Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.
Psalm 35
Here, from the pen of David, is a prayer for Christians today! God’s people, in every generation, are persecuted, discriminated, hated, reviled and, our destruction is sought by an unbelieving world. Yet, Jesus commanded believers in the world to love our neighbors and our enemies. David’s prayer is for God to fight for His chosen people against evil forces in this world, while saying to His children, “I am your salvation!” David asks God to “put to shame and dishonor” those who seek the believer’s life. Though David wrote these words 1,000 years before Jesus was born, his words are for believers of all generations. Christians of every age are God’s chosen people and He defends us just as He did David during David’s earthly life. David asks God to make his enemies, “who devise evil against me,” to be like chaff in the wind, blown away from the wheat and, to make their darkness slippery and, to let the snares, set by his enemies, entrap his enemies. David exalts the Lord, rejoicing in God’s salvation, especially delivering those who are poor and needy. Then, David returns to the malicious and evil people who rise against him, those who repay evil for the good David gives to them. At this point, David seems to question when God will take action and rescue David from his enemies’ attacks. But, David quickly moves to rejoicing and praising God. David returns to his petitions to God to vindicate him against David’s enemies. David ends this psalm by declaring, “my tongue shall tell of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long.” Christians, let us take heart in our God’s protection of His people. God will care for His own. He will not abandon His children nor forsake them. God will bring us safely into His glorious kingdom where we will live, enjoying Him forever! Source: S C Ball May 22, 2023
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