Deliverance From Enemies
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Judges 12:1-15 and Psalm 35:1-16 (NIV)
(Tay Bee Choo, SGM – Core Team member)
READ:
Psalm 35:1-16 stood out for me in my reflection.
OBSERVE:
This Psalm was written by King David to ask God to bring judgement against his enemies. King David prayed for destruction upon his enemies (Psalm 35:8) and he used phrases like “may their paths be dark and slippery with the angel of the Lord pursuing them” (Psalm 35:6). This is widely considered to be an imprecatory prayer i.e. to invoke evil or a curse upon an enemy.
Indeed, this Psalm is also a prayer to God for help against those who oppose us violently or maliciously when we have previously done good to them. These enemies may lie about us or treat us unjustly when we have done nothing to warrant such treatment. This unjust treatment may not be a single incident but several incidents over the course of many years.
APPLY:
This psalm should not be read in isolation but in the context of the New Testament where Jesus commanded us to pray for our enemies’ salvation instead (see Matthew 5:44-48). We are to pray and surrender whatever situation we find ourselves in, to God. God will avenge in His own time and in His own way. We are also reminded that our battles are not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, authorities and powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).
DO:
I shall pray to God for protection, pray for my enemies’ salvation and search for God diligently until I find Him. I need to read His Word consistently so that I am empowered with hope and encouragement and understand how God wants me to live my life. I need to recognise that I am to live to please God and not man.
PRAY:
Our Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unfailing love for us.
Help us to search for You diligently because we know that when we seek You, we will find You.
Help us to read Your Word consistently so that we are empowered with your strength, hope and encouragement.
No matter what we have to face, bless us with Your presence.
Help us to trust You more and more and to overcome daily battles with the evil one.
In Jesus’ most precious name we pray, Amen.
