ENEMIES
A compilation of resources that might help in your reflection during your retreat stay. A third of the Psalms speak of enemies, a topic that can sometimes be neglected and confusing. Use some of these verses to align your thoughts and attitude to God’s way.
‘You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.’
Psalm 23
The Lord has ordained you to be in the presence of enemies. But he has prepared you in it. Talk to the Lord about your trust in his sovereign hand upon this difficult situation.
Psalm 7
A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.
1 Lord my God, I take refuge in you;
save and deliver me from all who pursue me,
2 or they will tear me apart like a lion
and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
- David starts by turning to God as his refuge. Acknowledge him as your refuge.
- He asks the Lord to save and deliver him from all who pursue him. Who is pursuing you right now? We can ask the Lord to deliver us from it. Share your fears with him of what they might try and do to you.
3 Lord my God, if I have done this
and there is guilt on my hands—
4 if I have repaid my ally with evil
or without cause have robbed my foe—
5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
let him trample my life to the ground
and make me sleep in the dust.
- He searches his heart for guilt on his hands. It may be that you are a victim but always in need of his grace. Ask God to reveal your heart where you might have done wrong. Where may you have sought to repay your ally with evil? Take time to search your heart and repent of your actions.
- In Christ, we need not fear being trampled on because his life was trampled to the ground. Reflect on Christ at the cross and give thanks to him.
6 Arise, Lord, in your anger;
rise up against the rage of my enemies.
Awake, my God; decree justice.
7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you,
while you sit enthroned over them on high.
8 Let the Lord judge the peoples.
Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,
according to my integrity, O Most High.
9 Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
and make the righteous secure—
you, the righteous God
who probes minds and hearts.
- We can ask the Lord to arise and carry out his justice. We can plead before the Lord in this when we see such venom in our enemies.
- In times of opposition, the enemy wants to stop the assembled people from gathering. Consider what people might gather around you and who you might turn to for prayer and support.
- Pray for protection for your church through this time.
- Remind yourself that the sovereign God sits enthroned over your enemies. Ask the Lord to give you a higher perspective that removes power in the wrong places. (v7)
- Your righteousness and integrity is given to us through Christ in us, ask the Lord for vindication and speak of ways in which you are righteous, see your self clearly before the Lord.
- When faced with accusations or conflict, your security can be tossed and shaken. Pray v9 that you might be secure before a righteous God who probes your mind and heart and redeems you in Christ.
10 My shield is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
a God who displays his wrath every day.
12 If he does not relent,
he will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he makes ready his flaming arrows.
- Tell the Lord who he is, as David does in v10 and 11.
- Your God can handle the enemies. He is not threatened.
14 Whoever is pregnant with evil
conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
falls into the pit they have made.
16 The trouble they cause recoils on them;
their violence comes down on their own heads.
17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;
I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
- Remind yourself of hope that the Lord promises to deliver us and bring about judgement.
- Thank God for his wrath and judgement. Ask God to allow you to be freed from carrying out judgement yourself but holding onto the Lord.
- Give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness.
- Sing praises to him now.
Choose a few of these verses throughout the psalms and write down the general themes that help get a biblical perspective on how are to view our enemies.
3:7, 5:8, 6:10, 7:6, 8:2, 9:3, 10:5, 13:2,4, 17:9, 18:1, 21:8, 23:5, 25:2,19, 27:2,6, 30:1, 31:11,15, 34:21, 35:19, 37:20, 38:19, 41:5,7, 42:9, 43:2, 44:5,7, 44:5,7, 45:5, 54:3,7, 55:15, 56:1,9, 59:1, 60:12, 61:3, 64:1, 66:3, 68:1,21, 69:4,19, 71:10, 72:9, 74:23, 78:53,66, 80:6, 81:14, 83:2, 86:17, 89:10,42,51, 92:9, 97:3, 102:8, 105:24, 106:42, 107:2, 108:13, 109:6, 110:1,2, 112:8, 118:7, 119:98, 138:7, 139, 132:!8, 136:14, 139:22, 143,9,12, 144:6,
© Copyright. All rights reserved.
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.