David had enemies (Saul, for example) who were out to kill him literally. I have my share of enemies, too, but they are those who just don’t like me, won’t have anything to do with me, bad mouth me behind my back, and take opportunity to oppose me at every turn. Even though they are actually not seriously trying to kill me, I understand David’s passionate outburst against them in his psalms. Furthermore, there is an enemy out to destroy me completely who wants me to be discouraged, despondent, forlorn, and incapable of fulfilling God’s plan for my life. When I think of him and his agents, then I really understand David’s prayer. “My God! Rescue me from my enemies, defend me from these mutineers. Rescue me from their dirty tricks, save me from their hit men. Desperadoes have ganged up on me, they’re hiding in ambush for me. I did nothing to deserve this, God, crossed no one, wronged no one. All the same, they’re after me, determined to get me.”TM
My only recourse is to come to God! I can’t handle these enemies in my own strength. I need your help. These enemies scare me to death! They look like the Predator or the Alien and I’m afraid when I lay on my bed at night. They don’t scare you, though. “But you, God, break out laughing; you treat the godless …like jokes.”TM
Go ahead, take them, Lord. “Let all their mean-mouthed arrogance catch up with them, catch them out and bring them down —every muttered curse —every barefaced lie. Finish them off in fine style!”TM
“And me? I’m singing your prowess, shouting at cockcrow your largesse, For you’ve been a safe place for me, a good place to hide.”TM