Every Letter, Every Pen Stroke (Matthew 5:18)

I am impressed as I read David's words in Psalm 35.  In Psalm 35, David prays a prayer of vengeance against his enemies.  As we mentioned last week, this was a very "un-kingly" thing to do.  In David's day, kings didn't pray for vengeance.  They enacted vengeance themselves.  Perhaps they might pray for their god to bless them as they hacked their rivals to bits.  Generally speaking though, it was kings who fought their own battles.   

Again, David is very different here.  Rather than enacting his own revenge, David calls on God to be his vindicator and protector.  As I thought about David's words in this Psalm, I realized that they really are very Messianic.  David's prayer reflects the attitude that his most famous descendant would take some 2,000 years later.  Jesus was much like David.  Jesus commanded an angelic army, but when evil men sought to nail Him to a cross Jesus offered no resistance.  Rather than fighting back, He entrusted Himself to God. 

We need to learn from David and most especially from Jesus.  Rather than fighting our own battles, we have to trust God to bring justice in the end.  Paul puts it well in Romans 12:17-21: "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.'  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (NIV, 1984).

 

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As I read Psalm 36 (our other Psalm for the day), I was reminded of this song by Third Day: