Read
(A psalm by David.)
A Prayer for Protection
1Fight my enemies, Lord!
Attack my attackers!
2Shield me and help me.
3Aim your spear at everyone
who hunts me down,
but promise to save me.
4Let all who want to kill me
be disgraced
and put to shame.
Chase away and confuse
all who plan to harm me.
5Send your angel after them
and let them be like straw
in the wind.
6Make them run in the dark
on a slippery road,
as your angel chases them.
7I did them no harm,
but they hid a net
to trap me,
and they dug a deep pit
to catch and kill me.
8 Surprise them with disaster!
Trap them in their own nets
and let them fall and rot
in the pits they have dug.
9I will celebrate and be joyful
because you, Lord,
have saved me.
10Every bone in my body
will shout:
“No one is like the Lord!”
You protect the helpless
from those in power;
you save the poor and needy
from those who hurt them.
11Liars accuse me of crimes
I know nothing about.
12They repay evil for good,
and I feel all alone.
13When they were sick,
I wore sackcloth
and went without food.
I truly prayed for them,
14as I would for a friend
or a relative.
I was in sorrow and mourned,
as I would for my mother.
15I have stumbled,
and worthless liars
I don't even know
surround me and sneer.
16Worthless people make fun
and never stop laughing.
17But all you do is watch!
When will you do something?
Save me from the attack
of those vicious lions.
18And when your people meet,
I will praise you
and thank you, Lord,
in front of them all.
19 Don't let my brutal enemies
be glad because of me.
They hate me for no reason.
Don't let them wink
behind my back.
20They say hurtful things,
and they lie to people
who want to live in peace.
21They are quick to accuse me.
They say, “You did it!
We saw you ourselves.”
22You see everything, Lord!
Please don't keep silent
or stay so far away.
23Fight to defend me, Lord God,
24and prove that I am right
by your standards.
Don't let them laugh at me
25or say to each other,
“Now we've got what we want!
We'll gobble him up!”
26Disappoint and confuse
all who are glad
to see me in trouble;
disgrace and embarrass
my proud enemies who say to me,
“You are nothing!”
27Let all who want me to win
be happy and joyful.
From now on let them say,
“The Lord is wonderful!
God is glad when all goes well
for his servant.”
28Then I will shout all day,
“Praise the Lord God!
He did what was right.”
Reflect
The thing I love most about the Psalmist, David, is his authenticity, passion, and complete honesty. He doesn’t pull any punches where asking God to avenge him by casting all of his enemies into the miry pit are concerned! Maybe my love for David is because I resonate with him. I would consider myself to also be an authentic, passionate, and sometimes too-honest person. So I hope you will excuse me when I say that some days I would love nothing less than to inflict major damage on those who have hurt me, or, even worse, my family.
Unfortunately, perhaps some of the greatest disappointment and offense I have experienced is from those whom I have lovingly sold my soul to as I have served them in ministry. I understand David’s pain when, after years of faithfully serving God’s people, their only phrase is, “But what have you done for me lately?”
It would seem that all it takes is one stumble, one oversight, one time when you didn’t come to their aid and you’re written off, betrayed, questioned, criticized, or unjustly accused. I don’t know about you, but when that happens, it is my natural response to seek revenge or defend myself. I waste countless hours, days, weeks, months, and even years holding a grudge rather than trusting God to rise to my defense.
David’s not about taking revenge. He is, however, wanting God to avenge him. God is, after all, a just God. So, like David, rather than taking matters into my own hands, I need to hold fast to the assurance that God will guard my reputation in the eyes of those who really matter. Then I need to praise Him in the great assembly when He comes through for me, thanking Him for delighting in my well being.
Respond
Dear Lord, You are the defender of my reputation. Help me to leave vengeance to you, knowing that you will rise to my defense. I will give praise to you in the great assembly for you are just and good. Amen
Lisa Elliott
Lisa Elliott is a popular inspirational speaker and award-winning author of The Ben Ripple; Choosing to Live through Loss with Purpose and Dancing in the Rain. Born and raised in Toronto, ON, Lisa is a graduate of Ontario Bible College (Tyndale). She is a pastor’s wife of over 25 years and mother of four children (3 on earth, 1 in heaven). She has written for Just Between Us Magazine and writes a column for Word Alive Press’s website entitled, Straight from the Heart. Lisa’s passion is to share the life changing truths and principles from God’s Word straight from the heart. She and her husband, David are presently serving the Lord in London, Ontario.