Psalms: Your brother, your enemy?

This relates to my current reading in I Samuel, but I thought of it while reading Psalm 27.

As I read about David's struggles with Saul, I found that I could relate to it so well. Here is a man of God at battle with another "man of God." On the one hand, David knows what is going to happen, but on the other he does not want to harm the other "man of God."

This is very much how I feel as I enter into my studies of Scripture again and begin looking at ministry opportunities. There are so many "Christians" who would rather I not exist, much less be in ministry. I myself am not a confrontational person the majority of the time and would rather not debate about such things, but it almost seems inevitable.

Here is the passage I was reading…

Psalm 27
1The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes— they shall stumble and fall.
3Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.
4One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.

5For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.

6Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

7Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!
8“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek.
9Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!

10If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up.
11Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
12Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence.

13I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!