Psalm 61

“Hear my cry oh God, attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth, I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, a Strong Tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. For You, O, God, have heard my vowels; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name. You will prolong the king’s life, his years as many generations. He shall abide before God forever. Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him! So I will sing praise to Your name, forever, then I may daily perform my vowels.”

As I prayed over the needs of the group this morning, the Lord brought this passage of scripture to my mind. In Psalm 61, David is crying out to God to hear his prayer. He’s feeling overwhelmed and in need of shelter and safety because His enemy is coming after him. What I find fascinating is that not only did he cry out to God for what he needed, but he also blessed his enemy in his prayer. The king, Saul, was after David to kill him. He was so jealous of David because he knew the call and the anointing that David had on his life to be the next king. Saul became consumed with killing David. In this very intense, life-threatening situation, David petitions God for help and he ALSO declares long life, salvation, mercy and truth over Saul.

This is my interpretation of this passage. Some believe it was his son, Absalom, who David was running from. And the king mentioned was referring to David, himself, or as a foreshadowing of the reign of Jesus, forever and ever!

How often in our lives do we simply bring our needs, wants and problems to God and make no mention of the person that has caused us so much grief or trouble…that person who has hurt us so badly…the person who has betrayed us, lied to us, gossiped about us? Or maybe we go so far as to curse them or pray against them? The Bible clearly tells us to pray for our enemies and bless those who curse us. Jesus says that we are not to take an eye for an eye, but to turn the other cheek. I know this is a very difficult concept. This is a difficult truth to swallow. But, we know that the word of God is Truth and like medicine to our souls…sometimes it’s not so tasty but it’s good for you!

So when you pray, be sure to pray for your enemies and those who spitefully use you. (Matthew 5:44-46) Heap prayers of goodness, mercy and blessings upon their heads. As my dad always says, “Kill them with kindness.” Praying for your enemies doesn’t always change them, but it sure does change something in you. It’s all about properly positioning YOUR heart before the Omnipotent God, who knows all and sees all things.

Proverbs 25:21-23
“If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the Lord will reward you.”

May we be found with clean hands and a pure heart when we stand before the Almighty on that Great Day. Hands clean of hatred, bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy, strife and anger. Hearts pure, full of love, forgiveness, grace and mercy. (Psalm 24)