Overcoming: Life Lessons From the PsalmsSample

Give Us Aid

“Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. With God, we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.”

Psalm 108:12-13

During the COVID pandemic, my wife was experiencing some serious health issues. When we contracted COVID, her situation worsened. I was able to get her into my car and rush her to the Emergency Room. As I ran to the ER doors, I was ordered to stop. I was not allowed to enter. I shouted at the security personnel that my wife needed help—aid. I had realized I was of no help to her. I was hoping they would be. When I got home and entered our empty house, I fell to my knees and prayed, “God, give her aid.”

“Give us aid" is what the Psalmist requests of the Lord. The word “aid” was a common word in many languages in the days of the Psalmist. Primarily, it was a word used in reference to send military assistance. There are many situations we face where the only aid that will win the day is the powerful aid the Lord sends. These could be situations and moments of spiritual warfare.

There are two principles of spiritual warfare represented in verses 12 and 13. There is the principle of (1) us doing our part and (2) God doing His part.

Principle #1: Our Part

As we step into difficult moments, we must pray and ask God for aid. We are to step into the battle with prayer on our lips and faith in His sovereignty, recognizing our limitations. We do so with as much maturity and focus as we can bring to the fight. We accept the reality that the power to overcome the enemy is in the Lord’s power. His aid is what will make the difference. The Psalmist does not say, “Hey God, while I sit back here and do little, will you do all the fighting for me?” The Psalmist was aware he had to be active in the battle while realizing that without God’s aid, he would lose the battle. The Psalmist prayed, worshiped, and journaled. He kept doing what he knew he should do. He kept his relationship with God active. Notice he says, “Give US aid,” and then he says, “WITH God we will...”

US and WITH are collaborative terms. These are terms that represent a partnership and a relationship. These words let us know we have a part in the battle. We are to step courageously forward in prayer and faith. In the battle, we do our part. When my wife got COVID, I got her in the car. I drove her to the ER. I helped her out of the car. I shouted for help! I drove home and prayed. The medical team did their part. Thankfully, she came home a few days later.

Principle #2: His Part

Read verse 13. Who does all the trampling? God does all the trampling! When the enemy we face is far stronger than us, our next step is to ask God for His trampling aid. We must come to a state of humbleness and say we cannot fix this situation. We must recognize the help of man is worthless. In these battles, only the decisive, victorious power of God can defeat the enemy. He brings the changes and solutions. He moves the mountains. He can transform a hardened heart. He can change the circumstances. He can provide wisdom for the moment. He provides the aid that can trample down the enemy we face. He can provide the way when there is no way.

It is on the battlefield where we will witness and experience what we cannot at any other time. Without the battlefield, there can be no provision of aid in a battle. There can be no witnessing of the trampling ability of God. As we do our small part, we will witness God do His massive part. We will see His great love and inexhaustible faithfulness. The aid He sends might be strength for another day, wisdom that clears up confusion, or knowledge that explains what needs to be known. It also could be greater faith, profound peace, a beautiful thought, a measure of courage, a demonstration of His power, a prophetic word, a connection to someone, or the counsel and help of a friend. The aid will be what we could not muster ourselves.

Verses twelve and thirteen are the final verses of Psalm 108. Therefore, let’s finish this moment by prayerfully proclaiming the same: With God, we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.