How To Respond When The Enemy Attacks

How To Respond When The Enemy Attacks

Psalm 62:1-7

Two weeks ago we saw the largest terror attack on US soil since September 11th 2001. A man who swore allegiance to ISIS walked into a nightclub and killed 49 people while wounding 53 others. Since that day our leaders have seemed to focus on everything except for the real threat.

When a nation or some other people group is attacked, it is imperative to address the proper enemy. This is true in the Christian life as well. We are often attacked by our scheming adversary, Satan. The Word of God tells us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” - (1 Peter 5:8). When Satan attacks, we must be ready to respond and we must respond appropriately.

In Psalm 62 King David is facing a great attack from many enemies. We are told of his distress in 2 Samuel 15:30, “And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up”.

David is enduring a revolt that is being led by his own son Absalom. Absalom is seeking to forcefully ascend his father's throne. In a situation like this you may think that David would have been bitter, angry, or questioning God. But when you examine his response you see that David uses this occasion to sing praises unto the Lord.

How could David be so positive in a situation like this? How could he praise the Lord when everything was falling apart? In spite of his many troubles, David remembered who was ultimately in control.

As we examine his response to his adversaries and adversity we see how we can respond in those times when we are attacked in this life. There is no escaping the reality that there will be times when you are attacked without cause. How can you survive in times like this? This Psalm shows us that we must wait patiently, walk prayerfully and worship passionately. Let’s begin in verses 1-4 and see that when the enemy attacks we must:

I. WAIT PATIENTLY

v3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. 4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

Many enemies were coming against David and seeking his life. They saw him as a broken-down wall and their plan was to remove him from the throne, Some of his closest friends had betrayed him and begun to tell lies and slander his name. Some continued to praise him to his face while they spoke evil against him behind his back. Not everyone had turned against him, some remained loyal to their King, but many had turned and pledged allegiance to Absalom. One such man was David’s trusted advisor Ahithophel. By this point he has betrayed him and joined ranks with Absalom. Also his servant Ziba had falsely accused David’s beloved companion Mephibosheth of abandoning him as well.

Have you ever been in a similar situation? Have you endured those times when it seemed as if you had been left to fight your battles alone? It seems that we have all lived through seasons where we felt that we could not trust anyone. Some of you may be in that situation as we speak. If so, you probably would like to know how to respond. Let me encourage you to follow the example of King David and respond by waiting upon the Lord.

Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen; I will be exalted in the earth.

Have you ever noticed that in the most difficult seasons of life, it seems that there is always someone who wants to kick you while you are down? Trust me, David could relate. In this devastating period of his life he was verbally attacked by a man named Shimei.

2 Samuel 16:5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. 6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: 8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.