The Lies of the Enemy

Sam Johnson was a fighter pilot in Vietnam. On his 25^th mission, he was shot down and spent the next seven and a half years as a POW in the “Hanoi Hilton.” About half of that time he spent in solitary confinement. The only people he ever saw were the guards and enemy officers who came to interrogate him. He was eventually released and would serve as a member of the US Congress for almost three decades.

King David also found himself surrounded by enemies. “Lord​, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, ‘God will not deliver him’” (Ps. 3:1–2). The preface to the psalm informs us that it was written when David’s son Absalom had usurped the throne and drove David out of Jerusalem. How jarring it must have been for David to see most of the nation turn on him and follow his rebellious son. He found himself back on the run in the wilderness as he had been in the days of Saul. How easy it would be to believe the taunts of the crowd that God was not with him.

But David turned his eyes away from his enemies and onto the Lord. “But you, Lord​, are a shield around me, my glory and the One who lifts my head” (v. 3). He was able to sleep in peace because he knew his life was in God’s hands (vv. 5–6). In faith, he asked God to defeat his enemies and “break the teeth of the wicked” (v. 7). This striking metaphor shows that David wanted his enemies to be powerless. A lion or a snake without teeth is not a threat. David ended by affirming that “from the Lord​ comes deliverance” (v. 8).

Pray with Us

As we celebrate this Labor Day, thank God for the gift of hard work. Help us remember that, no matter what task we are called to do, we can do it for the Lord: “It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Col. 3:23-24).

BY Ryan Cook

Dr. Ryan Cook has taught at Moody Bible Institute since 2012. He earned his bachelor of arts in Bible and Theology from Moody and his master of arts in Old Testament from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. He has worked in Christian education and served as a pastor in Michigan for seven years. During his time as a professor at Moody, he earned his doctorate from Asbury Theological Seminary. He now lives with his wife, Ashley, and their three children in the Chicagoland area.