Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. Psalm 3:1
The psalms speak constantly of enemies because David was chased by Saul for close to 10 years before attacking and being attacked by numerous nations and even his own son, Absalom. David’s enemies were people. The Jews enemies in Exodus and again in Esther were people.
Who are the enemies of a Christian?
- The enemies of a Christian are spiritual.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 - Our problem is sin.
…let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1 - Sin alone stirs God’s anger.
For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, Colossians 3:6
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, Romans 1:18 - Good men see sin as the enemy.
For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. … Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from athe body of this death? Romans 7:15, 24
- Christians are commanded to kill sin.
…if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5 - Christians are commanded to love the people who treat them badly .
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44
But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34 - Christians who were treated badly rarely mention the injustices done to them, nor do they expect to be saved from the politicians and neighbors who persecute them, nor do they focus their prayers and heart on earthly justice.
Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 2 Timothy 4:14
But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. Hebrews 10:32-34
When we preach from the OT, we should apply the verses about enemies to the sins of those who are listening to us. When the Jews in Esther slew their enemies (Esther 9:16), this should be applied to a Christian killing his sin. John Bunyan does this in The Holy War. Charles Spurgeon does this in his comments on The Treasury of David. Evil men simply do not take much space in the writing or the hearts of the apostles. There are a few references to earthly enemies in the NT, but the focus is the great danger and terrible calamity of sin.
The change of enemies is another great change between the Old and New Covenants. There is a change of law (Heb. 7:18; 8:13; 9:10; 10:9; 11:40; 12:25; et. al.). There is a change of people from the circumcised to the baptized. There is a change of access where each believer comes boldly to the throne of grace. And there is a change of the enemies. Those who love word-for-word exposition and a literal hermeneutic and an earthly kingdom ruled by Christ should loudly teach that the enemies have changed from people to sins, just like so many other things changed from the Old to the New.
Hate your sins! Kill your sins! Wage war on these evil enemies and demons. Pray the imprecatory prayers Sunday morning from the pulpit against this army that is at the gates. Spend very little time and energy on evil politicians. That is what they did in the times of the shadow. Pray with power until the Heavens answer that God’s people will kill their enemies and win in the long war against their sins. The Psalms teach this to the church today.
