“The Lord’s Youth Like the Dew of the Morning”

[Psalm 110]

Last Sunday, I participated in the Bible study of District 4 and studied Lesson 6, “The War That Belongs to the Lord.” During the study, in the section called “Opening the Heart,” we shared what the greatest battlefield each of us faces is. We shared that this great battlefield is our home, also the workplace, our relationships with others, and our inner self. Then we asked ourselves the question: “Are we truly well-armed for this spiritual war?” The reason is that if we are not properly armed, we cannot win this great battle. Are you and I wearing the full armor of God? Are we truly armed with the belt of truth, the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, the shoes of the gospel of peace, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God? Are you and I fighting well in this spiritual war with God’s word and faith? Are you fighting with the assurance of salvation? Are you experiencing the gospel of peace and using it as an opportunity to share it?

Personally, after the Bible study last Sunday, on Monday I lost the great battle against my own inner self, which is my personal battlefield. That Monday night, unable to sleep, sitting on the living room sofa and reflecting on myself, I remembered the messages I preached. I recalled the messages proclaimed on Friday and Saturday early mornings and during the Sunday English service about the “hardened heart” (Mark 6:52), and the message proclaimed in the Korean Sunday service titled “Seeking Salvation” (Acts 27:27-44). I realized that I failed to keep peace in my heart, hardened my heart, and disobeyed God’s word. Although I knew the message, I deliberately resisted it all day and lived following sinful thoughts of my own will. When I saw that side of myself, I felt heavy-hearted and was disappointed in myself again. Facing my weakness, insufficiency, worthlessness, and sinful nature, confronting the defeated inner self that fought against the “old man” within me, I sought God’s mercy and compassion. I confessed, acknowledged my sins before God, and asked for forgiveness. Later, during the early morning prayer meeting on Tuesday, after sharing about the spiritual battle with myself on Monday and praying to God, I remembered Philippians 4:6-7, which was proclaimed during the Korean Sunday service. I then presented my requests “with thanksgiving” to God and resolved to give thanks. In the midst of this, God granted me peace of heart on Tuesday and allowed me to experience the joy of victory.

To win this spiritual war that belongs to God, we must be established as “the Lord’s youth like the dew of the morning,” as stated in Psalm 110:3: “Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the dawn, the dew of your youth will be yours.” I first heard the phrase “the Lord’s youth like the dew of the morning” at Seohyun Church in Korea. When the youth pastor referred to the youth there as “the Lord’s youth like the dew of the morning,” it was the first time I heard that expression. At that time, I didn’t fully understand its meaning but thought it was a very beautiful phrase. Later, while meditating on Psalm 110 today, I reflected on what kind of people the phrase “the Lord’s youth like the dew of the morning” actually refers to. I want to share three thoughts on this. In doing so, I pray that all of us will be established as the Lord’s youth like the dew of the morning and be victorious in our spiritual battles.

First, the young men of the Lord like the dew of the morning are those who have joyfully dedicated themselves to the Lord.

Here, “the young men of the Lord like the dew of the morning” refers to those who have willingly and gladly dedicated themselves to the Lord Jesus, who is the commander on the day of the Lord’s power, that is, the day of the Lord’s war. These young men of the Lord, who have joyfully devoted themselves to the Lord Jesus—who rose from the grave, ascended, and now sits at the right hand of God reigning as King of heaven (verse 1)—are as numerous as the dew of the morning, as the word “dew” implies (according to internet sources). In other words, the countless young men of the Lord who have joyfully dedicated themselves for Christ and His church represent the spiritual army of the Lord (Park Yoon Sun). These young men of the Lord, as the spiritual army, are the “good soldiers” of Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:3-4). That is, they suffer with the Lord, are not bound by their own lives, and rather delight in being recruited as soldiers by the Lord.

The Lord has recruited you and me into His army. We are young men of the Lord like the dew of the morning who gladly dedicate ourselves to the Lord, our commander. As spiritual soldiers recruited into the Lord’s army, we must strive to be good soldiers of the Lord. To do this, we must regard suffering with the Lord as a grace (Philippians 1:29) and earnestly participate in His sufferings (3:10). We should not be bound by our own lives but work to please the Lord who recruited us. As good soldiers of the Lord, to please our commander Jesus, we must be loyal to Him and obey His commands. We must dedicate ourselves to the Lord Jesus, our commander, and commit to obeying His word.

Second, the young men of the Lord like the dew of the morning are people of holy character.

The dew of the morning is freshness itself, untouched by dust. Therefore, “the young men of the Lord like the dew of the morning” refers to the Lord’s young men who possess purity like the clear, sparkling dew shining in the morning sunlight (according to internet sources). These pure young men of the Lord have “put on holy garments” (verse 3). In other words, the young men of the Lord like the dew of the morning are the Lord’s holy spiritual soldiers on the day of His war. Then, what kind of war do the Lord’s spiritual soldiers fight, relying on Jesus their commander? It is a holy spiritual war. Those of us engaged in this holy spiritual war, as the Lord’s holy spiritual soldiers, must shine “like the dew.” That is, while fighting against this dark world, we must radiate the Lord’s holy light. To do so, we must expose and rebuke the deeds of darkness (Ephesians 5:11, 13). As holy soldiers of the Lord, we must never participate in the works of darkness (verse 11). Thus, as the Lord’s holy spiritual soldiers, we must glorify the holy Lord by winning the holy spiritual war.

Lastly, thirdly, the Lord’s young men like the morning dew are those who gain new strength and overcome the world.

As holy soldiers of the Lord engaged in holy spiritual warfare, the young men of the Lord like the morning dew receive new strength from Jesus Christ, who is seated at the right hand of God, and thus win in spiritual warfare. In this holy spiritual battle, the young men like the morning dew understand that the fight is not against flesh and blood. In other words, they keep in mind that the spiritual warfare is “against principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). Therefore, the Lord’s spiritual soldiers like the morning dew must put on the whole armor of God (or be fully armed). Especially in the fight against evil spirits, they must sharpen their only weapon—the sword of the Spirit. We must sharpen our minds and hearts with God’s Word and enter spiritual warfare with vigilance and prayer (1 Peter 4:7). We must never allow the temptations, worries, and desires of the world to block the Word so that we cannot bear fruit (Matthew 13:22). If we fight spiritually while being spiritually dull, we cannot win. We must fight with the confidence of victory, believing in Jesus, our Commander, against ourselves, sin, the world, and Satan. This should be the image of our church. In short, we all must live a battle-ready life with the certainty of victory.

What is needed for our church to fight in spiritual warfare as the Lord’s young men like the morning dew (His soldiers)? It is new strength supplied from the Lord every day, every moment. We must receive new strength day by day, moment by moment, from the Lord who conquered death, resurrected, ascended, and is seated at the right hand of God. Only then can we gain strength and win in this holy spiritual warfare. To receive this new strength from the Lord, we must listen to God’s subtle voice in the quiet of our hearts. Just as dew quietly falls in the night, we must hear God’s delicate voice in calmness to gain new strength. We must never become weak in fighting and winning in spiritual warfare. Rather, to fight and overcome the forces of injustice and sin, we must receive daily the strength the Lord gives. We need the power of God’s Word, the sword of the Spirit. We need the power of the gospel. Also, for our church to win in spiritual warfare, we need the power of prayer.

In Exodus 17:15, we read the phrase “The Lord is my Banner (Jehovah Nissi).” When Israel fought Amalek at Rephidim, Moses lifted his hands in prayer, and Israel won (v. 11). As long as Moses’ hands were raised until sunset, Israel was victorious, and they built an altar calling it Jehovah Nissi, meaning “The Lord is my banner” (v. 15). The power that made them win the battle was God’s power responding to Moses’ prayer (according to online sources). Today, hearing this word, we must pray. To win the spiritual battles we face now, in the great battlefield where you and I are fighting spiritual battles, we must not lower our hands in prayer. You and I, as the Lord’s young men like the morning dew, must joyfully dedicate ourselves to the Lord. And as good soldiers of the Lord, we must shine forth the light of God’s holiness. We are the Lord’s holy spiritual soldiers. We must fight this dark world and reveal the Lord’s holiness. We must receive new strength from Him daily and moment by moment and win the spiritual battles given to us. Therefore, I pray that you and I become “Jehovah Nissi,” “The Lord is my Banner,” planting the banner of victory in our battlefield.

With the assurance of victory, wishing you to live a battle-ready Christian life,

Pastor James
(Shared after praising hymn number 400, “For the Truth of the Lord, the Cross Is Our Banner,” with the victorious saints at Wednesday prayer meeting)