As They Became Malice, He Became Prayer…

 In return for my love they are my accusers, But I give myself to prayer. Thus they have rewarded me evil for good, And hatred for my love.—Psalm 109:4-5

They hated him without a cause....they returned evil for his love.  Where gratitude was expected, hate reigned in its stead.  How do you combat slander?  What do you do when you are encompassed by hatred....by people who return evil for your good?  You do what David did...he gave himself to prayer.  Spurgeon says that as they became malice, he became prayer.  I like that picture.  Psalm 55:16-17 says this:

As for me, I will call upon God,

And the LORD shall save me.

Evening and morning and at noon

I will pray, and cry aloud,

And He shall hear my voice.

Reading through David’s desires for the enemies of God was a little hard for me.  Each of us, if we have lived long enough, know that their are people out there who are not for us.  But as believers it is not us they are not for...it is God.    David’s pronouncements of judgment on those who did this evil are NOT sugar-coated.  Matthew Henry says that these imprecations are not from the spirit of passion but from the spirit of prophecy.  David’s desire for the enemies of God was biblical...he is angry not on behalf of himself but on behalf of the oppressed and helpless.  Our God is a God of justice.  The wicked will be judged.  God judgment may tarry to accomplish His purposes, but it will come.  Vengeance is mine our God says, “I will repay.”  Jesus faced similar circumstances. 

“Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”—John 10:32

Jesus prayer from the Cross at Calvary was this:

Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.—Luke 23:34

For himself David prayed that God would be his help in his distress. He, like Jesus committed his soul to his Father for safe keeping. 

But You, O GOD the Lord,

Deal with me for Your name's sake;

Because Your mercy is good, deliver me.

For I am poor and needy,

And my heart is wounded within me.—Ps 109:21-22

 Help me, O LORD my God!

Oh, save me according to Your mercy,

That they may know that this is Your hand--

That You, LORD, have done it!—Ps 109:26-27

who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;—1 Peter 2:23 

I have set the LORD always before me;

Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;

My flesh also will rest in hope.

For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,

Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.—Psalm 16:8-11

Cast your burden on the LORD,

And He shall sustain you;

He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.—Ps 55:22