Psalms 7:1 O Lord my God, I take refuge in you;
save and deliver me from all who pursue me.

David had a knack for making enemies! Actually, that kind of goes with the territory he occupied, which was that of being a man chosen by God, actively doing His will and defeating the plans of those opposed to Him. This is precisely the sort of thing Jesus was referring to when He said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19) We can expect to have enemies too! David very wisely sought God’s defense and protection, while not being stupid about his own responsibilities. He famously refused twice to kill King Saul when he had the opportunity, even though Saul was chasing him to kill him, because he recognized that Saul too had been chosen and anointed by God, as recorded in 1 Samuel. That didn’t mean he sat around and waited for a sword or spear to take his own life, though. He actively sought what God wanted him doing and applied himself to it, dodging his enemies, like the Cush referenced in this Psalm, and asking God for His protection. We can do no better.

I don’t feel like I have had very many enemies, which sometimes concerns me. Am I being sufficiently active in my obedience to God? That said, the devil certainly tries to get in my way, so I guess I’m on the right path. God has been very faithful to defeat those who have come against me, and He has taught me to forgive. In the near future I will be at a meeting that also involves someone who has opposed me in the past, and the host of that meeting actually came by to speak to me, concerned about the conflict. I said that it didn’t bother me at all, because God had enabled me to forgive. What a blessing! I am at times awed by the power of forgiveness, but it shouldn’t surprise me when I think of how God has forgiven me in Christ. When I have been so forgiven, how can I not forgive others? After all, God’s forgiveness is so powerful as to nullify the power of sin and death!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for how You have enabled me to be at peace even with my enemies. Help me remember always that my only real enemy is the devil, however deceived by him some people might be, and so submit to You and resist him to the point that he flees, for Your glory. (James 4:7) Thank You. Praise God!