Reflecting God’s Devotions for Holy Living – Monday, 6 January
2014 “Pray for Your Enemies” Scripture Psalm 35: Prayer for
Deliverance from Enemies
Of David.
1 Contend, O Lord,
with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of shield and buckler,
and rise up to help me!
3 Draw the spear and javelin
against my pursuers;
say to my soul,
“I am your salvation.”
fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of shield and buckler,
and rise up to help me!
3 Draw the spear and javelin
against my pursuers;
say to my soul,
“I am your salvation.”
4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor
who seek after my life.
Let them be turned back and confounded
who devise evil against me.
5 Let them be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord driving them on.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
who seek after my life.
Let them be turned back and confounded
who devise evil against me.
5 Let them be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord driving them on.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7 For without cause they hid their net[a] for
me;
without cause they dug a pit[b] for my life.
8 Let ruin come on them unawares.
And let the net that they hid ensnare them;
let them fall in it—to their ruin.
without cause they dug a pit[b] for my life.
8 Let ruin come on them unawares.
And let the net that they hid ensnare them;
let them fall in it—to their ruin.
9 Then my soul shall rejoice in the Lord,
exulting in his deliverance.
10 All my bones shall say,
“O Lord, who is like you?
You deliver the weak
from those too strong for them,
the weak and needy from those who despoil them.”
exulting in his deliverance.
10 All my bones shall say,
“O Lord, who is like you?
You deliver the weak
from those too strong for them,
the weak and needy from those who despoil them.”
11 Malicious witnesses rise up;
they ask me about things I do not know.
12 They repay me evil for good;
my soul is forlorn.
13 But as for me, when they were sick,
I wore sackcloth;
I afflicted myself with fasting.
I prayed with head bowed[c] on my bosom,
14 as though I grieved for a friend or a brother;
I went about as one who laments for a mother,
bowed down and in mourning.
they ask me about things I do not know.
12 They repay me evil for good;
my soul is forlorn.
13 But as for me, when they were sick,
I wore sackcloth;
I afflicted myself with fasting.
I prayed with head bowed[c] on my bosom,
14 as though I grieved for a friend or a brother;
I went about as one who laments for a mother,
bowed down and in mourning.
Footnotes:
“Pray for Your Enemies” by H. Ray Dunning
Psalm 35 is a prayer for deliverance from enemies seeking the
psalmist’s life. In the middle of the prayer, occasioned by his enemy’s
misfortune, evidently a life-threatening sickness, a dramatic change in the
prayer occurs. It is in vivid contrast to verse 12 where the enemy is described
as rewarding “evil for good.” The psalmist stands that approach on its head.
With evident heartfelt compassion he goes into mourning, earnestly–even
desperately–seeking the Lord’s intervention on their behalf but to no avail.
The NIV rendering of this verse is an interpretation rather than
a translation. Literally the original Hebrew says, “My prayer returned into my
own bosom?” (verse 13b, KJV). While it may raise the issue of unanswered
prayer, the most dominant attitude it expresses is a depth of concern for his
enemy as if he were a close relative or friend. This prayer expresses the
attitude enjoined by Jesus to return good for evil, “love your enemies and pray
for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
Maybe praying for an enemy with this attitude is its own answer
to prayer even if what one specifically prays for does not come to pass. The
transformation of one’s spirit through this Christlike spirit is an ideal to be
desired.
Hymn for Today:
“O to Be Like Thee” by Thomas O. Chisholm
1. Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
Refrain:
Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
2. Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.
Refrain:
Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
3. Oh! to be like Thee, lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.
Refrain:
Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
4. Oh! to be like Thee, Lord, I am coming,
Now to receive th’ anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing,
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.
Refrain:
Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
5 Oh! to be like Thee, while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love,
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.
Refrain:
Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
Thought for Today:
“Through prayer, we align ourselves with the purposes of God and
offer ourselves as agents of reconciliation so that God’s kingdom may truly
come on earth as in Heaven”(Rhonda Carrim).
Prayer Needs:
Many people in Italy will come to know Jesus the Christ (Yeshua
the Messiah) and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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