Spiritual Warfare! When The Battle is long!

Today I was encouraged by a story in the Bible about David. I was meditating on the Psalms and came across one that David wrote at the end of a long battle that he had with King Saul. Saul was out to kill David. David didn't want to touch him because he was anointed and so he just kept praying and believing that the Father would take care of it. He had to go through a very long trial until he finally received his victory.
This story just goes to show you that sometimes you just need some persistence with the enemy. Don't give up.
If you haven't read about David and how Saul tried to kill him then you are missing out. Let's start with the book of Psalms. This one was written after he was delivered from the hands of Saul who was eventually killed. Saul tried to kill David many, many times and so this was an incredible victory.

I will love thee, O Yahuah, my strength.

Yahuah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my Elohim, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

I will call upon Yahuah, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

In my distress, I called upon Yahuah, and cried unto my Elohim: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken because he was wroth.

There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

He bowed the heavens also and came down: and darkness was under his feet.

And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

At the brightness that was before him, his thick clouds passed hailstones and coals of fire.

Yahuah also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hailstones and coals of fire.

Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightning, and discomfited them.

Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Yahuah, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.

They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but Yahuah was my stay.

He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me because he delighted in me.

The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

For I have kept the ways of Yahuah, and have not wickedly departed from my Elohim.

For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.

I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

Therefore hath Yahuah recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

For thou wilt save the afflicted people, but wilt brings down high looks.

For thou wilt light my candle: Yahuah my Elohim will enlighten my darkness.

By thee, I have run through a troop, and by my Elohim have I leaped over a wall.

As for Yahuah, his way is perfect: the word of the Yahuah is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

For who is Yahuah save our Lord? or who is a rock save our Elohim?

It is Yahuah that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

He teacheth my hands to war so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.

For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto Yahuah, but he answered them not.

Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their closed places.

The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock, and let Yah of my salvation be exalted.

It is Yahuah that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.

He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Yahuah, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.

Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed forevermore.

This Psalm is amazing. It truly shows David's struggle. How hard it must have been to go through this ordeal. It helps to know that others struggle and others have days where they just need to hear that someone else made it through their ordeal to the other side.

Here is the story of David and Saul. Let's Start with how Saul was anointed, King.

Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

And the asses of Kish, Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.

And he passed through mount Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.

And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.

And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of Yahuah, and he is an honorable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.

Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of Yahuah.

And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of Yahuah, to tell us our way.

(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of Yahuah, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of Yahuah.

And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?

And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came today to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people today in the high place:

As soon as ye have come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he comes, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterward they eat that be bidden. Now, therefore, get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.

And they went up into the city: and when they have come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.

Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,

Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people because their cry has come unto me.

And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.

Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.

And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me today, and tomorrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in the heart.

And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?

And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?

And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.

And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.

And the cook took up the shoulder and that which was upon it and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.

And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on), but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.

Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?

When thou art departed from me today, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulcher in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?

Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:

And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.

After that thou shalt come to the hill of Yahuah, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:

And the Spirit of Yahuah will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

And let it be, when these signs have come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for Yahuah is with thee.

And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.

And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, Yahuah gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.

And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of Yahuah came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

And it came to pass when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?

And one of the same places answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?

And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.

And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were nowhere, we came to Samuel.

And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.

And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.

And Samuel called the people together unto Yahuah to Mizpeh;

And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith Yahuah, I brought up Israel out of Egypt and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:

And ye have this day rejected your Elohim, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now, therefore, present yourselves before Yahuah by your tribes, and by your thousands.

And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.

Therefore they enquired of Yahuah further if the man should yet come thither. And Yahuah answered, Behold he hath hid among the stuff.

And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom Yahuah hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, Yahuah, save the king.

Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before Yahuah. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts Yahuah had touched.

But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him and brought no presents. But he held his peace.

A while later Sauls army is at war with an army and Goliath of Gath who was a giant. David tells Saul that he can kill the Giant and that is exactly what he did. From then on Saul and David became friends up until he noticed the crowd cheering for David more than him and he began to get jealous. The further Saul got from the Father the more hatred he had for David because he could see Yah's Favor upon him.

If you would like to read the full story of David and Goliath you can read it here.

Here is the part where Saul becomes mad and jealous and an evil spirit comes upon him.

It came to pass when they returned from the slaughter of the Philistine Giant, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing, and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music.

And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me, they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

And Saul was afraid of David, because Yahuah was with him, and was departed from Saul.

This story says so much to me. It speaks of keeping your heart right lest you give space to the devil. It speaks of integrity and doing what is right in a bad situation. It speaks to me about not giving up and seeking the Father in your trials and tribulations. Do what is right and you will always have victory either in this place or in heaven. I hope this will be an encouragement in whatever you are going through. We are heading into a time where we will need all of the words of Yahuah that we can get. Sometimes I just take scripture and just go over and over it and let it sink in. Let it become a part of you. You will need it. Let it become a weapon and begin to pray it over your situations. A good example of this would be the scripture about how Yahuah is my Shepperd and I shall not want. Thank you that you are my provider and you will supply all my needs according to your riches in glory. He makes me lie down in green pastures and he leads me beside the still waters and he restoreth my soul. Thank you that any damage my enemy has done to my mind or my body will be restored because you will restore my soul and my life. The plans that you have for me are good and you will lead me in paths of righteousness for his namesake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou are with me and you have not given me a spirit of fear but of a sound mind. I thank you that I will have victory on every side from the enemy because when the enemy comes in like a flood you, Father will raise up a standard against him. You have given me the power to tread down every serpent and scorpion and every power of the enemy.