Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. (Psalm 3:7)
Not the typical line in a Sunday morning song! It certainly caught my attention this morning.
Psalm 3 was probably written by David as he was fleeing Jerusalem from the uprising and rebellion of his son, Absalom. It was one of the lowest points of David’s life. His kingdom and his life were both jeopardized…by his own son no less!
That night David wrestled with his thoughts and emotions. He was in danger of losing everything….his authority, his home, his wealth, his dignity, his security, his son, and his very life. Everything was spinning out of control. Enemies were all around. People who used to sing songs to his name are now cursing him and wishing him dead. Public opinion is fickle and cruel…not much has changed in 3000 years!
In the midst of all this David fights to keep his eyes on the LORD. He cries out to Him. How many are my foes! There are too many fronts to fight. David is overwhelmed. But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts my head. God protects. God provides. God lifts up our head so we can walk confidently and without fear.
Most amazing of all to David…God allows him to sleep! I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me. This to David was the sign that he needed. God enabled him to rest. He did not toss and turn all night. He remembered who God was. He put his life in God’s hands. And he rested.
With renewed confidence, David now asks God to rise up and strike his enemies on the cheek and break their teeth. How do you interpret this…especially in light of the NT command to “love our enemies” (Matthew 5:44)? Here are some thoughts I had this morning…
- David is speaking from his heart to God. This is his prayer. It is real…not a rote exercise filled with spiritual platitudes.
- David does not personally seek to break his enemies’ teeth. He cries out to God to defend him and to break the teeth of his foes. He truly allows vengeance to be the Lord’s (Romans 12:19).
- The request itself is interesting. David asks God to hit the mouth and teeth of his enemies. Not a fatal blow but a blow to stop their violence. The picture is of a wild animal with teeth bared running after David. David cries out to God to knock the animal’s teeth out! Quite an appropriate prayer. A toothless wolf is a lot less threatening than a fanged one.
As I consider David’s psalm today, I think of two things…one, I need to pray that God gives me the confidence to lay down, sleep, and rest no matter what stresses or uncertainties I face in life…and two, loving my enemies does not mean allowing them to rip me to shreds with their teeth. I can pray for them and love them while at the same time praying that God would break their teeth so that their growl is less threatening and their bite is less harmful.
Lord, You are my strength, my shield, my glory, and the lifter of my head.