All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame. (Psalm 6:10, NIV)
We are beginning our prayerful search through the sixth Psalm, a Psalm of David, and like very many of them, the emotion, the pathos of his writing could have the effect of a little too much DRA-MA on our post-modern understanding.
Could, but should not. Remembering that we are spending our days learning to care a little more deeply, discovering as we pray that we have not yet brought even tears before the Lord at times, much less intense and prolonged intercession with fasting and weeping and crying out on behalf of those who really are endangered in their souls. Today, we remind ourselves that we must always put the oxygen mask on ourselves before we try to help others!
We don’t have to weep and “carry on,” no, not at all, but we do have to care to the depth of the Lord’s compassion in us. Have we tapped it? Are we too cool for the school of prayer into which we have been admitted? David was not, clearly.
We went to the last verse first of Psalm 6, and we will start at the beginning next time, but to help us along the way, look at his words.
All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.
“Oh, Lord God! What enemies? David was a fugitive, pursued by a wicked king and his minions. Us? We want to go to the movies this weekend! We want to get together with friends this evening! We think You’re glad when we relax, enjoy this life, when we fellowship and laugh and drink in the beauties of friendship and fun, too! But Father, help us to remember how hated we are … that is NOT what we want to think about! HATED?? Enemies?? WHAT enemies? Oh, Lord, help us to see how desperately wicked are those that oppose our souls, and how real their animosity. Help us to take up arms against them!
“Help us! Help us to realize how unendingly our own flesh strives against Your Spirit, and how deep is that enmity! Remind us, let us see for now and for always that we have enemies because we are vulnerable to doubts about You and Your love when we lay aside the armor You have provided. We have weaknesses that have been exploited before and would be again if we let down our guard.
“We don’t hate You! We love You! … but our flesh never will, and it is the worst, most deadly enemy of all, right within us. We care! We do, and we will. We care for others, and we care that our own souls thrive in compassion and hope. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Greek Pankratiasten Wrestlers, by permission, Wikipedia, Matthias Kabel
