Mensa Otabil - Enemies All Around (10/01/2025)
Welcome to a brand new week. Today, we are starting a new study. We go back to the book of Psalms. What I’m trying to do is conduct a sequential study of the Psalms. We started with Psalm 1, Psalm 2, and now we are on Psalm 3, and that’s how I intend to proceed.
Psalm 3, verse 1: «Lord, how have they increased who trouble me? Many are they who rise up against me.» It doesn’t sound like a good way to start a week or the Psalm, but that’s what is there, and we have to deal with the Scripture and learn from it.
So today, we are looking at the third Psalm. The third Psalm is the first Psalm that is designated as a Psalm of David. Psalms 1 and 2 are not designated as Psalms of David, but Psalm 3 is a Psalm of David. All 73 of the Psalms are directly attributed to David, and Psalm 3 was written at a very painful time in the history of David’s life. At this time, his son Absalom has rebelled against him and is causing a lot of havoc. Absalom succeeded in overthrowing David as king.
So, you can imagine what it feels like to have your own son rebel against you and to overthrow you. In addition to that, many of David’s trusted advisers shifted to Absalom’s side. He witnessed a lot of betrayal from people he thought were trusted friends, all turning against him. In the midst of that situation is when he prayed this prayer to God. He begins the Psalm with a lamentation, a painful complaint, and he states his situation. Note how he uses certain words: he says, «How have they increased who trouble me? Many are those who rise up against me.»
You see the word «increase» and «many» in just one verse. He uses «increase» and «many» to indicate the extent of his predicament. It seems as if everybody is turning against him, so he’s experiencing a time of distress, with enemies multiplying against him. People who have had long-term issues with David now come forth, and it seems like everybody wants to bring David down.
There are times in our lives when we find ourselves in a situation like David’s, where it feels as if almost everyone is against us. It may not be true that everyone is against us, but that’s how it seems at times. Sometimes, we see trusted friends betray us, and people appear from everywhere trying to bring us down. That is where David finds himself.
What do you do when you find yourself in such a situation where it feels like enemies surround you and nothing is going right? How do you manage your life? That’s what we are going to discover in Psalm 3: how David, at this very low moment in his life, was able to trust God and overcome.
Like David, we can also feel the presence of God in the midst of storms and enemies. I pray that no matter what surrounds you, no matter what you feel around you, beyond everything else, you will feel the presence of God. You will know the love of God and understand that God has not left you, for God is with you.
That is how we start our study of the third Psalm. «How have they increased and multiplied who trouble me?» May that never be your story, but if it is, God will grant you victory.
So let’s pray. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, you are my defense when wickedness rises against me. Your Spirit lifts up a standard on my behalf. In Jesus' name, Amen.»
No matter what rises against you, the Spirit of God will rise on your behalf, protecting you and defending you. We’ll continue tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.