Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; defend me from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloodthirsty men. (Psalm 59:1)
Throughout the Bible we see that when wicked men feel threatened by God’s people, they begin to conspire against them. When Pharaoh concluded that the Hebrews were more and mightier than his people, he began to implement policies that were designed to restrict and eventually destroy Israel. When Sanballat saw that God’s favor was upon Nehemiah and the Jews who were successfully rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, he began to plot how to get destroy them and “cause the work to cease” (Nehemiah 4:11). Likewise, when Saul realized that God’s favor was upon David and was clearly the one chosen to lead Israel, Saul conspired to kill him.
David’s only crime was being chosen of God; but that was enough to make him an enemy of the people, at least in the eyes of Saul and those loyal to him. To be at war with the Philistines and other Gentile nations was one thing, but being forced to fight a war on two fronts, against pagans and his own countrymen, was probably a bitter pill for David to swallow — it would be difficult for anyone to absorb. However, none of this took God by surprise, in fact, it seems to me that God placed David in Saul’s path to demonstrate to His people the kind of leader He had chosen, David, compared to the leader they chose — Saul. Furthermore, to effectively lead Israel, it was necessary for David to learn first hand that God does protect and deliver those who serve Him faithfully. In other words, the ordeal with Saul was not the only battle David would have to endure and, in the process, learn how to depend upon God.
So, how can we relate this to our situation? Like David, anyone who has been chosen by God for a certain task, at no fault of their own, end up with a target on their back and are marked for destruction — if the Adversary were permitted to have his way. How many of us have felt the ire and contempt of others, sometimes from those who claim to serve the same God, just because we attempt to do what God has assigned to us? That being said, if we are faithful to our call, God will preserve us and advance us in spite of those who try to “cause the work to cease.” He will not allow the enemy to have his way, but will use you and me to demonstrate to all that God will have His way. Enemies may rise up against us but “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord” (Isaiah 54:17).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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