Psalm 35

“Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me!” (Psalm 35:24, ESV)

Psalm 35 is one of David’s imprecatory psalms, meaning that he invokes God’s curse on his enemies. While we understand the sentiment, we have difficulty processing David’s prayer considering Christ’s teaching to love our enemies. How can we pray God’s curse on them and love them at the same time?

But in verse 24, David is not asking God to destroy his enemies but rather to vindicate him so that they would not rejoice over him, boasting that they had defeated him. David is crying out to God for justice. According to 1 Corinthians 13:6, love does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth. God has given each of us an internal sense of justice. Even children say, “That’s not fair!” when another child gets a bigger piece of pie than they do. When we feel that we have been unjustly treated, our natural response is to protest. It is at this point that we sometimes err. We blame others, insist on our own rights, or take matters into our own hands. But David wisely brought the matter to the LORD.

“Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me. Fight against those who fight against me.” (Psalm 35:1, NKJV)

When we feel that our cause is justified, and we have been unjustly treated, the best thing we can do is to bring it to the LORD. One reason is because it could be that God wants us to suffer for His sake. This is the point Peter makes in his first epistle.

“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.” (1 Peter 2:21–23, NLT)

This isn’t easy to do, but it is what Jesus did. It could be that God is allowing us to experience the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:10). And when we follow in His steps, God sees His Beloved Son in us.

Heavenly Father, thank you for seeing everything people say and do against us and for always being our defense. Help us to wait upon you for your justice. Help us to entrust ourselves to you knowing that you care for us, and you always judge fairly. Help us love our enemies and seek your best for them, even when we feel like attacking them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.