Through Thee will we push down our enemies; through Thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
God’s gift of victory
1. The believer may promise to himself whatsoever God hath promised unto him; hath God promised to give His own people the victory over their enemies? then the believer may promise to himself he shall overcome his persecutors, and through God’s strength be more than a conqueror over them; “Through Thee will we push down our enemies.” If the enemy make head against them after a defeat, the believer may say, “Through Thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.”
2. The less confidence we have in ourselves or in anything beside God, the more evidence have we of the sincerity of our faith in God: “For I will not trust in my bow,” etc.
3. It is a proof of sincerity of faith to give God as much credit for time to come, as He hath gained to Himself, by the evidencing of His truth in time bygone.
4. Whosoever doth hate the Lord’s people shall be forced to think shame of their enmity one day; “Thou hast put them to shame that hated us.”
5. The glory which we give to God in prosperity we should give Him the same in our adversity; change of times and dispensations should not change His glory, nor our confidence in Him. Though the Church be under foot of men, the Church’s God is above all. “In God will we boast,” etc. (D. Dickson.)
The better confidence
George III. was one day looking at the plate which had been recently brought from Hanover, and observing one of the articles with engraved arms upon it, he said to the domestic who attended him, “This belonged to King George II.; I know it by the Latin inscription--‘I trust in my sword.’ This,” said he, “I always disliked; for had I nothing to trust in but my sword, I well know what would be the result; therefore, when I came to the crown, I altered it. My motto is, ‘I trust in the truth of the Christian religion.’” He then, with his usual condescension, said, “Which of the two inscriptions do you like best?” The attendant replied, “Your Majesty’s is infinitely preferable to the other.” He said, “I have ever thought so, and ever shall think so, for therein is my trust and confidence.”