Let me share with you a portion of my series of messages about the 25 blessings found in Psalm 25.
Psalm 25:2-3 says, “O my God, I trust in You; may I not be ashamed; may my enemies not triumph over me. Yes, let none who wait on You be ashamed; let them be ashamed who transgress without cause.”
In the last phrase of verse 2, David asks that his enemies not have the opportunity to triumph over him. The alternative aspect of this request is that he have victory over his enemies—and this is one of the blessings included in Psalm 25.
As we know from the Bible record, David had enemies of all sorts on every side. His first notable adversary was Goliath, the Philistine giant. We can read the detailed and dramatic account of David’s victory in 1 Samuel 17. When king Saul asked David about his willingness to confront the Philistine champion, David told Saul about his previous victories over a bear and a lion. These were only the beginnings of his exploits.
David also faced relentless adversaries in the Philistines, the Ammonites, and many others during his long and eventful life. But as we know, the most deceitful and dangerous enemy of them all was Saul, the first king of Israel. Instead of welcoming David as the finest of his warriors, Saul was consumed by jealousy and envy, and repeatedly tried to destroy David. Of course, David eventually prevailed.
I want to point out that despite their being at least two times that Saul was completely at David’s mercy, David did nothing to harm him. When David’s enemies were outside God’s covenant, God gave David the opportunity—indeed, the mandate—to overcome them fully and finally. However, when it came to Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, and someone who had the holy oil of anointing for service upon him, David would not stretch his hand out to touch him in any way.
I believe that this is a prophetic preview of how we are to treat those who try to oppose us—especially those who profess faith in Christ, while at the same time acting in ways that are unlike the Christ they say they serve. Listen to Paul’s admonition to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:24-26: “The servant of the Lord must not quarrel [strive, KJV], but must be gentle toward all people, able to teach, patient, in gentleness instructing those in opposition. Perhaps God will grant them repentance to know the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch woman who was sentenced to a death camp in WWII due to shielding Jews from persecution in her home, said this: “The first step on the way to victory is to recognize the enemy.” Our enemy has already been identified, and it is not people. Listen to the clear testimony of Ephesians 6:12: “For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
I do need to point out that our adversary often uses people to oppose the work of God’s kingdom, as well as circumstances that are influenced or caused by those same people. You may not consider people to be your enemies, but they may consider themselves to be your enemies! You must not be afraid of them, but you should be aware of them.
Even though we contend with enemies in the spiritual realm, when we trust God as David did, our God will give us victory over every one of them arrayed against us. Here is an important caution—make sure your enemies are also God’s enemies. Don’t allow yourselves to be deceived into thinking that you can behave outside the boundaries of God’s word and His kingdom and expect success. Keep yourself in the love of God and walk before Him with a repentant and obedient heart, and you will find yourself on the winning side of every battle.
Here is an important truth: even though our enemies are not people, there are times when the devil uses people to oppose the work of God. Demon spirits have no natural, physical bodies—but they seek to influence people who do, so that the devil’s strategies can be promoted in the earth. Please understand that I am not saying that every person who opposes God is demon possessed. I am not advocating that at all. What I am saying is that people can be influenced or motivated by demonic spirits to say things or behave in ways that seek to hinder the purposes of God.
Let me remind you of 2 Timothy 2:24 again: “The servant of the Lord must not quarrel [strive, KJV]….” Quarreling indicates that another person is involved. Striving doesn’t have to involve someone else. You may remember becoming so agitated about something that your blood pressure spikes, even though there is nobody else present. In some cases, you may be trying to have a conversation with people who aren’t there! Read the cautions against strife in the book of Proverbs. You will find that no lasting good can come of it.
2 Timothy 2:24 goes on to list the virtues of gentleness and patience when dealing with people. Demonstrating those qualities can be challenging, especially when you have told someone very specifically how to accomplish something over and over again, and it still remains undone. However, those are two of the characteristics of God that need to be evident in every believer’s life.
2 Timothy 2:25-26 goes on to say that the ultimate goal is to give people a chance to repent and recognize the truth—especially those who have been captured by the devil to do his will. If you escalate the conflict by becoming angry and out of control, that does not accomplish God’s will. The opposite will occur. However, if when you are opposed you remain calm and offer entreaties, you are more likely to get de-escalation as a response.
I wish I could tell you that always happens, but painful experience proves otherwise. Some people won’t accept a truce regardless of what you do or don’t do. That does not mean that you will be beset on every side with those who oppose you and attack you.
Listen to Psalm 25:3 again: “Yes, let none who wait on You be ashamed; let them be ashamed who transgress without cause. Many other translations say, “…who deal treacherously without cause.” David is asking that shame would come to those who are treacherous.
That term treacherous means to pillage, to rob and steal with violence, to deal deceitfully and unfaithfully. To pillage means to take everything of value, especially in a time of conflict. It involves violence and destruction.
The question is, “Why would anyone do that?” The answer is also in Psalm 25:3: “they transgress without cause.” Criminals don’t need a reason to do what they do. After a crime is committed, authorities often try to determine the motive. There are times when the motive becomes clear, but there are other times when there seems to be no reason for the violence at all.
Treachery is epidemic in this hour. One of the reasons for it is lack of any sense of responsibility for one’s actions or decisions. Many people loudly claim their rights while also forsaking their responsibilities. It’s always someone else’s fault. The perpetrators are never to blame for the treachery they commit. They feel entitled to everything that is theirs, and many times to everything that belongs to others as well. They have a right to it, even though they haven’t studied for it, they haven’t trained for it, they haven’t worked for it, and they haven’t built it—yet they claim it as theirs. You can easily see that this is a recipe for cultural disaster. We hear about it in news reports on a daily basis.
These treacherous behaviors are unlawful in the sight of men and sinful in the sight of God. Some people are void of any form of conscience or a sense of morality—they are so dull to the concepts of right and wrong that they will transgress with impunity.
This should come as no surprise to us. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 in the Amplified Bible says, “But the [Holy] Spirit explicitly and unmistakably declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, paying attention instead to deceitful and seductive spirits and doctrines of demons, [misled] by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared as with a branding iron [leaving them incapable of ethical functioning]….”
“…leaving them incapable of ethical functioning….” Unfortunately, there are some people who cannot function according to any form of recognized ethics. They are lawless and unbound by any sort of civilized restraints. Jesus said in John 16:2: “Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he is offering a service to God.”
We all understand that God commands people not to kill—literally, not to murder. We need to remember that people can kill others besides just taking their physical lives. There are those whose treachery involves hating someone or murdering another person’s reputation. 1 John 3:15 says, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.”
When we consider that there are such intractable and unreasonable people in the world, what should we do? What is our reasonable response? I have three principles that will help you. Here they are:
Continue to proclaim the truth. 2 Timothy 4:2 says: “Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching.”
Pray for them. Matthew 5:44 says: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you….”
Leave judgment up to God. Romans 12:19 says: “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to God’s wrath, for it is written: “Vengeance is Mine. I will repay,” says the Lord.”
As we purpose to follow God with all our hearts and obey Him at all times, He will not fail to give us victory in every situation and circumstance.
Yours for the Harvest,
Dr. Rod Parsley
Founder & General Overseer
Psalm 25:2-3 says, “O my God, I trust in You; may I not be ashamed; may my enemies not triumph over me. Yes, let none who wait on You be ashamed; let them be ashamed who transgress without cause.”
In the last phrase of verse 2, David asks that his enemies not have the opportunity to triumph over him. The alternative aspect of this request is that he have victory over his enemies—and this is one of the blessings included in Psalm 25.
As we know from the Bible record, David had enemies of all sorts on every side. His first notable adversary was Goliath, the Philistine giant. We can read the detailed and dramatic account of David’s victory in 1 Samuel 17. When king Saul asked David about his willingness to confront the Philistine champion, David told Saul about his previous victories over a bear and a lion. These were only the beginnings of his exploits.
David also faced relentless adversaries in the Philistines, the Ammonites, and many others during his long and eventful life. But as we know, the most deceitful and dangerous enemy of them all was Saul, the first king of Israel. Instead of welcoming David as the finest of his warriors, Saul was consumed by jealousy and envy, and repeatedly tried to destroy David. Of course, David eventually prevailed.
I want to point out that despite their being at least two times that Saul was completely at David’s mercy, David did nothing to harm him. When David’s enemies were outside God’s covenant, God gave David the opportunity—indeed, the mandate—to overcome them fully and finally. However, when it came to Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, and someone who had the holy oil of anointing for service upon him, David would not stretch his hand out to touch him in any way.
I believe that this is a prophetic preview of how we are to treat those who try to oppose us—especially those who profess faith in Christ, while at the same time acting in ways that are unlike the Christ they say they serve. Listen to Paul’s admonition to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:24-26: “The servant of the Lord must not quarrel [strive, KJV], but must be gentle toward all people, able to teach, patient, in gentleness instructing those in opposition. Perhaps God will grant them repentance to know the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch woman who was sentenced to a death camp in WWII due to shielding Jews from persecution in her home, said this: “The first step on the way to victory is to recognize the enemy.” Our enemy has already been identified, and it is not people. Listen to the clear testimony of Ephesians 6:12: “For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
I do need to point out that our adversary often uses people to oppose the work of God’s kingdom, as well as circumstances that are influenced or caused by those same people. You may not consider people to be your enemies, but they may consider themselves to be your enemies! You must not be afraid of them, but you should be aware of them.
Even though we contend with enemies in the spiritual realm, when we trust God as David did, our God will give us victory over every one of them arrayed against us. Here is an important caution—make sure your enemies are also God’s enemies. Don’t allow yourselves to be deceived into thinking that you can behave outside the boundaries of God’s word and His kingdom and expect success. Keep yourself in the love of God and walk before Him with a repentant and obedient heart, and you will find yourself on the winning side of every battle.
Here is an important truth: even though our enemies are not people, there are times when the devil uses people to oppose the work of God. Demon spirits have no natural, physical bodies—but they seek to influence people who do, so that the devil’s strategies can be promoted in the earth. Please understand that I am not saying that every person who opposes God is demon possessed. I am not advocating that at all. What I am saying is that people can be influenced or motivated by demonic spirits to say things or behave in ways that seek to hinder the purposes of God.
Let me remind you of 2 Timothy 2:24 again: “The servant of the Lord must not quarrel [strive, KJV]….” Quarreling indicates that another person is involved. Striving doesn’t have to involve someone else. You may remember becoming so agitated about something that your blood pressure spikes, even though there is nobody else present. In some cases, you may be trying to have a conversation with people who aren’t there! Read the cautions against strife in the book of Proverbs. You will find that no lasting good can come of it.
2 Timothy 2:24 goes on to list the virtues of gentleness and patience when dealing with people. Demonstrating those qualities can be challenging, especially when you have told someone very specifically how to accomplish something over and over again, and it still remains undone. However, those are two of the characteristics of God that need to be evident in every believer’s life.
2 Timothy 2:25-26 goes on to say that the ultimate goal is to give people a chance to repent and recognize the truth—especially those who have been captured by the devil to do his will. If you escalate the conflict by becoming angry and out of control, that does not accomplish God’s will. The opposite will occur. However, if when you are opposed you remain calm and offer entreaties, you are more likely to get de-escalation as a response.
I wish I could tell you that always happens, but painful experience proves otherwise. Some people won’t accept a truce regardless of what you do or don’t do. That does not mean that you will be beset on every side with those who oppose you and attack you.
Listen to Psalm 25:3 again: “Yes, let none who wait on You be ashamed; let them be ashamed who transgress without cause. Many other translations say, “…who deal treacherously without cause.” David is asking that shame would come to those who are treacherous.
That term treacherous means to pillage, to rob and steal with violence, to deal deceitfully and unfaithfully. To pillage means to take everything of value, especially in a time of conflict. It involves violence and destruction.
The question is, “Why would anyone do that?” The answer is also in Psalm 25:3: “they transgress without cause.” Criminals don’t need a reason to do what they do. After a crime is committed, authorities often try to determine the motive. There are times when the motive becomes clear, but there are other times when there seems to be no reason for the violence at all.
Treachery is epidemic in this hour. One of the reasons for it is lack of any sense of responsibility for one’s actions or decisions. Many people loudly claim their rights while also forsaking their responsibilities. It’s always someone else’s fault. The perpetrators are never to blame for the treachery they commit. They feel entitled to everything that is theirs, and many times to everything that belongs to others as well. They have a right to it, even though they haven’t studied for it, they haven’t trained for it, they haven’t worked for it, and they haven’t built it—yet they claim it as theirs. You can easily see that this is a recipe for cultural disaster. We hear about it in news reports on a daily basis.
These treacherous behaviors are unlawful in the sight of men and sinful in the sight of God. Some people are void of any form of conscience or a sense of morality—they are so dull to the concepts of right and wrong that they will transgress with impunity.
This should come as no surprise to us. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 in the Amplified Bible says, “But the [Holy] Spirit explicitly and unmistakably declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, paying attention instead to deceitful and seductive spirits and doctrines of demons, [misled] by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared as with a branding iron [leaving them incapable of ethical functioning]….”
“…leaving them incapable of ethical functioning….” Unfortunately, there are some people who cannot function according to any form of recognized ethics. They are lawless and unbound by any sort of civilized restraints. Jesus said in John 16:2: “Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he is offering a service to God.”
We all understand that God commands people not to kill—literally, not to murder. We need to remember that people can kill others besides just taking their physical lives. There are those whose treachery involves hating someone or murdering another person’s reputation. 1 John 3:15 says, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.”
When we consider that there are such intractable and unreasonable people in the world, what should we do? What is our reasonable response? I have three principles that will help you. Here they are:
Continue to proclaim the truth. 2 Timothy 4:2 says: “Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching.”
Pray for them. Matthew 5:44 says: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you….”
Leave judgment up to God. Romans 12:19 says: “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to God’s wrath, for it is written: “Vengeance is Mine. I will repay,” says the Lord.”
As we purpose to follow God with all our hearts and obey Him at all times, He will not fail to give us victory in every situation and circumstance.
Yours for the Harvest,
Dr. Rod Parsley
Founder & General Overseer