Psalm 59:1–2: “Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; / Defend me from those who rise up against me. / Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, / And save me from bloodthirsty men.”

March 5th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

David gave us two great titles to remember about our God in this psalm. First, David asked to be delivered: God is a Delivering Savior. Second, David asked to be defended: God is a Defending Savior. David’s human enemies were both murderers (bloodthirsty) and rank, unrepentant sinners, and our adversary is the same. Satan is evil through and through, and has absolutely no regard for human life. But our Defending and Delivering Savior will save us.

There is an American saying from the Wild West that claims, “a man is known by the character of his enemies.” This suggests that if your enemies are wicked and murderous toward you because you are serving God, then you are in great shape. But if your enemies are just, righteous, upstanding citizens, then you should examine your own character and life. My Irish grandfather used to love to recite the so-called Irish prayer:

May those who love us, love us.
And those who don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn’t turn their hearts,
May He turn their ankles
So we’ll know them by their limping.

But life is not that simple for the child of God. My grandfather always said this prayer in jest because he understood that Jesus has commanded us to “Love [our] enemies” (Matt. 5:44).

“LORD, may You turn the hearts of our enemies to You and save them as You have saved us, ‘by faith through grace.'”