Who Are My Enemies?

Who Are My Enemies?

You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my fortress. In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies.

Psalm 59:9-10

If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

James 4:4

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

1 Corinthians 15:26

When we think about enemies, we might think of classmates or coworkers who seem out to get us, competitors who want to ruin us, rivals who want to defeat us, or people who have hurt us. We might think of those who disagree with our ideas and oppose our agendas.

The Bible talks about enemies a lot—especially in Old Testament stories about Israel’s battles. When we read the Psalms, it can be confusing to figure out who the enemies are that the psalmists ask God to protect them from. Some of the things the biblical writers ask God to do to their enemies we wouldn’t wish on anyone!

It helps to understand that the children of Israel and their God-appointed leaders were God’s chosen people. Friends of the children of Israel were friends of God. Enemies of Israel were enemies of God. But there were also times when Israel itself, through its disobedience, became God’s enemy. Today God’s enemies are those who love themselves more than God, those who reject and refuse the gift of God in his Son, Jesus.

God wants to give us victory over our enemies. But our true enemies are not usually people. Unbelief is an enemy. Our worldly desires are enemies. Our ultimate enemy is sin, which has the power to keep us in slavery. But God empowers us to overcome all these enemies—anything that would turn us away from him.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

Are there certain people you think of as enemies at times? Are there some people you once thought of as enemies who are now your friends?

According to Romans 5:6-11, who are God’s enemies? What has God done for them?

Are there any spiritual enemies you need to keep up your guard against?