How Many Are My Foes
O Lord, how many are my foes!
Psalms 3:1 (NIV)
Psalm 3 was born on David's worst night: fleeing his own son, betrayed by his counselor, holding a provisional title. He reports to God unfiltered: O Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! And enemies preached besides: “God will not deliver him.” Ringed by people and words, David does what every cornered soul must — turning fear's report into prayer. “Many” becomes verse one, never the last word.
Faith counts foes without surrendering to them. David neither minimizes — many indeed — nor concludes: the psalm ends blessing the people, certain salvation comes from the Lord. Between verse one's “many” and verse three's “you are a shield” happens the turn all pressure needs: looking up instead of counting around. Foes get counted; God gets contemplated.
Write your verse one honestly today: name the many — debts, diagnoses, conflicts, temptations. Then turn to verse three: declare the shield, lie down in peace, sleep trusting. Many are the foes, yes; but One is the Deliverer — and One suffices. Counting foes is honest; crowning them is optional. Crown the Shield-Bearer today and sleep like a child. Many flee before One.