Psalm 17

My mortal enemies, surround me.

¹⁰                                             They close their hearts to pity;

their mouths speak arrogance.

¹¹        They have surrounded are our steps on every side;

their eyes are fixed to cast us to the ground.

¹²                He is like a lion eager to tear,

as a young lion lurking in ambush.

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David’s Enemies

For the Lord’s Day:  the 7^th of March 2004

Introduction:  Our opening line this morning comes from the ninth verse:  “My mortal enemies, surround me.”  While this division of the text is allowed by some commentators, it is still a minority report.  However, I have gone with this because the line so carefully titles the following three verses that highlight David’s experience.

 

One of the stories that has not been widely reported from the Middle East is about a small group of our soldiers who were surrounded by several thousand enemies.  Undaunted – our warriors fought their hearts out.  And with inspired leadership, not only were none of them seriously damaged, but almost the whole force of the enemy became unwilling casualties.

 

With more primitive weapons, and hunted on every side – David did not feel the same confidence in his similar situation.  And yet, the fact that he was able to commit this psalm to writing indicates that the Lord God saw him through the heat of combat, even an unfair ambush as we sense the scene here.

 

And yet, there is much here for modern warriors to emulate from David’s extreme humility.  Calvin notes carefully:  “The greater … the terror with which we are stricken by the cruelty of our enemies, the more ought we to be quickened to ardor in prayer.”  In this same sense I am reminded of a spiritual song which we have used from time to time.  The title is simply put:  The Battle Belongs to the Lord!  And if our references are correct – I have read that many of the best and sincere Israelite warriors prayed out loud in the midst of battle for the Lord God to guide their swords, spears and arrows.  Even David we remember when he was a lad – did count on the Lord for the accuracy of his pebble, when the giant Goliath fell stoned.

 

In another political and even employment sense – there are dark nights of the soul when we think we are ruined and soon to be has been or unemployed because of corporate or political enmity.  Of this last, I can safely say that I have never seen political enmity at the heights to which we are becoming accustomed in the last year or so.  Envy, jealousy and hatred have become public polity.  David certainly realized the same in the ongoing opposition of old king Saul. 

 

And so there are several scenarios into which this passage may fall.  All because the heart of God’s own man – was so tightly strung: even as a harp must be to be heard all the more sweetly.  And this was David’s great gift to rhyme and sing the desperate heart’s need for salvation, love and mercy of the Great God to those whom He calls His own.

 

Development:  There follows the opening description four specific complaints at the unholy composition of David’s opponents.  There are in these militant complaints a ready sense that like the most perfidious of enemies – any concept of civilized rules of war are completely lacking.  While this can be un-nerving in the long run – in the short run it encourages every ounce of courage and skill on the part of those who fight such uncivilized enemies.

 

Normally, warriors of every nation have respected the same who have opposed them.  However, there were periods of history when that norm was scarce to non-existent.  Chivalry, the military code of the Middle Ages predated the modern rules of war.  And in that now ancient code – a certain amount of respect and accord were paid to every qualified foe.  During the Crusades, Saladin the Magnificent was so perplexed with the poor horseflesh being fielded by the Crusaders, that he sent over better horses from his own stable so that his enemy might have a fighting chance. This is not the nature of David’s enemies who have “closed their hearts to pity.”

 

These are the type of killers who would not exercise any restraint in method or emotion to totally destroy everyone who dared to challenge their militant skill.  It was in this same sense that the Texans were incensed when Santa Anna raised the flag which demonstrated and signaled his intention to murder everyone who resisted his armed might and power.  The resultant slaughter inflamed the frontier and laid the foundation for his own eventual capture and overthrow.

 

The second description is of the likes of the Mad Man of Baghdad, Mussolini and their kin.  These are the proud braggarts who would defy their enemies with promised weapons of intimidation and horror.  “Their mouths speak arrogance,” David records of his own pathetic enemies.  How many times did Saul’s lack of skill leave him to the tender mercies of David who fought by the rules and therefore he could not stab the wicked and unstable Saul in the back when he was found sleeping.

 

However, on this occasion, David’s enemy has enjoyed an uncommon good fortune, David helplessly complains that: “They have surrounded are our steps on every side;”  We sense that a march has been stolen on David, his most fearsome enemy has him surrounded on every side, there is no possible escape in any military sense.  George Washington could very well sympathize with David,  seven times, Washington reported that he had been outgeneraled and ought by every account to have been run to the ground and captured and his Continental Army destroyed.  However, each and every time Washington testified that the Lord gave him a means and way of escape and so the revolution against tyranny survived to fight another day.

 

In the moment of anguish reported by David – he senses his own hoplessness and all the more does he despair because of the uncivilized attitude of his enemy whose “eyes are fixed to cast us to the ground.”  This phrase is a poetic devise to inform us that David’s death and that of his most faithful followers is the ultimate goal in mind.  Some translations would indicate that the enemy of David would see him in hell if that could be accomplished, a situation that David would avoid at any and every cost.  Thankfully, David belongs to the Lord – and to the higher authority in heaven David brings the seriousness of his desperate case.

 

Application:  And yet, before he makes his final plea for divine protection, he reminds the Lord of the extreme nature of his enemiey.  “He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.”  This man is a beast, David is saying, this is not a warrior whose intentions are to protect and serve his sovereign and country.  This man is a base murderous thug whose only ambition it to collect ears or scalps to celebrate his military abilities.  Here is a man who will not fight in the open but one who intends to destroy David unawares.  A quick knife in the ribs, to the heart even and David would be gone before he even knew it!

 

We are reminded of course, of the Apostle Peter’s spiritual assessement of old Nick himself:  “Be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  (1 Peter 5: 8)

 

And so, even as David later takes spiritual consul and encouragement from the Lord, he thereby anticipates in his own life the careful instructions of Peter to the saints of all the earth.  We read further wisdom and advice from Peter in the same section of his first letter:  “Resist him firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  To him be the dominion forever and ever.  Amen.”  (1 Peter 5: 9-11)

 

David, of course knows much of this and he has amply demonstrated his character and his utter dependence upon the sovereign mercy and providence of our very own God.  Brethren – we too are being called to give as good account of ourselves as David did.  Yet, I wonder if we give even lip service to the ministry of prayer and praise that so inspires us from the heart of David the king.  May we learn to humble ourselves as David and pray that even as the Lord God of heaven and earth protects us from every enemy – may we learn to fight the battle bravely and thereby give glory to our father in heaven.  Amen.

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PREACHING RESOURCES

Calvin, John:  Commentary on Book of Psalms.

Delitzsch, F:  Commentary on the Old Testament – Psalms.

Spurgeon, C.H:  Treasury of David.

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