by Timothy W. Burnett
Not only is it an example of going to God and recognizing Him for His powerful protection and vengeance, but it trains the heart concerning how to approach our enemies. This is the part that really pierces the heart the longer it is read. This is largely because mankind has the naturally tendency to wish for vengeance upon their enemies.
The idea of man-made vengeance is promoted frequently in exciting action packed movies and television shows. The heroes are often people who successfully destroy or cut down the villains either for themselves or for others. Very few remotely include God in the picture.
King David was persecuted and chased after by his enemies both foreign and domestic from with his own people. And he poured his heart out to God in heave often and allowed Him to direct his paths.
The Psalm starts out, �Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me. Fight against them that fight against me� (Psalms 35:1). The first thing he did was asked God to be his defense attorney and to fight against his enemies. Today, Christians have a great God-appointed defense attorney in His first-born son Jesus who is Lord over all.
Next David makes several requests for God to �let� things happen to his enemies. He asks God to �Let them be confounded and put to shame them that seek after� his soul. Let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise� his hurt. Let them be as chaff before the wind. And let the angel of the Lord chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery. And let the angel of the Lord persecute them� (Psalms 35:4-6).
Notice that he is not ordering God to make these things happen. Instead he is asking God to let them happen. Why? It must be because David already knew that God was able to do these things in his protection and defense. He must have known God�s track record of working mightily for His people, and knew that it was God�s will for him to go to God in prayer with requests according to His will.
Then a little ways down starting in verse 13, we see a great example of where the heart belongs regarding enemies, �But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I humbled my soul with fasting. And my prayer returned into mine own bosom. I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother.�
Suddenly we see that David had the right attitude about his enemies who sought to hurt and kill him. It is utterly amazing to read this over and over again. How it pierces the heart and adjusts the attitude that drives our thoughts and intents.
David drives in this godly attitude toward his enemies with the following words, �I bowed down heavily, as one that mourns for his mother.� What a fantastically true image of something which makes little or no sense. To mourn over our enemies� hurt and painful loss�that is very difficult for most people to fully comprehend.
Yet God in heaven is able to train our hearts to put on this frame of mind. He can only do so as long as we are eager and willing to act on His word and experientially learn from Him.
We have another great example of this in the stories of Jesus� death. According to 1Peter 2:22-23, �Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Who, when he was reviled, he reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened not. But committed himself to Him [God] who judges righteously.�
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