Sharpest Double-Edged Sword Against Enemies--Part 2

(Continued from last week's Thursday, March 17, 2005 post.)

As we have mentioned last week, many are the enemies of the man who seeks to walk righteously before his Father in heaven. But God's Word brims with promises of deliverance to his people against enemies. And God's promises are absolute.

David wrote a song about the LORD's temple being the king's stronghold--because the LORD himself is his stronghold:

"For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD." (Psalm 27:5, 6)

Even when God rejects, as signaled by momentary defeat in battle, David expresses his confidence in the LORD:

"With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies." (Psalm 60:12)

The writer of Psalm 97 continues to echo God's promise against his people's enemies. The psalmist does this while joyfully celebrating the LORD's righteous reign over all the earth:

"Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked." (Psalm 97:10)

The same confidence reverberates even while the author of Psalm 112 eulogizes to the godly man:

"His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes." (Psalm 112:8)

In Psalm 118, the psalmist writes a hymn of thanksgiving and deliverance from enemies:

"The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies." (Psalm 118:7)

Solomon assures young men, as long as they preserve sound judgment and discernment:

"Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared." (Proverbs 3:25, 26)

Solomon continues in his assurances:

"When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him." (Proverbs 16:7)

Through the prophet Isaiah, God reminds Israel of his promises:

"All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.
"Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them.
"Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all."
(Isaiah 41:11, 12)

(Come back Thursday, March 24, 2005 for the final post on this.)

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Breaking News

U.S. District Judge James Whittemore, a Clinton appointee, refused to order the reinsertion of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube early Tuesday morning. Read more....

LORD, thy will be done. We remain steadfast in our hopes in you. Often, the farthest our vision takes us still falls short compared to what your all-seeing eye could see. Your purposes are sovereign.

At least, with what has happened this morning, my eyes see clearer how needful this nation is of intercession in prayer, especially in behalf of the weak and the helpless, in behalf of those that have bought into the culture of death for convenience, and in behalf of the justice system in which courts have thrown out the Ten Commandments and along with it God's direct order, "You shall not murder."