God Promises to Save Your Enemies

Psalms 140:6-8 O LORD, I say to you, “You are my God.” Hear, O LORD, my cry for mercy. 7 O Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, who shields my head in the day of battle – 8 do not grant the wicked their desires, O LORD; do not let their plans succeed, or they will become proud.
 
FIRST, notice how often “cry” is used in the psalms for “prayer” as it is here in David’s cry for mercy. It is good when our prayers come from a passionate, trusting heart. Is David cry for mercy against or for his enemies?
   It is very easy to assume David’s prayer is against his enemies. That’s the natural thing to do, isn’t it? And he does so in other psalms. But with a shift in our perspective, we can understand David was doing what Jesus taught us to do: Matthew 5:44 “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  When we consider each person is made in God’s image, we can more readily begin to understand why Jesus taught us to love and pray for each other.
   David knows God can deliver his enemies from their sin because God is his strong deliverer and his shield in battle. In faith, he prays God will deliver the wicked from their desires. And he will not let their plans succeed. This makes sense. We surely don’t want our enemies’ plans to succeed. But see David’s reason: or they will become proud.
   It is all too true when pride comes, then comes disgrace. (Proverbs 11:2a) David prays his enemies become wise, so they will know their sin and submit to God’s laws. If they don’t v 9 the heads of those who surround me will be covered with the trouble their lips have caused. 10 Let burning coals fall upon them; may they be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, never to rise. V 11b May disaster hunt down men of violence. Breaking God’s laws leads to broken lives. Following God’s laws leads to a whole relationship with God.
   Scripture records King Saul pursued David and later David’s son Absalom sought to kill his father. In both circumstances David prayed for them. He wanted to protect them from their violent hearts and from God’s judgment.
   David knew that when violent men repent v 12 the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Yes, blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3) Peace and fellowship with God belong to the righteous. V 13 Surely the righteous will praise your name and the upright will live before you.
   You may reject David’s example and Jesus’ commands as, “Impossible!” But look at what is possible in Jesus’ atoning blood. Praying for your enemies opens your heart to release malice toward them. An open heart is more willing and able to love others as yourself. And who knows? God may be using your prayers as his instrument of salvation for the spiritually oppressed. Remember, Jesus prayed for his enemies on the cross, “Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) The Son prayed to protect the hateful crowd from the Father’s wrath. Our Lord Jesus is your example. He has spoken, commanded and shown you what to do for the benefit of your own heart and for your fellow human beings.