Protection From Your Enemies

Protection From Your Enemies

You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my place of safety. In his unfailing love, my God will come and help me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies. –Psalm 59:9-10

I have often been confused when I read the Old Testament talk of enemies, especially in the Psalms. Some of the things the biblical writers ask God to do to their enemies, I wouldn’t wish on anyone! To make sense of this, it has helped me to understand that the children of Israel and their God-appointed leaders were God’s chosen people. Friends of Israel were friends of God. Enemies of Israel were enemies of God. Through the story of his dealing with his people, God is showing us his power and his will to protect us, his children, from enemies that would seek to do us harm.

God’s enemies are those who love themselves more than God, those who reject and refuse the gift of God in his Son, Jesus. So as we seek to understand and apply God’s promises of protection from our enemies, the challenge is to figure out: Who are our enemies?

When we think about enemies, we think about bosses who seem out to get us, former spouses who want to ruin us, rivals who want to defeat us, and people who have hurt us. We think of those with ideologies opposed to ours and agendas at cross-purposes with ours. In our self-centered worlds, we are much more concerned about having God on our side to protect our own interests and reputation than we are about being on God’s side, seeking after his glory and ultimate victory.

The reality is this: God has not promised to protect you from everyone you would define as your enemy in this limited life. But he has promised you victory over the enemy of unbelief. And he has promised you protection from your ultimate enemy—sin—which no longer has the power to enslave you or determine your eternal destiny. You can entrust yourself to this just, strong God, who will protect you from any and every enemy who would seek to alienate you from God. Run to him who alone is your place of safety.

My Strength, I am weary from the battles of life, and I am vulnerable to attack. Often I see that my own flesh is my worst enemy. Will you show yourself strong in my life and protect me from the enemy who wants to destroy me?

DIGGING DEEPER