Arise, O Lord, in Your anger; lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies; rise up for me to the judgment You have commanded! (Psalm 7:6)
When one considers all the psalms said to be written by David and then observe how many times he prayed for God to act against his enemies it prompts a serious question. Is it proper for us, as followers of Messiah, to pray for the destruction of our enemies as David certainly seemed to do? For example, there are psalms in which he asks God to strike them on the cheek, break their teeth and pronounce them guilty — and that’s just for starters. Of course, David isn’t alone in this; others have uttered similar prayers and expressed a desire for God to vanquish their enemies. Moses is the one who cried, “Arise O LORD and let your enemies be scattered.”
Of course, Moses is also the one who stood in the gap for his people on more than one occasion and who instructed the people of Israel to leave their kinsmen of Edom unmolested, as well as the Moabites and Ammonites. David is the one who, when presented with more than one opportunity to slay Saul, chose not to but instead left it to God as to how and when Saul was to be dealt with. Taking all of this into consideration, it seems that all who have come before us have, at times cried out to God for justice when they were being abused and persecuted. Apparently, there is nothing wrong with this for even the martyrs in Messiah will do the same: “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10).
But it is also true, and quite appropriate, that we do not seek to take vengeance according to our definition of justice. As David said, “God is a just judge … who tests the hearts and minds” of people. He alone is authorized and qualified to dispense correction and punishment if need be, and to exact vengeance upon the enemies of His people — as it is written, “Vengeance is Mine” (Deuteronomy 32:35).
Still, if it is appropriate for us to pray for God to rise up and avenge us, I would suggest it should be tempered with the sentiment we see in the Messiah’s prayer as He was being falsely accused and abused. He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” In other words, even as we long for justice and vindication, let us keep in mind the eternal souls who are hanging in the balance; let us strive to be merciful even as our Father in Heaven in merciful.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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