Manage Your Enemies, or They Will Manage You (Psalm 31)

None of us are immune from enemies. They can range from the “not really bad people” – e.g.
competitors in sports or business or love; all the way to the really wicked – people who mean
bodily harm, who swindle, sue, willfully persecute or maliciously slander. And living a righteous
life has nothing to do with not having enemies – remember the only Person who walked on
earth and never sinned – He was condemned as a criminal and crucified. It is therefore crucial
that you learn how to deal with those who willfully treat you unkindly – our very broad
working definition of “enemies”. David had a lot of them. And his struggles are captured in our
passage and echoed in the martyrdom of Jesus and Stephen for our blessing today. How do
you manage enemies?

(Psalm