A Hateful Prayer

“I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.” Psalm 35:14

As difficult as it is to pray for our enemies, it is a form of cleansing our souls.  If we pay close attention to what David is saying about his type of prayer and follow his example, curses will turn to blessings. “I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother:”

If our intent when praying for those that despitefully use us is to cause them harm, we pray out of hate rather than love.  The love approach will always win but one of hate deepens our sorrow. “I bowed down heavily”

When concerning prayer David compares his enemies to his own mother. He prays for them in the same manner he does for the one he is closest to.  His prayer isn’t simply a few words but they are gut wrenching words with the expression of mourning. “as one that mourneth for his mother.”

My mind was full of hate for my foe.

Wishing him harm from the depths of my soul.

Oh, but then came, a whisper to my ear.

“Remember what you were!”, 

And the words were made clear.

Then I saw myself, and where I had been.

Remembering all the sorrow I had caused HIM.

I’ve asked for forgiveness and now as I pray,

Please help them Lord Jesus in the same way.

“Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:5-7

And Joy Returns

“But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.” Psalm 35:13

How others treat us should never cause us to treat them with the same contempt. “But as for me”

Instead of hatred we are to put on righteousness and love others as we do ourselves.  “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22:39b)  We must ask ourselves, how do we feel under times of hurt and treat others in the way we answer that question. “when they were sick”

We show our love by our actions, and not only with our words.  “my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting”

When we go to the deepest part of ourselves praying in earnest for others, especially for those that treat us poorly, the LORD gives us the blessing just as if we had prayed for ourselves, and our joy returns. “my prayer returned into mine own bosom.”

I was hurt by the pain they caused,

My joy had fled away.

I listened to the Word of GOD,

And for them I began to pray.

Now the joy it has returned,

The pain has left my side.

I’m thankful I had trusted GOD,

It was my joy He multiplied. 

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” Matthew 5:44

Rejection Shouldn’t Surprise You

“They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.” Psalm 35:12

When I think of David the first thought that comes to my mind is how he killed Goliath.  He was but a little red headed boy with a sling and three smooth stones who uttered the words, “Is there not a cause”.  I think of the ten thousands of the Philistines he slew. And I think of the dedication and love he had for his king. Such sadness there is in these words he wrote, “They rewarded me evil for good”.

It seems impossible to understand after all he did for those he loved, it was those he loved that turned on him.  There is much heartache when the ones closest to you, turn on you.  I can’t put it better than David put it when he wrote, it was “the spoiling of my soul.”

This of course is the same thing that happened to JESUS only to a much greater degree.  As believers we are indwelled with the Spirit and should expect the same for ourselves.  You can be sure if you are living for CHRIST opposition will come. “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” Matthew 5:11

I was happy to help, 

Those that received it.

To make their path easier, 

That they might succeed.

But when it was over,

I was rejected,

My soul left spoiled.

But CHRIST filled my need.

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:18-19

“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:18

Fake News

“False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.” Psalm 35:11

You can always count on this fact, there will be those that want to harm you with false reports about your character.  Especially for the ones that are trying their best to serve the LORD. “False witnesses did rise up”

Now there are some things people can say that may be true but the ones that hurt the most are the ones that are not factual at all. They are dreamed up by the abuser in order to inflict pain and they usually do. “they laid to my charge things that I knew not.”

Whether it be gossip or outright lying about another, both can be labeled as SIN.  Better is a quit tongue than lying lips.  Bitterness destroys the abuser of it.  Those that gossip and bare false witness will eventually fall into their own pit.  

Like darts of fire were the words they spoke.

Some were true, others to provoke.

What they said, it caused such pain.

Whether right or wrong it’s all the same.

Oh, my friend don’t be alarmed.

Remember Jesus, how He was harmed.

And take relief with this thought,

All their words will come to naught. 

“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings” 1 Peter 2:1

Unbroken Bones

“All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?” Psalm 35:10

Bones are a picture of strength.  It is the bones that keep us upright, without them it would be impossible to stand.  When our bones are broken we have no stability, and it is stability the enemy wants to interrupt. “All my bones shall say”

When GOD renews our strength our bones come alive, their strength is new and full of power.  The enemy thinks it can destroy our bones but make no bones about it, the LORD will renew our strength. “who is like unto thee”

Bone strength comes from the ALMIGHTY and not from ourselves.  Once we learn this lesson and leave the victory to JESUS, the battle will be won.  You see it doesn’t make any difference how big or small, who weak or strong you are, it is only GOD that makes you a winner. “which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?”

They broke my bones

To make me weak.

My only hope, 

The LORD I’ll seek.

When He arrives,

My bones He’ll heal.

My joy returns,

I’m full of zeal!

Not a bone was broken in the body of JESUS.  For the believer He will heal their bones and make them as His were, unbroken! 

“He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.” Psalm 34:20

“Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.  But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:” John 19:32-33

When GOD Changes the Enemy

“And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.” Psalm 35:9

If we rejoice over the destruction of our enemies we rejoice for the wrong reason and GOD has no part of it.  We should never glory over the destruction of men but love them into salvation.  Remember we were all at one time the enemy and had it not been for the wonderful grace of GOD, we would still be. Real joy is seeing GOD change the hearts of men not destroying them. “And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD”

Oh the wonderful joy that takes over the mind and heart when we see our GOD replace our fear with peace.  It is the joy of seeing GOD doing for us what we can not do.  To see wickedness overcome by righteousness satisfies the soul, and when we see those that once brought hatred upon us turn to the SAVIOR there is no expression suitable to describe the joy this brings. “it shall rejoice in his salvation.”

If you only rejoice in the defeat of your enemies and not for their souls you are a most miserable person that hasn’t come to understand what CHRIST JESUS is all about.  Help us LORD to love the lost!

I saw the enemy small and great,

They came to destroy my peace.

But I found grace in the LORD

And through it, came my release.

I’ve seen them fall one and all,

Through the power of the KING.

He’s changed their hearts, one by one

And this is what makes me sing.

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

Out of the Lions Mouth

“Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.” Psalm 35:8

It is much better to follow the LORD than to be a rebellious fool.  The fool will fall into his own trap but the believer will be held in the arms of the LORD. “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.” (Deuteronomy 33:27) “Let destruction come upon him at unawares”

Only the fool thinks he can hid his evil ways from the LORD.  You can be sure his sin will find him out. (Numbers 32:23) Laying a trap for the LORD’s elect is like putting your hand in the lions’s mouth. “let his net that he hath hid catch himself”

Destruction waits for the fool but peace is the future the righteous. The ignorance of the fool brings swift destruction even while he is in the midst his tirade. ( 2 Peter 2:1) “into that very destruction let him fall.”

The fool will fall 

Into the trap he set.

This is the promise of GOD,

And not a threat.

Christ is the champion, 

Over sin.

To the foolish man,

You’ll never win.

The only hope 

For one and all.

Give your heart to JESUS,

And miss your fall.

Take your hand out of the Lion’s mouth!

“The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.” Psalm 147:6

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” Psalm 14:1

Grass Over the Hole

“For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.” Psalm 35:7

We must constantly be on guard because there are those that want to harm us. We may think our service for the LORD is admired by all but that is not the case.  The world’s hatred for the person living for the LORD is real and apparent and all those that call themselves Christian aren’t, some are wolves in sheep's clothing.  It isn’t you they hate but the LORD.  Rejoice that you are counted worthy of the hate they have for you. “For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit”

The enemy could care less about you, it is CHRIST and His purpose they are after.  If the enemy can destroy your testimony he has accomplished his purpose.  Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:9)  Watch for the grass over the hole so you don’t fall into the net that has been laid for you.  The enemy is very crafty!  We must keep our eyes on JESUS! “without cause they have digged for my soul.”

As I walked I felt full and free,

Without a cause for alarm.

Not knowing a pit had been dug.

To cause me an unpleasant harm.

Within the pit a net was laid,

To capture and carry me away.

The only escape I see for myself,

Is to trust Christ and to Him always pray.

“And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” Acts 5:41

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10 

My FATHER is Greater than Yours

“Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.” Psalm 35:6

Is it wrong to desire harm to those that are causing us agony?  Not if the agony they are causing is because of our stand and walk with the LORD.  Is it right for us to take matters into our own hands? No, never, vengeance and recompense belongs to the LORD! (Deuteronomy 32:35) “Let their way be dark and slippery”

Is there a “perfect hatred”? Yes, but it comes from the deep love for the righteous GOD, not from the love of ourselves. It is the type of love that doesn’t take things into its own hands but gives it over to the LORD for His judgment. “let the angel of the LORD persecute them.”

In my heart I hate the works,

Of those that despise the LORD.

Causing havoc for the Saints,

Keeping them from one accord.

But I have a Father greater than all.

Who will be swift with His reply.

With power and strength He will act,

All their harm, He’ll nullify.

“For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.  Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:20-24

The Fate of Chaff

“Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.” Psalm 35:5

Chaff is nothing more than worthless trash that carries no wait. It is waist material that’s not beneficial for anything.  Even for fuel for the fire it is of no value, it instantly goes up in smoke.  Because of its light weight it aimlessly wanders and clutters the sky and dirties the ground.  It clogs drains and causes breathing problems. This is how David describes those that are ungodly and cause havoc. “Let them be as chaff before the wind:”

Angels are the ministers of GOD, they are ready to obey His command.  They are the servants of the Most High who stand in the defense of His people.  They outrun the wind that carries the chaff. They are swift to overtake the ungodly when given the order. “let the angel of the LORD chase them.”

When the ungodly come and cause problems remember they are nothing more than chaff, worthless garbage that blows in the wind.  Chaff comes from many directions.  It comes by way of temptation as well as by torture, but it will never outrun the strong arm of the LORD!

They blow through the air

With sorrow and hate.

With words like themselves,

That carry no weight.

Nothing but trash, 

That clutters the earth.

Causing life trials,

Nothing of worth.

They will be burned in the fire.

Where the undesirable go.

The angels will gather them,

They will pay what they owe.

“He will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:12b

ATTITUDE of ENDURANCE - Psalm 35:4

“Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.” Psalm 35:4

There is nothing more devastating to the soul than when we face opposition, especially when our only desire is serving the LORD. It is difficult to live life in peace when we are opposed by others that do not understand it is God that is using us. If we are not careful, we get an attitude of, who cares. The fact is, GOD cares!

When we face such peril, we must do as David did and ask for the intervention of God, this is our only hope. We can fuss and fight with our opposition on our own, but we will never be successful. We can whine and fret, have a pity party and we will be of no use to ourselves or anyone else. We need the help of the one that knows and has the ability to make the changes we so desperately need.  Only the LORD can accomplish this.

It is much better to have the attitude of endurance no matter the opposition. We continue in the calling GOD has given us and allow the LORD to take care of those that oppose and discourage.

LORD, help us not to be a part of the opposition but to be of those that encourage others that strive to serve You. AMEN

I felt the shadows sneaking in,

With the opposition’s threats.

Depression flowing in my soul,

And yet, I have no regrets.

It’s not a battle I can fight,                                                                                                 

The thoughts they hurt me so.

Thank God I have a Savior dear.

To whom I can always go.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12