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King David had real enemies and he was a warrior for GOD. He knew GOD was the only one who could win the battle. He had a heart for GOD. He called on GOD to strike down his enemies.

Jesus challenges us to know that we have an enemy. The devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy us. Jesus has defeated him, and we can walk in His victory.

  • We must know we have an enemy.
  • We must walk in the “new life” of Jesus and His victory.
  • Our focus must be on GOD’s world (Kingdom) and not our enemy, the devil in this world.

God is great and He is GOD. GOD is in complete control.

Arise, Yahweh [O Lord]! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.

English Standard Version. (2016). (Psalm 3:7). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

The psalmist envisions Yahweh as intervening like a champion warrior in the battle fray, striking out right and left with a battle mace or club. While striking the jaw seems like an appropriate action in hand-to-hand combat, a further nuance is involved.

Striking someone on the jaw (or cheek) was a means of public disgrace and humiliation.

  • In 1 Kings 22:24, the arrogant court prophet Zedekiah slapped Micaiah on the cheek after Micaiah had prophesied disaster for the king’s military campaign against Ramoth Gilead.
  • In Micah 5:1, the prophet declares how besieging enemies will “strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek.” Elsewhere (Job 16:10; Lam. 3:30) striking the cheek is considered a form of public disgrace.
  • Once again it seems as if the psalmist is seeking public vindication—this time by turning the humiliation and disgrace the enemies intended for the psalmist back against them.

Additionally, to “break the teeth” is sometimes associated with ending the almost inhumane treatment by the wicked of those who call out to God for deliverance. The wicked can be described as ravenous lions mauling the righteous, and breaking the teeth is a way to disarm them and to make them drop their innocent prey.

Sources:

  • English Standard Version. (2016). (Psalm 3:7). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
  • Wilson, G. H. (2002). Psalms (Vol. 1, pp. 133–134). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

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