Our enemies today can rise up anywhere at any time when we least expect it.  As the many followers of Jesus learned, the devil uses people in ways that can fool as they masquerade as God’s people.  But the masquerade is soon found out as evil strikes from behind with gossip, slander, and betrayal.  Most often our enemies are those who befriended us when no one else did and told us whatever we wanted to hear.  But these same people also work in dark corners against us, making false claims about us behind our backs, all to persuade others to do the same. This is evil at work. His methods haven’t changed, therefore Satan is really pretty easy to spot.

Those led and taught by the evil one to be as sly and cunning as he, come forward with smiles on their faces, gifts in their hands, but with evil in their hearts.  It is a foolish way to live for their foolish ways are led by pride, arrogance, and hate, manipulated by the Enemy of God.  With limited power, our Enemy is soon found out for God is always at work for his beloved—not against them. God never sleeps.  God knows what is going on in the hearts of all who follow His Enemy from the beginning of creation.  And for sure, God has not and never will, give up His Sovereignty over all His creation!

We need to remind ourselves that our enemies are not those who personalities grate on our nerves or merely disagree with us on any given subject at hand but still believe in Jesus as their Savior. They, like us, just require extra grace in being with them. 

No, enemies are those who do not like us because we believe, trust, and obey God above all. Enemies are people who are led by evil to take us down by whatever means necessary to distract, deceive, and deconstruct our faith.  These are the people we pray for and ask God to help them see who He so they can be saved from the evil they follow. For our real enemy is the enemy of God—Satan, the fallen angel, kicked out of heaven for wanting to be God and take over.  Truly, the Apostle Paul clarifies who is our real enemy with how to combat Him in Jesus Name;

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”—Paul to the church in Ephesus.  Ephesians 6:10-13 

David is standing on the promises of God to deliver him from the same enemy who has taken over King Saul’s entire being.

Psalm 59, The Message

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.

^1-2 My God! Rescue me from my enemies,
    defend me from these mutineers.
Rescue me from their dirty tricks,
    save me from their hit men.

^3-4 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.

^4-5 Wake up and see for yourself! You’re God,
    God-of-Angel-Armies, Israel’s God!
Get on the job and take care of these pagans,
    don’t be soft on these hard cases.

^6-7  They return when the sun goes down,
    They howl like coyotes, ringing the city.
    Then suddenly they’re all at the gate,
    Snarling invective, drawn daggers in their teeth.
    They think they’ll never get caught.

^8-10 But you, God, break out laughing;
    you treat the godless nations like jokes.
Strong God, I’m watching you do it,
    I can always count on you.
God in dependable love shows up on time,
    shows me my enemies in ruin.

^11-13 Don’t make quick work of them, God,
    lest my people forget.
Bring them down in slow motion,
    take them apart piece by piece.
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!
    Finish them off for good!
Then all the world will see
    that God rules well in Jacob,
    everywhere that God’s in charge.

^14-15     They return when the sun goes down,
    They howl like coyotes, ringing the city.
    They scavenge for bones,
    And bite the hand that feeds them.

^16-17 And me? I’m singing your prowess,
    shouting at dawn your largesse,
For you’ve been a safe place for me,
    a good place to hide.
Strong God, I’m watching you do it,
    I can always count on you—
    God, my dependable love.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Do we have the faith of David who knows God will deliver us from evil always!  David goes to God because he counts on God!  David knows where real strength is found—only in his Almighty God who overcomes all evil who is lying in wait to destroy him, for evil has already taken over the mind of King Saul!

Confident David sings songs of praise while God does all the heavy lifting of fighting his battles against evil!

How confident are we in our daily encounters with evil?

Let’s trust God.  If you need more proven truth, read His Word provided for us for God’s Word does not contradict itself. We can depend on God for He is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). And because He is the Lord, he “will be the sure foundation for our times” says the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 33:6).

Therefore, stand firm on the foundation laid before us by Jesus Christ our Lord whom God sent to remove the sins of the world for all who believe Him with the bonus of eternal life!  (John 3:16)  Evil, who lies in wait for us, only offers death.  Jesus is Life!

Choose wisely, this day, who you will follow, adore, love, listen to, trust, and obey for this is a matter of life or death.

Lord,

Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole. Thank you for fighting this battle of evil against me as you deliver me from evil’s schemes. Thank you for the foundation upon which to stand firm in Truth—who is You.  And when it gets hard, thank you for giving all the power and strength needed to stand firm still and be still before you, our Overcomer of evil.

In Jesus Name, Amen