“LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.” (Psalm 3:1 NKJV)
“Lord, I have so many enemies, so many who are against me.” (Psalm 3:1 TPT)
“O LORD, I have so many enemies; so many are against me.” (Psalm 3:1 NLT)
“O LORD, how my enemies have increased! many are rising up against me.” (Psalm 3:1 AMP)
“LORD, how my foes increase! There are many who attack me.” (Psalm 3:1 HCSB)
“LORD JEHOVAH, how my oppressors have increased! many have risen up against me.” (Psalm 3:1 ABIPE)
This Psalm was written by David when he was running from his son. Absalom raised up an army to kill his own father. While it is not what Daddy has laid on my heart to discuss in detail, I would be amiss if I didn’t point out just how dangerous it is to allow myself to be offended. When someone close to me says, or does, something that hurts me it is so easy to pick up an offense. The problem is that if I don’t forgive immediately that offense will take root and grow into a full grown tree of bitterness. I will then begin to do things to get back at the one who offended me. In this Psalm, offended Absalom let his offense grow to the point where he was determined to kill David. I have learned to be quick to forgive my offender, give the offense to my Daddy, and as the saying goes, “Let go and let God.”
Does it ever feel like your enemies are multiplying? Do you ever feel like no matter how much you try to be a peacemaker you continue to be at war with those around you? I know that I have times in which everywhere I turn there seems to be an attack on my life. Those are the times when I need to look past the attacks to the only One who can rescue me. I need to remind myself that my problem is not people.
My enemy has a name, and that name is Satan. He is the one behind all of the attacks. He is the source from which all problems, difficulties, trials, and tribulations, originate. As I have pointed out before, there are none of these things in the places in which the enemy is not present. None of these troubles existed in the Garden of Eden (the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth). They are no longer anywhere to be found in the New Earth after Satan has been removed (Kingdom of Heaven on Earth). There are no problems of any kind in the dwelling place of my Daddy (Kingdom of Heaven).
The starting point from which victory comes is to simply recognize the oppressor and all of the increasing oppression. There is no point in denying what I am going through. Faith becomes foolishness when it leads to denial. There is also no need to hide from the oppressor or his oppression. Putting the covers over my head only makes me blind to the dangers around me. Faith sees the problems and faces them head on with both eyes open.
Let’s take time to accurately assess our current situation as we ponder…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 292: When Life Seems To Be Against Me. (Psalm 3) – Part 2 – Verse 1