If we tracked our prayers for an entire month and created a pie chart to visualize what we prayed about, the largest pieces of that pie would be prayers for health, prayers for family, and prayers for our work. The medium-sized pieces might be prayers for the missionaries and the lost, or prayers for our nation. But how big, or small, would the slice be for praying against our enemies?

There are 150 Psalms, and the word "enemy" occurs 104 times. That's because when the people of God seek to honor God in their homes, their work, and their nation, Satan hates it, the world hates it, and the enemies of God hate it. And God wants you to learn how to pray about your enemies.

Psalm 16 begins, "A miktam" of David. Miktam is related to a Hebrew word meaning, "an engraving." It could be that Psalm 16 was inscribed on plates or walls of homes or businesses. It's a profound Psalm that is full of instruction on putting your confidence in the Lord in the midst of difficult times.

Disclaimer: This audio series summarizes the central arguments of Carl Trueman's book, Strange New World and was created for the purpose of teaching a 4-week discipleship course for Lake Wylie Baptist Church. Much of the material consists of copied text from Trueman's book, often edited for the sake of condensed presentation to a live audience. Please do not distribute without permission.

Who can be God's friend? Who can come into his presence and enjoy table-fellowship with him? Psalm 15 has been referred to as a "liturgy of entrance." As pilgrims came to worship in Jerusalem, before they entered the place of worship, they asked a question: "Who can come in?" The answer is, "Only those who mirror the character of the one they've come to worship."

As we will see, verse one asks who can "sojourn" or "camp" with God, but by the end of the Psalm we're told that those who mirror their God will not be temporary aliens in his house, but children who are welcomed to an eternal and unshakeable home.

David begins with a description of practical atheism. Three words for "fool" in Hebrew all relate to moral orientation rather than intellectual beliefs. This denial of God isn't philosophical atheism, but rather, pragmatic deism. The fool, therefore, is anyone who lives as if God doesn't exist. (v. 1) For this reason, instead of the word "fool," one commentator chose the word, "scoundrel."

And, how bad off is the world of men? So bad that when God opens the window of heaven and peers down, not even divine omniscience is able to find a single person seeking after God. (v. 2) God looks down to see if anyone is looking up.

Psalm 13, written by David, neatly divides into three stanzas. First, David asks a question, then he makes an accusation, and finally he resolves to sing. The first stanza consists of 5 lines, the accusation is 4 lines, and the song is 3 lines. As one commentator put it, Psalm 13 "casts up constantly lessening waves, until it becomes still as the sea when smooth as a mirror."

The Psalm begins with a one-word request. Save! Help! Why? Because the people of God are surrounded by liars and those who are loyal and faithful to their word are nowhere to be found. (v. 1) Everyone is lying and their lies manifest themselves in flattery and speaking with a double heart. Literally: they speak with a heart and a heart. (v. 2)

As he displays the gospel by his teaching and the example of his life, Timothy must avoid potholes in the road. Turn a deaf ear from godless chatter and false knowledge. Don't even listen to empty teaching. (v 20) The voices you listen to are leading you somewhere, and godless voices lead you into the ditch. Timothy will not be able to do this in and of his own strength: he will require divine and enabling grace along this road. This parting note has no verb. Literally: grace with you. And it's plural. Timothy isn't an island. He's a member of a congregation. (v. 21)