Spiritual Warfare and Personal Spiritual Attacks
Spiritual warfare, in a personal context, refers to the struggles individuals face against spiritual adversaries or internal spiritual and emotional challenges. The biblical tradition frequently depicts such struggles using martial language. For instance, the psalmist prays, "Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonor that seek my hurt" [2]. Another psalm implores God, "Draw near to my soul, and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies" [3]. These passages suggest a perception of external forces or individuals acting as "adversaries" or "enemies" against one's soul.
The book of Job describes intense personal suffering as an attack, with Job lamenting, "for the arrows of Shaddai are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me" [1]. This imagery portrays a profound internal battle, where divine judgment or affliction is experienced as a direct assault on one's spirit. The concept of God as a "Divine Warrior" who goes on the offensive on behalf of his people is also present in the Psalms, using metaphors of "sword," "bow," and "flaming arrows" [6].
Beyond external adversaries, spiritual warfare can also encompass internal struggles. Proverbs suggests that "a spiritual or emotional problem (a crushed spirit) can be more trying than a physical one (sick body)" [7]. This highlights the internal dimension of spiritual struggle, where one's emotional and spiritual state can be a battlefield. The temptation to succumb to "peer pressure and cultural domination" is also identified as a challenge for the godly [5]. In response to such internal pressures, redirecting emotions toward God through sacrifices and prayer is encouraged to prevent excessive self-reflection that could be detrimental [8].
Preparation for spiritual engagement often involves internal and external purification. In the Old Testament, individuals were instructed to "Sanctify yourselves" by changing clothes, washing, and preparing their minds through meditation, reflection, and prayer to offer acceptably to the Lord [10]. This suggests that personal readiness and a right spiritual disposition are crucial in facing spiritual challenges. The idea of "just retribution" against spiritual adversaries is also present, as seen in the interpretation of Jeremiah 50:15, which speaks of doing to spiritual Babylon "as she hath done" [4]. However, this concept of divine vengeance is distinguished from personal revenge, which is forbidden [4, 9].
Sources
- Job “Job 6:4 (LEB) — for the arrows of Shaddai are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.”
- Psalms “Psalms 71:13 (Webster) — Let them be confounded [and] consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered [with] reproach and dishonor that seek my hurt.”
- Psalms “Draw near to my soul, and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies. -- Psalms 69:18”
- Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 50:15: Shout--Inspirit one another to the onset with the battle cry. given . . . hand--an idiom for, "submitted to" the conquerors (Ch1 29:24, Margin; Lam 5:6). as she hath done, do unto her--just retribution in kind. She had destroyed many, so must she be destroyed (Psa 137:8). So as to spiritual Babylon (Rev 18:6). This is right because "it is the vengeance of the Lord"; but this will not justify private revenge in kind (Mat 5:44; Rom 12:19-21); even the Old Testament law forbade this, though breathing a sterner spirit than the New Testament (Exo 23:”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 125:3: 125:3 The godly might be tempted through peer pressure and cultural domination.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 7:12: 7:12-13 sword . . . bow . . . deadly weapons . . . flaming arrows: As the Divine Warrior, God goes on the offensive on behalf of himself and his people.”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 18:14: 18:14 A spiritual or emotional problem (a crushed spirit) can be more trying than a physical one (sick body).”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 4:5: 4:5 Offer sacrifices in the right spirit: Redirecting emotions toward the Lord prevents a godly individual from doing too much self-reflection (40:6-8; 51:17).”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on 1 Samuel 25:26: And from avenging yourself by your own hand. From personally avenging yourself and being punished.”
- 1 Samuel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Samuel 16:5: Sanctify yourselves - Change your clothes, and wash your bodies in pure water, and prepare your minds by meditation, reflection, and prayer; that, being in the spirit of sacrifice, ye may offer acceptably to the Lord.”