Mind Meld of A Different Kind

PSALM 35:1-10
A psalm of David.
O Lord, oppose those who oppose me.

Fight those who fight against me.

Put on your armor, and take up your shield.

Prepare for battle, and come to my aid.

Lift up your spear and javelin

against those who pursue me.

Let me hear you say, “I will give you victory!”

Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me;

turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me.

Blow them away like chaff in the wind—

a wind sent by the angel of the Lord.

Make their path dark and slippery,

with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me.

I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me.

So let sudden ruin come upon them!

Let them be caught in the trap they set for me!

Let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me.

Then I will rejoice in the Lord.

I will be glad because he rescues me.

With every bone in my body I will praise him:

“Lord, who can compare with you?

Who else rescues the helpless from the strong?

Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?”

When jerks assail me
Let’s just suppose David is justified in his anger and feelings of vengeance. Let’s assume his cause is, in fact, the righteous one; totally righteous without even a smidgeon of being in the wrong. If this is so, then he and I might be in the same boat. You might even be there along with us.

There are people, even those who claim to be Jesus-followers, with whom I get angry. In fact, I am so convinced that they are in the wrong and have cause harm to those around them – and, of course, myself – that I wish they got a dose of their own medicine! Let them fall into the pit they unwittingly, intentionally, ignorantly – it doesn’t matter, they’re at fault – dug for others.

Haven’t we all been here? There are people who, in the vocabulary of Dr. Paul Meir, are jerks to the nth degree (“Don’t Let Jerks Get the Best of You”). These are the ones who are so self absorbed that all blame gets shifted onto your shoulders, your different opinions are always stupid, control must always be in their hands, and you can never show enough appreciation for their wonderful contributions to life.

I’m with David. “Make their path dark and slippery” just like they have for others. “Let sudden ruin come upon them!”

I’m also in the company of some fine preachers who counsel taking out certain foreign leaders or celebrate the death of certain terrorists. The only different between these men and the jerks I know is the scale of their jerkiness. Let their pit be that much bigger!

But alas, while in the company of David, I have to confess I’m not in the company of the Son of David. Surely Jesus (the Son of David is one of his names) understands my emotions. But he also warns that such anger, left to simmer in the soul, may as well be murder.

Rather than praying for these jerks, yearning for their salvation – even more, their sanctification – sacrificially serving them by working for their highest and best (ah, that’s the kind of love Jesus showed), I’m begging God to spear them. Not spare them. Spear them.

Holy God, I confess unholy emotions. David didn’t have the full revelation of your grace. He had an excuse. I don’t. Still, I know you understand such emotions. That’s probably why you made sure David’s rant made it into scripture. So, please take me through, then beyond this anger to the place of praying for and loving jerks – even when I have to confront them. - Mike Leamon

Radio in the Air Force
You have probably seen the old war movies where the American forces are hunkered down under enemy fire unable to advance. The commander calls for the guy carrying the radio and calls in the air force who sweeps down with bombs and devastation clearing away the enemy opposition and making it possible for the American forces to achieve victory.

This is the image that comes to my mind in the first verses of Psalm 35. David is under the gun and he is calling in the Air Force to clear away his enemies. On one hand I am shocked at such a vivid prayer for destruction of our enemies when Jesus calls us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. On the other hand I am thankful I serve a God who has the aerial advantage. We can call on God whenever we need to and God is able to defeat our enemies.

Ironically, if we look at David’s life, we realize God did not send in the big bombs destroying David’s enemies in one full swoop. God delivered David, but in the same way we are delivered most of the time. God gave David the strength to keep moving forward little by little.

We can pray Psalm 35 as Christians, yet we must pray it recognizing God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. We must pray not with an attitude of “kill my enemy” but “transform them by showing them the error of their ways.” To do this we must trust God for our vindication and to make all things right in the end.

Lord I pray you would not let those who are opposed to me and the work you have called me to triumph over me. Instead, transform their lives that they may become partners in the ministry you have given to your people. - Dan Jones