Praying For and Against

The psalmist is in acute danger. Terrorists are seeking his life (2). Less violent adversaries lampoon him in the market place (3). His cry is urgent. Twice he asks God to “come quickly” (1,5), but there is no panic. He takes time to pray for others. He allows his soul to cry to the Lord. Yet there is equilibrium between urgency and normalcy, between shouting for help and interceding for others.

How does he do it? By allowing his emotions to engage with God. Yet his psalm is no rant. There is structure. Alarm is balanced by delight. Alarm, because the enemy is so threatening (2). Delight, because others are seeking the Lord. So, he prays against his enemies and for the seekers.

Should Christians ever pray against their enemies? What about Jesus’ command to pray for our enemies and love them (Matt. 5:43,44)? Or does God want us to do both? David’s request that the Lord turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness surely finds an echo today in the prayers of Christians in persecuted churches. Moreover, even when the psalmist loses his cool and wants to see his enemies destroyed (Psa. 55), he recognizes that it is the Lord who will decide their fate. In effect, the writer hands his hatred over to God and is delivered from taking the law into his own hand. Honest prayer can deliver us from the toxicity of any hate we might harbor in moments of anger. For, having brought our hatred into God’s presence, he reminds us that in Christ he has already made atonement for it. Overwhelmed by a fresh sense of divine forgiveness, we find we can now genuinely pray for our enemies and really long to hear them, too, say, “Let God be exalted” (4).

Are any of your prayers marked, “Rush Order” (1,5)? Why? Is God responding? If not, are you still exalting him, or growing impatient?