Adversaries

Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. Psalm 27: 12.

The word adverse, is quite a commonly and widely used describing word, in many areas of our lives. Some of us have experienced adverse reactions to medications and injections. Some live in adverse, human squalor. There are persons in the public domain, who have to endure adverse publicity and swelling adverse criticisms. Even in the area of sports, many a well-planned game, where people from all over the world have gathered, has to be abandoned because of adverse weather conditions. The point being made is that the word adverse, is not a welcomed word, not a pretty word, not a helpful word.

It is from that same word, adverse, we have the word adversary, or adversaries. Your adversaries then, are those who are acting against you, who are hostile to you, and who are deadly opposed to you. They are antagonists, your natural enemies and your nemesis even.

My mind goes back to an occasion when, as part of a team of women who went to a Women’s Correctional Centre, to share the Gospel News, I called one of the inmates my nemesis.

That lady was a very recent incarceree, one whom we were seeing for the first time and who was seeing and hearing us for the first time. I remember distinctly that all was going well - the singing, the praying and suchlike - until I got up to speak, as it was my turn to bring a word of encouragement. As soon as I began to speak on having faith in God, she became very agitated and vocal. She rose to her feet and said that we should stop deceiving the vulnerable women, with talk about faith in Jesus. In responding to her, I called her my nemesis. Clearly, she was an adversary of the Gospel of Jesus, and therefore our adversary too. I can victoriously report that God did not deliver us to the will of that woman. His Word went forth and she was quietened.

The will of our natural enemies, our adversaries, is always hostile and it will forever be that way. It was so in the time of David also and we shall pursue more of it during this week. As we journey together in these few days, may you be granted the unmeasurable, uninhibited and irresistible merit of Teacher Holy Spirit, to lift you higher and higher in courage, charge and commitment to our Father in Heaven.  

Listening to David, we are aware of a man who had many adversaries, yet a man who knew and loved his God, with all his heart, mind, soul and strength. On this occasion, we listen to David, as he prays to his ever-faithful and caring Lord, who is his Shepherd, his Stronghold, his Fortress and more. Is not David’s God your God and mine also?

Psalm 27 is one of David’s most personal cries to his ever present and always hearing God. However, in this sharing we are mostly dealing with verse twelve, as quoted at the beginning.  

We carry on tomorrow.