God, and give way to misgivings and doubts and fears, we sing in the minor key, and say, “I shall die. I shall never live through this trouble. I shall one day fall by the hand of the enemy; and that day is hastening on. Hope is failing me. Bad times are at the door. I shall not live through this crisis.” Thus our tongues show the condition of our inner man.”
Charles Spurgeon
David’s Mindset in Deliverance
David roots his prayers in God’s character. He praises God as his loving ally, tower of safety, rescuer, and shield (verse 2). David can rely on God for protection and deliverance because that is who God is, and David has witnessed God’s deliverance before:
“For you grant victory to kings!
Psalm 144:10 (NLT)
You rescued your servant David from the fatal sword.”
We quickly learn two lessons about how to ask God for deliverance: Start by praising God for who he is, and then spend time remembering his past deliverance in your life.
Remembering Who You Are
David shows a moment of vulnerability in verses 3–4. He quotes his own words from Psalm 8: “What is man that you are mindful of him?” and then he goes on to say, “For they are like a breath of air.” David seems astonished that God would even pay attention to his requests.
A posture of humility when approaching God is important. As Peter reminds us: “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor” (1 Pet. 5:6 NLT).
Confidence in God’s Deliverance
David presses forward confidently because he knows God has heard his prayers before and will continue to listen and act. As believers, we have even greater confidence because when Jesus ascended into heaven, he sat down at the Father’s right hand, and now continuously brings our requests (LINK: Jesus prayers for us) to the Father (see Heb. 7:25 and Rom. 8:34).
David prays for deliverance and then makes a promise and asks for a blessing.
In verse 9, he promises he will “sing a new song to you, O God!” He pledges a song of deliverance like what Miriam and Moses sang after the Exodus (Exodus 15).
Singing about Our Deliverance
When you see God bring deliverance and freedom into your life, does it lead to new songs and expressions of praise? David reminds me that I have a regular reason to bring God new songs of praise. Even more, this calls me to promise to praise God each time he provides or delivers.
David knows that all blessings that come to him are rooted in one fact: he belongs to God. “Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:15b NLT). Even more, the Apostle Paul reminds us that “every spiritual blessing” comes from the Father because we are “united with Christ” (Eph. 1:3 NLT).
Praying for Deliverance and Blessings
But that doesn’t stop us from praying for specific blessings. Verse 12 starts with the conjunction asher (אֲשֶׁר) which means “so that.” David prays that God will deliver him “so that” he will receive four types of blessings:
#1: Family blessing (vs. 12): We pray that our children will flourish, be protected from the lies of our enemies, and be pillars in their communities. What greater blessing is there than to see our children prosper?
#2: Financial blessing (vs. 13): David asks God to bless him with an abundant provision in the form of full barns and multiplying herds. He asks for prosperity as a sign of God’s blessing. It’s good to ask for prosperity while also maintaining Paul’s attitude toward money:
“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Phil. 4:12 NIV).
Here is a quick story to acknowledge that God’s bountiful blessings can sometimes be hidden unless we have eyes to see. In 2020, my family faced some massive medical bills due to several unexpected illnesses. One week, my wife and I met to pray about how we were going to handle them. We then saw three answers in quick succession: 1) Our auto insurance provider decided to slash our bill by $200 due to COVID; 2) A local hospital decided to write off their entire bill for a 4-day hospital stay; and 3) The IRS sent a larger-than-expected refund check.
I still sing out when I read this: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!” The timing of these financial blessings couldn’t have been better. I see now that God orchestrated those answers well in advance and allowed us to see his blessings when we needed it most!
#3: Social blessing: In verse 14, David asks for protection from the enemies who would tear down the walls. Those enemies can be trifold: the world, the devil, or the flesh. Peter reminds us to remain vigilant against our spiritual foe: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8 NLT).
#4: Spiritual blessing: (vs. 15): Rooted in our relationship with God, David asks for abundant joy to fill his heart. The Holy Spirit answers this prayer by filling us with his presence and giving us spiritual gifts: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22).
Song of Deliverance
One of Rich Mullins’s final songs is called “My Deliverer.” It reminds us of this truth: My Deliverer has delivered me before, he is delivering me today, and he is coming again to deliver me one final time.
CHALLENGE:
Think about an area in your life where you need deliverance. How can you pray confidently for God’s deliverance? How might you start singing your song of deliverance today?
PRAYER:
Father, I thank you that you are my rock, my refuge, my shield, and my strong tower. Just as you rescued me from sin and death, I ask you to protect and deliver me from the devil, the world, and my own flesh. Show me the path of escape, enable me to walk it, and I promise to praise you. I also ask you to save me so that my family will flourish, my enemies will fail, my finances will be abundant, and I will know the daily joy of being loved by you. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.