Of all things for me to write about.  Enemies?  I really feel as though I have no enemies within the human race; at least as far as someone just out to destroy or hurt me.  However, I know that as a believer in Christ Jesus my Lord and Savior I do have enemies who would like to hush the message of Christ; and of God.  Therefore because there are enemies of Christ, His cross, His God and eternity they are and must be my enemies as well.

Have I noticed these enemies of the cross of Christ?  Most definitely.  They are those who hate God, hate righteousness, Justice, genuine peace and love, and all that is holy.  They are those who hate the way of God, and choose their own way.

My reading today took me from Psalm 108 through Psalm 121.  I found the word “enemies” seven times in those fourteen Psalms.  What is the deal with the Psalms and enemies?  It is quite apparent that David, and the kings of Israel had enemies.  You have enemies as well; especially if you are a Christian.

For the most part we need to realize that our enemy is the Devil, otherwise known as Satan, the Old serpent. He is also known as the “Accuser of the brethren”.  All conflict between human beings is because of sin and Satan.  Those people who hate God, God’s word and God’s people are full of hate for God because of the deceit of the devil.

I want us to look at what the seven verses have to say about “enemies”.

“Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies.” Psalm 108:13 (KJV)

This comes from a Psalm which is called a Psalm or Song of David.  David of all people knows the strength and power of God to deliver from enemies, and from trouble.  He also knows that it is God who will give him the ability to do “valiantly” and that  God is the one who will “tread down our enemies”.

“The LORD said unto my Lord, ‘Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.  The LORD shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies.'” 110:1-2

Two uses of the word “enemies” is found in one Psalm and the first two verses.  It is a Psalm of David as well, and is directed as the LORD speaking to the Lord.  This, of course, has Messianic wording, and is speaking of the Messiah who is Jesus Christ.  This is not an argument.  It is a clear statement that the LORD – Jehovah, YHWH [YaHWeH] – has a Son and that He is deity.  The Messiah is being told by the Father, “Sit at My right hand, until I make thine enemies Thy footstool.”  Jesus’s former state before He was born a babe in a manger was a seated position at the Father’s right hand.  Following His death on the cross, burial and bodily resurrection He was given back that position, and all enemies were placed under His feet; where ultimately all the enemies of God and Christ will be destroyed.

“His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.” 112:8

This Psalm is speaking of the “man that fears the LORD” (v. 1).  The heart of such a man is stable, trustworthy, and is not afraid of anything that enemies can throw at him.  He is a man who will see his desire come about upon his enemies.  Now for the Christian we pray for our enemies; our prayer being that they might have their eyes opened, their hearts opened to Christ, and be saved.  Then they would no longer be our enemy, but our brethren and friends.

“Thou through Thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.” 119:98

Because the Christian has the commandments of God, trust them, believes them, and lives by them he/she will be wiser than the enemy of Christ.  The commandments of the LORD are forever, and they are forever with the one’s who love God, and His word.

“My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten Thy words.”  119:139

The following is from the TREASURY OF DAVID on Psalm 119:139;

In Psa_119:137-138 David spoke concerning his God and his law; here he speaks of himself, and says, “My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words”, this was no doubt occasioned by his having so clear a sense of the admirable character of God’s word. His zeal was like a fire burning within his soul. The sight of man’s forgetfulness of God acted as a fierce blast to excite the fire to a more vehement flame, and it blazed until it was ready to consume him. David could not bear that men should forget God’s words. He was ready to forget himself, ay, to consume himself, because these men forgot God. The ungodly were David’s enemies: his enemies because they hated him for his godliness; his enemies, because he abhorred them for their ungodliness. These men had gone so far in iniquity that they not only violated and neglected the commands of God, but they appeared actually to have forgotten them. This put David into a great heat; he burned with indignation. How dare they trample on sacred things! How could they utterly ignore the commands of God himself! He was astonished, and filled with holy anger.
FROM the Treasury of David by Charles H. Spurgeon.  e-Sword

We will end these thoughts from Psalms with the final verse in the reading today.

“Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from Thy testimonies.” 119:157

Sometimes it seems we have all kinds of persecutions and enemies; but in all these things we are to be victors.  We are to never decline from the testimonies of our LORD.

-Tim A. Blankenship