In warfare, sentries guard the gates. When someone approaches, they ask, “Who goes there, friend of foe?”
That’s a stupid question, isn’t it? What enemy, as he nears the sentry, will answer with, “Foe”?
An enemy would never identify himself as such. He will always come as a “friend”, offering something “good.”
An enemy would never identify himself as such. He will always come as a “friend”, offering something “good.”
Once he gets through the gate, your enemy will do everything to destroy you, to wipe out your spirit. It may not seem to be so at first, but day by day he will chip away at your resolve. He is a saboteur, a “sapper.” With lies and false promises, he will seek to conform you to his thinking, his values, and his ways.
It’s important, then, that you recognize your enemy for what he is. Don’t listen to him! Instead commit yourself to the building and strengthening of your spirit.
And one last word. Your enemy is not a singular entity. Like warfare in this world, the enemy is an alliance of antagonists. You need to be able to identify and reject three forces.
It’s important, then, that you recognize your enemy for what he is. Don’t listen to him! Instead commit yourself to the building and strengthening of your spirit.
And one last word. Your enemy is not a singular entity. Like warfare in this world, the enemy is an alliance of antagonists. You need to be able to identify and reject three forces.
- How can you tell the difference between a friend and a foe?
- How do you determine what is "good"?
- How do you think you can build and strengthen your spirit?
RECOGNIZE YOUR ENEMY
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
Psalm 119:9
Psalm 119 is the longest “chapter” of the Bible with 176 verses. Though there is no author mentioned, many scholars believe that it is a psalm written by King David. This certainly fits David, who when a young man, had to “keep his way pure.”
The prophet Samuel anointed David to be king after Saul. David had to wait, however, until Saul’s death to take the throne. During those years, Saul hunted for David, trying to kill him.
Once, David was hiding at the back of a cave. Saul entered the cave, unaware that David and some of his men were there. Some of the men with David urged him to kill Saul, but he refused. That wasn’t the way he was to become king!
On another occasion, David and his men were protecting an area from raiders. David asked a rich man, Nabal, to give some food to his men. When Nabal refused, David became so angry that he set out to kill Nabal and burn down his house. He would have done so, had not Nabal’s wife brought the food to David and begged him not to kill her husband.
David was “a man after God’s own heart” but he sometimes was tempted to wander from the path God had set for him. He needed to “guard … his pure way.”
In this life, you want to follow a “pure way.” It is the path that God has set for you, a path to your future, a path for your life right now. You will want to be certain to not give into the temptations that would lead you from the right path. To recognize and overcome these dangers, you will judge everything by God’s Word; and you will want to hear and obey that precious Word. That’s the only way to keep your way pure.
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
Psalm 119:9
Psalm 119 is the longest “chapter” of the Bible with 176 verses. Though there is no author mentioned, many scholars believe that it is a psalm written by King David. This certainly fits David, who when a young man, had to “keep his way pure.”
The prophet Samuel anointed David to be king after Saul. David had to wait, however, until Saul’s death to take the throne. During those years, Saul hunted for David, trying to kill him.
Once, David was hiding at the back of a cave. Saul entered the cave, unaware that David and some of his men were there. Some of the men with David urged him to kill Saul, but he refused. That wasn’t the way he was to become king!
On another occasion, David and his men were protecting an area from raiders. David asked a rich man, Nabal, to give some food to his men. When Nabal refused, David became so angry that he set out to kill Nabal and burn down his house. He would have done so, had not Nabal’s wife brought the food to David and begged him not to kill her husband.
David was “a man after God’s own heart” but he sometimes was tempted to wander from the path God had set for him. He needed to “guard … his pure way.”
In this life, you want to follow a “pure way.” It is the path that God has set for you, a path to your future, a path for your life right now. You will want to be certain to not give into the temptations that would lead you from the right path. To recognize and overcome these dangers, you will judge everything by God’s Word; and you will want to hear and obey that precious Word. That’s the only way to keep your way pure.
- What should be a man’s goal?
- Why is God’s Word to be the “guard” for him to use?
- How can you use God’s Word to “guard” yourself?