How Do You Trust God When You Have Enemies That Hate You? (Psalms 28-31)
Have you ever had someone turn against you for no clear reason? Maybe it's a coworker, neighbor, or former friend. You never meant to make an enemy, but now they treat you like one.
Psalm 28-31
Today's Scripture Passage
A Few Thoughts to Consider
Have you ever had someone treat you wrong for seemingly no reason?
You didn’t set out to make an enemy, but an enemy you have gained. Maybe they’re a neighbor, coworker, or former friend. You did something to offend them, and now they’re coming after you. So what do you do? Psalm 31 provides some great answers and is a declaration of trust in God's protection.
Notice what David does. In verse 1, he starts by acknowledging God’s nature when he says, “Lord, I seek refuge in you; let me never be disgraced. Save me by your righteousness.” He knows that God is a source of safety—not necessarily against physical harm, but spiritual oppression. When he is in God, no enemy can stand against him.
In verse 3, David appeals to God’s character when he tells God, “You are my rock and my fortress; you lead and guide me for your name’s sake.” Willem VanGemeren writes, “The psalmist’s confidence rests in two convictions: Yahweh will deliver for the sake of his name (v. 3), and he is the “rock” of his covenantal people (vv. 2–3).”[1] God has been faithful in the past, and David knows he will be faithful again.
Because of who God is, David says in verse 4, “You will free me from the net that is secretly set for me.” No trap the enemy sets is too great. Ultimately, in verse 5, David says, “Into your hand I entrust my spirit; you have redeemed me, Lord, God of truth.” VanGemeren writes, “Throughout the prayer, the Lord is addressed in covenantal terms. Even in his great need the psalmist has not lost heart, for he knows his God. His trust in the Lord is an act of abandonment.”[2]
It's this same abandonment we’re often called to imitate. Sometimes life is hard, our circumstances look bleak, and it feels like others are targeting us for no reason. In these moments, we can grow discouraged and quit, or we can lean into the unchanging character of God and trust that he is working even when we cannot see.
A Meditation to PRAY
Praise | Lord, I praise you for being my unfailing refuge and protector. Your righteousness shields me, and your strength is the fortress that keeps me safe. You are my steadfast rock, and in your hands, I find solace and security.
Release | I release to you my fears of shame and failure, trusting that your deliverance is swift and just. I let go of the worries that entangle me, believing you will lead me away from the hidden snares set by life’s trials.
