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Psalm 27:11   Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.

The word translated ‘enemies’ is not the most common Hebrew word for enemies, only occurring 5 times in the OT, and all these are found in Psalms of David.  It carries with it the idea of someone watching very carefully and stealthily for an opportunity to ambush or trip up a victim off-guard.

King David, because of his social standing, uprightness and firm stand for the LORD his God, attracted many such watchful ‘enemies’, not the least of which were his predecessor, King Saul, and his own ambitious son, Absalom.  There were many others whose own personal agenda was severely threatened by David’s very existence and life-witness.  We have, therefore, a very valuable lesson to learn from David in dealing with such opposition as followers of the the Lord Jesus Christ today, in a culture whose basic mantra is: ‘We don’t want this Man to rule over us’. (Luke 19:14)

As the Apostle Paul warned young Tiimothy: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:12)  The Apostle Peter warns us that Satan is our greatest enemy, and he warns us: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8) – a good description of the modus operandi of David’s ‘enemies’.  So what is that great King’s strategy to deal with such a situation?

Firstly to acknowledge his utter dependence on his God for wisdom, guidance and personal assistance, and secondly, by implication, to apply himself diligently to the constant, daily, prayerful meditation on God’s Word, the weapon God himself has provided “for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness”, so that I “may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

David prays: “Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path”.  The word translated ‘level’ is used only 10 times in the Pentateuch and Historical Writings (Joshua and Samuel/Kings/Chronicles) where it has the geographical meaning of a tableland or plain,  and 13 times in the Psalms and Prophets where it carries a more metaphorical meaning connected with ‘straight’, ‘upright’ and ‘righteous’.  What a great source of wisdom this is for us today!  Satan is still alive and active with his strategy of cunning and deception.  He even has the use of a much more effective and lethal weapon than he had in David’s day.  It’s  called ‘technology’.  Like most of Satan’s armory, it is something that is very good and helpful in itself. However did I cope before I could have multiple versions of the whole Bible – including the original Hebrew and Greek – with search tools and commentaries that used to occupy much shelf space in my study, to have these always readily available in my pocket?.  Satan will do anything to stop me taking David’s advice.  He is a master at using my useful technology to distract me from what I am doing, to distort truth, to lure me into unwholesome thoughts, to undermine valuable and important relationships through the use of social media, and to try to discourage and/or distress me in any way he can, such as with over-sensationalised and fake news.

“Teach me thy way, O Lord; teach me thy way!  Thy guiding grace afford; teach me thy way!  Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight; lead me with heav’nly light; teach me thy way!  When I am sad at heart, teach me thy way!  When earthly joys depart, teach me thy way!  In hours of loneliness, in times of dire distress, in failure or success, teach me thy way!  When doubts and fears arise, teach me thy way!  When storms o’erspread the skies, teach me thy way!  Shine thro’ the cloud and rain, thro’ sorrow, toil, and pain; make thou my pathway plain; teach me thy way!  Long as my life shall last, teach me thy way!  Where’er my lot be cast, teach me thy way!  Until the race is run, until the journey’s done, until the crown is won, teach me thy way!” (B. Mansell Ramsey)

– Bruce Christian