In my personal quiet times, I often spend time in the Psalms.  These past few weeks, I’ve been mulling over Psalm 35.  I’d love to pass along a few lessons I’ve been learning.

PRAY WHAT?

Psalm 35 falls into the category of psalms known as “imprecatory psalms.”  Imprecatory psalms are ones in which the author calls down judgment on his enemies. 

For example, the first three verses of Psalm 35 read:

Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;
     fight against those who fight against me.
Take up shield and buckler;
     arise and come to my aid.
Brandish spear and javelin
     against those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
     "I am your salvation."

Imprecatory psalms can be difficult for us to relate to.  King David had actual people trying to kill him; it makes sense that he would pray for God’s protection and intervention against his enemies.  However, most of us don’t have enemies out to get us, so it seems odd for us to pray, for example, “May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame.”  (Psalm 35:4)

Yet the Psalms are meant to be prayed by God’s people.  Even these imprecatory psalms are there for a reason; they are intended to guide us as we pray.  How can we pray against enemies in this day and age?

1) PRAY on behalf of others

One answer:  Pray on behalf of people who DO have enemies.  Pray these words with persecuted Christians in mind.  As I have done this with Psalm 35 these past weeks, the words of the Psalm have taken on new depth of meaning for me.

I have prayed for a Chinese pastor who is currently in prison for his faith, “Vindicate [him] in your righteousness, O LORD my God; do not let them gloat over [him.]” (Psalm 35:24)

I have prayed for Christians who attend churches that have been bombed by Muslim terrorists:  “O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent. Do not be far from [them], O Lord. Awake, and rise to [their] defense! Contend for [them], my God and Lord.” (Psalm 35:22-23)

As part of my own healing process, I used to regularly pray Psalm 10 on behalf of victims of sexual abuse everywhere.  It is a passionate prayer for the helpless and oppressed, a powerful prayer against abusers.

If you don’t have any actual physical enemies in your life right now, people who are trying to silence you, oppress you, and threaten your life, that’s wonderful!  Thank God for that!  And then lift up these prayers on behalf of people who DO need God’s intervention and protection.

2)  PRAY against the enemies of your soul

As believers, we might not have actual people who are fighting against us, but we do have enemies.  The enemies of our souls can be temptations, can be negative emotions, or can be evil, demonic forces.  As we pray Psalm 35 or other imprecatory psalms, we can pray in a very personal way against these enemies of our soul.

It’s been eight weeks now since my father unexpectedly passed away.  I’m grieving.  I’m also facing new, overwhelming responsibilities as executor of my dad’s will and holder of durable power of attorney for my mom. 

I’ve noticed some enemies of my soul cropping up during these weeks.  The therapist in me likes to call them “maladaptive coping strategies.”  But from God’s perspective, reluctant though I am to admit it, I think they’re more appropriately called “sins.” 

So as I’ve been praying through Psalm 35, I’ve been praying against these soul-enemies.  I pray that in my grieving God would protect me from despair.  I pray against escapism, against ways I seek to avoid hard tasks or distract myself.

The last part of verse three has resonated with me, where the psalmist asks God to, “Say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation.’”

God IS my salvation.  In the middle of grief over my dad’s death, God keeps reminding my soul that he is my salvation and hope.

In the middle of overwhelmingly long and complex tasks regarding my dad’s estate, God keeps reminding my soul that he is my salvation and strength. 

He is my rescue.  He is my guide.  He cares for my soul.

He is a personal God who sees the struggles we face and who fights on our side against enemies of our souls.  May Psalm 35 remind you of that today.