Read
(A psalm by David for the music leader.)
A Prayer
1I praise you, God!
Don't keep silent.
2Destructive and deceitful lies
are told about me,
3and hateful things are said
for no reason.
4I had pity and prayed
for my enemies,
but their words to me
were harsh and cruel.
5For being friendly and kind,
they paid me back
with meanness and hatred.
6My enemies said,
“Find some worthless fools
to accuse him of a crime.
7Try him and find him guilty!
Consider his prayers a lie.
8 Cut his life short
and let someone else
have his job.
9Make orphans of his children
and a widow of his wife;
10make his children beg for food
and live in the slums.
11“Let the people he owes
take everything he owns.
Give it all to strangers.
12Don't let anyone be kind to him
or have pity on the children
he leaves behind.
13Bring an end to his family,
and from now on let him be
a forgotten man.
14“Don't let the Lord forgive
the sins of his parents
and his ancestors.
15Don't let the Lord forget
the sins of his family,
or let anyone remember
his family ever lived.
16He was so cruel to the poor,
homeless, and discouraged
that they died young.
17“He cursed others.
Now place a curse on him!
He never wished others well.
Wish only trouble for him!
18He cursed others more often
than he dressed himself.
Let his curses strike him deep,
just as water and olive oil
soak through to our bones.
19Let his curses surround him,
just like the belt and clothes
he wears each day.”
20Those are the cruel things
my enemies wish for me.
Let it all happen to them!
21Be true to your name, Lord God!
Show your great kindness
and rescue me.
22I am poor and helpless,
and I have lost all hope.
23I am fading away
like an evening shadow;
I am tossed aside
like a crawling insect.
24I have gone without eating,
until my knees are weak,
and my body is bony.
25 When my enemies see me,
they say cruel things
and shake their heads.
26Please help me, Lord God!
Come and save me
because of your love.
27Let others know that you alone
have saved me.
28I don't care if they curse me,
as long as you bless me.
You will make my enemies fail
when they attack,
and you will make me glad
to be your servant.
29You will cover them with shame,
just as their bodies
are covered with clothes.
30I will sing your praises
and thank you, Lord,
when your people meet.
31You help everyone in need,
and you save them from death.
Reflect
Have you ever been so sure someone could rescue you by speaking up on your behalf that you started your request with words of praise and thanks?
That’s how the Psalmist begins: “O God, whom I praise! Do not remain silent.”
He asks God to appoint an accuser in a court. But then it seems like he has a meltdown – spelling out in a long tirade of emotion the consequences of his enemy being found guilty.
We love to sing praise songs from the Psalms but cannot imagine singing these words. They express thoughts and emotions that we would be embarrassed to own let alone speak. It made me question why this song was used in the worshiping community until I looked at the bigger picture.
As the Israelites entered the promised land, they knew that their blessings as a nation depended on living in a covenant relationship with God and that rejecting God would lead to suffering from evil.
Without that context, it just seems as if David is full of vengeance. Instead, he is passionately articulating the consequences of evil. No doubt his passion is fueled by the fact that his enemies are real. They, too, have spoken – but with lying tongues. They have exchanged evil for good and hatred for friendship. Their words have power – but the power is destructive and must be cut off.
David is confident that God will speak on his behalf and knows that God’s words have greater power than those of his enemies. He knows that although enemies curse, God blesses. And so with confidence in God to bring the justice he longs for, he closes the Psalm with praise for the one who rescues the needy – saving them from those who would condemn.
Respond
God, you continually speak blessing into my life. Help me to never forget the power of words – to bless or destroy, to be life giving or destructive. May my words each day flow from my relationship with you and bring a life giving blessing to all those I meet. Amen.
Lynn Smith
Lynn served Tyndale University College and Seminary in Toronto as Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Development where leadership development became the focus of her involvement with students. After retiring, she co-founded NextLEVEL Leadership, an International organization focused on encouraging Christian women to develop in their leadership roles in the marketplace, profession or ministry. Her passion for seeing others grow in their leadership confidence has inspired her to teach and mentor wherever God calls. Publications: Gender or Giftedness: a Challenge to rethink the basis for leadership within the Faith Community; Mentoring: Leaving a Legacy; Fred's Not Here - Living with Alzheimer Disease takes Courage