Day 986: Justice is coming - Psalm 55 vs 9 - 23

9-11 Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city. Day and night they go round it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it; ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its market-place. 12-14 For it is not an enemy who taunts me - then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me - then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng.

15-16 Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart. 17-19 But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God. 20-21 My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. 22-23 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you. Psalm 55:9-23 English Standard Version

In the first part of this Psalm David's life was in danger and he cried out: “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” Believers who face persecution today in countries where the population is hostile to Christians may have the same longing David had. But what is the surprising prayer David then prays in vs 15-16 concerning those seeking to kill him?

I say 'surprising' because, when Jesus came into the world He said to people: “You've heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:43-44) Was David wrong, therefore, to pray as he did?

We know from the Old Testament that David, on more than one occasion, spared the life of King Saul who wanted to kill him. So David wasn't looking for revenge on just anyone who was against him. But how does he describe his foes in this Psalm in vs 9-11?

These were people of violence who, day and night, filled the city with oppression and fraud. It would often have been righteous people who were their victims. And what was like salt in David's wounds was that those who were now attacking him had once been his friends. (vs 12-14) They were traitors. David says: “His speech was smooth as butter - yet war was in his heart! His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.” He also described them as people who “do not change, and who don't fear God.”

So David's prayer wasn't just a prayer against his enemies, but a prayer for God to deal with the wicked who persecuted the righteous, and who wouldn't repent of their ways. In the New Testament we read how the apostle John saw in a vision “the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.” And John says: “They cried out with a loud voice, 'O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?'” (Revelation 6:9-10)

Verses 22-23 of this Psalm sum up what the final outcome will be of this ongoing war which persecutors wage against God's people. Believers are called to commit all they are going through into God's hands, and God will sustain them. He will give us courage and strength to remain faithful. “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8) The justice God's people pray for is surely coming.