Praying Through: Psalm 35:7-28

The Psalm

Psalm 35:7-28 (CSB)
⁷ They hid their net for me without cause; they dug a pit for me without cause.

⁸ Let ruin come on him unexpectedly, and let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it—to his ruin.

⁹ Then I will rejoice in the LORD; I will delight in his deliverance.

¹⁰ All my bones will say, “LORD, who is like you, rescuing the poor from one too strong for him, the poor or the needy from one who robs him?”

¹¹ Malicious witnesses come forward; they question me about things I do not know.

¹² They repay me evil for good, making me desolate.

¹³ Yet when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, and my prayer was genuine.

¹⁴ I went about mourning as if for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for a mother.

¹⁵ But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; they gathered against me. Assailants I did not know tore at me and did not stop.

¹⁶ With godless mockery they gnashed their teeth at me.

¹⁷ Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages; rescue my precious life from the young lions.

¹⁸ I will praise you in the great assembly; I will exalt you among many people.

¹⁹ Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me; do not let those who hate me without cause wink at me maliciously.

²⁰ For they do not speak in friendly ways, but contrive fraudulent schemes against those who live peacefully in the land.

²¹ They open their mouths wide against me and say, “Aha, aha! We saw it!”

²² You saw it, LORD; do not be silent. Lord, do not be far from me.

²³ Wake up and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!

²⁴ Vindicate me, LORD my God, in keeping with your righteousness, and do not let them rejoice over me.

²⁵ Do not let them say in their hearts, “Aha! Just what we wanted.” Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”

²⁶ Let those who rejoice at my misfortune be disgraced and humiliated; let those who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and reproach.

²⁷ Let those who want my vindication shout for joy and be glad; let them continually say, “The LORD be exalted. He takes pleasure in his servant’s well-being.”

²⁸ And my tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praise all day long.

The Prayer

My life

• I have only experienced
• enemies trying to take my life
• attempting to end me
• my soul
• my heart
• and my mind. They have used me
• for their own wickedness
• and to fulfill their hearts of sin
• and to dispose me
• like I am trash.

I am burn with anger

• because I feel powerless
• but my eyes see
• who are my enemies
• who have vowed to draw me away from you
• and that fills me with rage.

Because you have loved me from all of eternity

• and your heart was openly affectionate upon me
• and you loved me
• and you loved me so much
• that you sent your Son
• to live and die and rise from death
• so I can live, and move and have my being
• in you alone.

God, I pray for those

• who would try to take my life.
• They have failed. Miserably.
• Their actions are in completely vain

Show them the wickedness of their sin

• and turn their hearts towards you. Save them from their sins
• and from the snares of the devil.

Put Satan and his demons to open shame

• because your Son has the keys
• to hell and death

How much more glorious would it be

• to these supposed enemies

• who would have me killed

• and then you draw them

• and you call them

• and you exchange their hearts

• and filled them with your Spirit?

• That would be spectacular

• because that is what you have done for me

• You have predestined me?

• Predestined them

• You have called me?

• Call them

• You have justified me in my wickedness

• that eclipses their own wickedness?

• Justify them

• You have glorified me

• because you have glorified your Son?

• Glorify them

• You have saved me?

• Save them

• You have loved me?

• Love them.

Save my enemies O Lord

• keep them precious in your sight
• my Savior and my Redeemer forever.

Amen.