Mensa Otabil - Surrounded By Enemies
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Welcome to a brand new week. Today we are starting a new study. We go back to the Book of Psalms, Psalm 3, verse number one: «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 is what is there, and we have to deal with the scripture and learn from it.
Today, we are looking at the third Psalm. The third Psalm is the first Psalm in the Psalms that is designated as a Psalm of David. Psalms 1 and 2 are not designated as a Psalm of David, but Psalm 3 is a Psalm of David. In all, 73 of the Psalms are directly attributed to David, and Psalm 3 was written during a very painful time in the life of David because, at this time, his son Absalom has rebelled against him and has really wreaked a lot of havoc. Absalom succeeded in overthrowing David as king.
You can imagine what it feels like to have your own son rebel against you to overthrow you. In addition to that, many of David’s trusted advisors shifted to Absalom’s side. He saw a lot of betrayal, and people he thought were trusted friends all turned 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 words «increase» and «many» in one verse. He is using «increase» and «many» to convey the extent of the situation he is in. It seems everybody is turning against him.
He is in a time of distress; enemies are multiplying against him. People who have had long-term issues with David now jump in, and everybody wants to get David down. There are times in our lives, unfortunately, when we get into a situation like David, where it seems as if everybody is standing against us. It may not be true that everybody is, but that’s how it seems. Sometimes, you see trusted friends betray you. You see people popping up from everywhere, all trying to take a shot at you, and that is where David finds himself.
What do you do when you find yourself in such a situation, where it seems there are enemies all around, and things are not going right? How do you manage your life? That’s what we are going to find out in Psalm 3, to see how David, at this very low moment of 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 in the midst of enemies.
I pray that no matter what surrounds you, no matter what you feel around you, beyond everything else, you’ll feel the presence of God, feel the love of God, and know that God has not left you and that God is with you. So, 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 give you the 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 and amen.»