Psalm 109:1-31

We share this sin cursed planet with many sinful men.  This reality brings about much suffering and injustice.  There are times when the unrighteous seem to dominate and thrive while the godly suffer persecution.  This is a reality for which we must all be prepared and we must not let it discourage us or cause us to doubt the goodness or sovereignty of God.  We must not allow sin and the consequences of sin to allow us be fooled into thinking that God has somehow lost control of the world or that He no longer cares about the events that happen here.  Instead, we must do as David does in this Psalm: pray.  Prayer is the means through which we communicate with God and demonstrate our dependence upon God.  Our prayers should be genuine and honest, expressing the desires of our hearts and seeking the will of God.  Too often we pray with formality or repetition that does not reflect our feelings or thoughts.  God is pleased when we pray with an authentic attitude before Him.

A PRAYER FOR RETRIBUTION: David pours out his heart before the Lord as he suffers false accusations at the hands of his enemies.  This is the attack of a sinful man who has turned his back on David for no reason.  David has shown love and loyalty to this person and yet has been stabbed in the back by this wicked man.  David’s response is to pray for justice from God and for God to make retribution on his behalf.  David, in essence, asks for God to destroy this person, seize all of his assets, punish his entire family and bring him down to the grave.  David asks for God to look at his sin and to punish it.  Apparently the depth of this man’s sin and treachery has gone beyond the point of seeking for repentance and forgiveness from God.  This kind of praying makes us very uncomfortable because it does not line up with our understanding of the obligation we have to forgive and pray for all men to repent.  Certainly, God calls us to be forgiving and to preach the Gospel so that men can repent and find forgiveness through Christ.  However, we must also recognize that God is glorified through the judgment of sinful men and we are allowed to cry out to God to this end.  An honest prayer for retribution is certainly preferable to a fake prayer or no prayer at all.  God understands our hearts and is able to act according to His will independently of our prayers.


A PRAYER FOR RELIEF: At the same time that David asks for retribution from God for this evil man; he also asks for relief from God from the difficult situation that he faces because of the attacks of evil against him.  He recognizes that he is weak and under attack and that he is despised by many men that surround Him.  His only hope is to cry out to the Lord for mercy and grace so that he might find relief from God.  David wants God to show Himself strong in his life and demonstrate to these evil men that He is able to defend His own.  David is willing to face the cursing of men in order that he might receive blessings from God.  His promise to God is that he will lift up his voice and praise the Lord for doing what is holy, just and good.  The Lord is faithful to bring relief and deliverance to those who fear Him.  When we feel like we are under attack, we must remember to cry out to the Lord in prayer.

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