The Psalms and Enemies
The
Old Testament Book of Psalms mentions the words “enemy” and “enemies” 104
times. That is quite amazing. Most Christians recognize the Book of Psalms
as a source of comfort, rightfully so, but they fail to see the big picture.
David had sinned horribly, stealing a man's wife, impregnating her and then
murdering her husband to hide the sin.
David repented and God forgave him... 2nd Samuel 12:13, “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.” However, some people hated David and spent the rest of their lives trying to destroy David, condemning him, stirring up strife and slandering him. Psalm 31:10-14 . . .
“For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me. I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.”
As we just read, David's neighbors walked away from him when they saw him coming. It affected his health. David often grieved and sighed because of his enemies. Many self-righteous people slandered David, who said... “I have heard the slander of many.” They conspired against him. They even tried to take his life, all because of his past mistakes and failures in life. The truth is that they were very jealous of David, because he had done great works for God. A righteous man can do a thousand good works and remain unnoticed; but just let him mess up once, and self-righteous hypocrites will parade his sin, condemning him to a life of criticism and sinful slander.
The wonderful thing is that God has the final say, and it matters not what men may say. David had learned this truth, which is why he stated in Psalm 51:4, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight...” James 4:12 warns, “There is one Lawgiver, Who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” God is the only Lawgiver and Judge. Keep these precious truths in mind as you read through all of the following Scriptures from the Book of Psalms which deal with enemies. God is still on His throne. May God bless you.
Psalms:3:7: Arise, O LORD; save me, O my
God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast
broken the teeth of the ungodly.
Psalms:5:8: Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies;
make thy way straight before my face.
Psalms:6:7: Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of
all mine enemies.
Psalms:6:10: Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return
and be ashamed suddenly.
Psalms:7:4: If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me;
(yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)
Psalms:7:5: Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread
down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.
Psalms:7:6: Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the
rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast
commanded.
Psalms:8:2: Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained
strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and
the avenger.
Psalms:9:3: When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at
thy presence.
Psalms:9:6: O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou
hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.
Psalms:10:5: His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out
of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
Psalms:13:2: How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my
heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
Psalms:13:4: Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those
that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
Psalms:17:9: From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who
compass me about.
Psalms:18:3: I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so
shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Psalms:18:17: He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which
hated me: for they were too strong for me.
Psalms:18:37: I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I
turn again till they were consumed.
Psalms:18:40: Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I
might destroy them that hate me.
Psalms:18:48: He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up
above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent
man.
Psalms:21:8: Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand
shall find out those that hate thee.
Psalms:23:5: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psalms:25:2: O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine
enemies triumph over me.
Psalms:25:19: Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me
with cruel hatred.
Psalms:27:2: When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to
eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
Psalms:27:6: And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round
about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will
sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Psalms:27:11: Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because
of mine enemies.
Psalms:27:12: Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false
witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
Psalms:31:8: And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast
set my feet in a large room.
Psalms:31:11: I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among
my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without
fled from me.
Psalms:31:15: My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine
enemies, and from them that persecute me.
Psalms:35:19: Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me:
neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
Psalms:37:20: But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall
be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume
away.
Psalms:38:19: But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they
that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
Psalms:41:2: The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be
blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his
enemies.
Psalms:41:5: Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name
perish?
Psalms:41:11: By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth
not triumph over me.
Psalms:42:9: I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go
I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Psalms:42:10: As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while
they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
Psalms:43:2: For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off?
why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Psalms:44:5: Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name
will we tread them under that rise up against us.
Psalms:44:7: But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to
shame that hated us.
Psalms:44:10: Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which
hate us spoil for themselves.
Psalms:44:16: For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by
reason of the enemy and avenger.
Psalms:45:5: Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies;
whereby the people fall under thee.
Psalms:54:5: He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy
truth.
Psalms:54:7: For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath
seen his desire upon mine enemies.
Psalms:55:3: Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of
the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
Psalms:55:12: For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have
borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against
me; then I would have hid myself from him:
Psalms:56:2: Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that
fight against me, O thou most High.
Psalms:56:9: When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I
know; for God is for me.
Psalms:59:1: Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them
that rise up against me.
Psalms:59:10: The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my
desire upon mine enemies.
Psalms:60:12: Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall
tread down our enemies.
Psalms:61:3: For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from
the enemy.
Psalms:64:1: Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear
of the enemy.
Psalms:66:3: Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the
greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.
Psalms:68:1: Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that
hate him flee before him.
Psalms:68:21: But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy
scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
Psalms:68:23: That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and
the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
Psalms:69:4: They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of
mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are
mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.
Psalms:69:18: Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of
mine enemies.
Psalms:71:10: For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for
my soul take counsel together,
Psalms:72:9: They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his
enemies shall lick the dust.
Psalms:74:3: Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that
the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
Psalms:74:4: Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set
up their ensigns for signs.
Psalms:74:10: O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy
blaspheme thy name for ever?
Psalms:74:18: Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and
that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
Psalms:74:23: Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those
that rise up against thee increaseth continually.
Psalms:78:42: They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered
them from the enemy.
Psalms:78:53: And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the
sea overwhelmed their enemies.
Psalms:78:61: And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into
the enemy's hand.
Psalms:78:66: And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a
perpetual reproach.
Psalms:80:6: Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies
laugh among themselves.
Psalms:81:14: I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand
against their adversaries.
Psalms:83:2: For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee
have lifted up the head.
Psalms:89:10: Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou
hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.
Psalms:89:22: The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness
afflict him.
Psalms:89:42: Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast
made all his enemies to rejoice.
Psalms:89:51: Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith
they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.
Psalms:92:9: For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall
perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
Psalms:92:11: Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine
ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.
Psalms:97:3: A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round
about.
Psalms:102:8: Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad
against me are sworn against me.
Psalms:105:24: And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger
than their enemies.
Psalms:106:10: And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and
redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
Psalms:106:11: And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of
them left.
Psalms:106:42: Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into
subjection under their hand.
Psalms:107:2: Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed
from the hand of the enemy;
Psalms:108:13: Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall
tread down our enemies.
Psalms:110:1: The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I
make thine enemies thy footstool.
Psalms:110:2: The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule
thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Psalms:112:8: His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see
his desire upon his enemies.
Psalms:119:98: Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine
enemies: for they are ever with me.
Psalms:119:139: My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have
forgotten thy words.
Psalms:119:157: Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not
decline from thy testimonies.
Psalms:127:5: Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall
not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
Psalms:132:18: His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall
his crown flourish.
Psalms:136:24: And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth
for ever.
Psalms:138:7: Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me:
thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and
thy right hand shall save me.
Psalms:139:20: For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take
thy name in vain.
Psalms:139:22: I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
Psalms:143:3: For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life
down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have
been long dead.
Psalms:143:9: Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to
hide me.
Psalms:143:12: And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them
that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
