You Won't Be A Common Doormat Any Longer 

 

   

"Thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies, now that they begin to fall, to fall so low that you may set your feet on their necks, you may be confident that they shall not prevail, but shall surely fall before you." - Matthew Henry Commentary

 

"The Lord's final assurance to His people is that their enemies shall be destroyed." - Unger's Commentary On The Old Testament 

 

It is an historical fact that the Emperor Valerianus - being taken captive by Sapir king of Persia because of treachery - was treated as the most abject slave. For whenever the Persian monarch mounted his chariot or horse, he commanded the Roman Emperor to bow down and offer his back - upon which to set his foot.

 

Barnes' Notes also relates the following tale - "...A considerable number of Durweeshes...(not less than sixty...), laid themselves down upon the ground, side by side, as close as possible to each other, having their backs upward, having their legs extended, and their arms placed together beneath their foreheads. When the Sheikh approached, his horse hesitated several minutes to step upon the back of the first prostrate man; but being pulled and urged on behind; he at length stepped upon them; and then without apparent fear, ambled with a high pace over them all, led by two persons, who ran over the prostrate men, one sometimes treading on the feet, and the other on the heads. Not one of the men thus trampled on by the horse seemed to be hurt, but each the moment that the animal had passed over them, jumped up and followed the Sheikh. Each of them received two treads from the horse, one from one of his fore-legs, and a second from a hind-leg."

 

Throughout history, many of God's people - whether due to persecution or their own sin - were subjected to the same treatment.

 

In Psalm 66:10-12, David relates - "For Thou, O God, hast proved us: Thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net; Thou laidst affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads..."

 

"Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads..." - In other words, You have allowed men to abuse us...trample upon us and insult us...and make slaves of us. It is figurative language depicting the custom among the eastern conquerors to force their captives of war to lie prostrate on the ground and then to drive their chariots and horses over them.

 

This is perfectly depicted by the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 51:23 - "But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over."

 

Israel's cruel and brutal persecutors - in this case the Babylonians - displayed such haughtiness in forcing them to lay their bodies down - like the ground and mire of the street - so that they could walk over them. They required that their souls would be subjected to them. In essence, they reduced them to a common doormat.  

 

Presently, you may be feeling exactly like the people depicted in this message. Whether through sin or perhaps through no fault of your own, you are made to be someone's doormat. It may be on your job where others take advantage of you and walk all over you. Or you may be locked into a relationship or a family situation where you are constantly mistreated, abused, insulted, or walked on. No matter how hard you try to change things - you are always relegated to be the "least," the "lowest," or the "common doormat" for everyone to trample upon.

 

If this be the case, this message is for you! The Holy Spirit has a word of encouragement for you today!

 

In Psalm 18:39-40, David said - "For Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies..."  

 

It was a common custom among the Eastern conquerors to place their foot on the neck of the defeated foe - thus signifying their complete victory. Hence, that explains Joshua's actions in Joshua 10:24 - "And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them."

 

From this practice came the idiom - "to make your enemy your footstool" - which signified total and absolute mastery and control. 

 

We see this depicted by the Lord Jesus in Psalm 110:1 - "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at my right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool." Right at this moment, He is ruling and reigning in the seat of power, dominion, and dignity where He is in total control over all.

 

For a time, it may have seemed as though Satan had the upper hand in the battles of your life. But know this - your deliverance is coming - which will be the confusion of your enemies. You are no longer going to be considered as "the common doormat" any longer.

 

Look how God "turned the tables" for Israel in Micah 7:10 - "Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets."

 

What the Lord is saying to you this day is that the same people who "walked all over you" - so to speak - are going to receive the same treatment - they will "be trodden down as the mire of the streets." Those who have taken great pleasure in taunting and insulting you will be silenced and shamed.

 

It happened to Israel. For a time, the Babylonians "rode over their heads." Nevertheless, the time came when these same brutal persecutors of God's people were trodden down by the Medes and Persians.

 

Be encouraged this day, O Weary One!

 

In due time, you will be able to say as David did - "For Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies..."  

 

Total victory is in order!

 

The only place that the devil should have in your life is under your feet.

Place your foot upon his neck - through the power of Calvary's victory - and don't allow anything or anyone to cause you to move it from that position.

Never forget - You are the head and not the tail...above and not beneath(Deuteronomy 28:13)!

 

"And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly..."(Romans 16:20).