Who were King David’s enemies? (1)

Who were King David’s enemies? Why did he have so many enemies? Why do these questions matter?

Photo by Igor Ferreira on Unsplash

David was the second king of the ancient United Kingdom of Israel. The story of young David killing the giant Goliath is well-known even among non-Christians. David is also the author of many Psalms (praise songs).

The third Psalm begins with the words, “Lord, how many are my foes!” This does not sound like a victory song. It is more of a lament, a song of grief. Who were King David’s enemies? Why did he have so many?

My answers to these questions draw on the Bible, but I believe the lessons you can learn extend far beyond religious boundaries. This is the beginning of a series of articles on King David. Let’s dive in.

Enemy #1: Goliath

My question about David’s enemies might sound silly. He was a warrior, so he had many enemies. Goliath, for instance, was his first enemy. He represents the “external” enemy, whose form and shape are visible. You know precisely what must be done to defeat the enemy: fight and kill. David figured this out early, as shown in the famous story of David and Goliath.

But wait, didn’t David defeat and kill Goliath a long time ago? By the time David wrote the particular Psalm, he was well past middle age, and Goliath had died…