After reading Psalm 18 where David rejoices at his enemies’ defeat (and at the risk of sounding like the self-justifying lawyer who asked the Lord, “Who is my neighbor?”), I wondered just who my enemies really are in this day and time.
Enemy #1: Satan
Sure, the obvious answer is Satan. He is the enemy of my soul. It is his desire to separate me from my Lord. It was a separation that began with the introduction of death, through sin, in the Garden of Eden. But I can rejoice in that Christ has defeated death for me in my salvation (Hebrews 2:14, 15).
Thus, Satan is enemy number one.
So then, who are my enemies now…or enemy number two? And who are yours? Because they are the same—my enemies and your enemies. Though they may have different names, they have the same identity.
Who are they then?
Enemy #2: Those Who Oppose the Cross of Christ
The Apostle Paul said it this way:
“For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things” (Philippians 3:18-19 NASB).
Our number two enemies are those who oppose the cross of Christ. They oppose the preaching of the cross, they do battle with the power of the cross, and they compete with the crucified life of the cross. We all have them in our lives, some operating without the knowledge of God and others blatantly refusing to accept the power of the cross.
Regardless of the practice this enemy uses, there is a common way for us to treat them.
Enemy #3: Our Flesh
Any other enemies?
I believe there is an enemy number three that battles us too. It is a war we all face and is personal to each. It is the enemy of our flesh.
“For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do” (Galatians 5:17 ESV).
It is towards this enemy, in particular, that I can grab hold of David’s thanksgiving in the power of my God and defeat this adversary: “He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze” (Psalms 18:34 NASB).
The Lord has trained my hands to war in defeating my flesh through His mercy and grace by seeking Him for deliverance and practicing the spiritual disciplines as I exercise myself unto godliness.
Yes, I can join with David, and the chorus of all who can rejoice the victories over the flesh:
