Psalm 140

We know that David had his fair share of enemies, even from his own family!  This psalm, then, comes to us unsurprisingly.  What is surprising, and probably the biggest lesson we can receive from reading it, is that David doesn’t ask for strength or wisdom to fight back.  He calls on the Lord to provide refuge and protection.  As a Marine, this is something I was not trained to do.  Sure, we learned how to take cover when mortar or artillery fire is coming in, but once the barrage ends, we seek to destroy the enemy so they cannot repeat their attacks.  This, however, is not how God’s Kingdom works.  

Our prayers are how we fight back.  David requests that the enemy would consume themselves.  That their ways would be fruitless and actually lead to their demise.  He doesn’t call down fire and brimstone from the heavens to destroy those who persecuted him, but instead he asks God for help and reinforces his trust in the Lord.  We know that when King Saul was seeking to kill David, David still maintained his integrity, even when his cadre of mighty men encouraged him to do so.  David showed Saul that he could have killed him in a cave while Saul was relieving himself, but he didn’t (1 Samuel 24-31)!  I don’t think I could have that kind of discipline and reverence for the Lord’s anointed king in that situation.  Could you?  This wasn’t evidence of only David’s reverence for God, but also his trust in God’s deliverance from his enemies.  He knew the Lord was on his side because of his intimate relationship with Him.  Here is a current-day example.

Years ago, I evolved into a Facebook warrior for God.  I would have theological arguments with people online.  My zeal for truth drove me to correct inaccurate assumptions and statements about God from both Atheists and Christians alike.  It would keep me up at night.  Then I came across Proverbs 26:4-14, a section of wisdom about arguing with fools.  You see, I was concerned that others might take what they see, albeit inaccurate, and consider it true.  I felt it was my job to set people straight.  So, if someone comes upon a statement or conversation, at least my contribution of the truth would be out there to help them.  It seems like a noble cause, doesn’t it?  There were a few problems with it though.

1) I realized that I wasn’t changing anybody’s mind!  We both had our own understanding of what was true and there really wasn’t anything that was going to change that.  This concept is most clearly seen in U.S. politics.  Healthy discussion to understand someone else’s viewpoint is one thing, but trying to convince someone to change their stance is an effort of futility.  Furthermore, it is usually a case of different perspectives, not necessarily right versus wrong.

2) This led me to consider, “What if I am wrong?”  Ouch.  That’s a harder pill to swallow, but one we must face.  This changed my approach to being curious and more open to learning from others with differing opinions, even if it sometimes felt like it grated against my heart and convictions.  It actually set me free from getting all fired up.  I realized that I am not going to change the world by arguing through a keyboard but by observing I could actually learn a thing or two.  This way, I could change myself and have a better impact on those around me.

3) What if God was doing something through that person, even though I was in disagreement, and I was actually getting in His way by interjecting my own opinion?  My spiritual mentor once challenged me when I told him about someone who irritated me by how they behaved.  I recognized I didn’t have enough relational equity to be able to constructively approach him.  “Are you sure you are the person who God has ordained to solve that problem?”  I had to learn to pray and be attentive to God’s global purpose and seek His wisdom to understand if I was supposed to do anything, or trust God’s providence instead.  Again, I was set free on many levels.

4) Going pack to Proverbs 26, I realized that I don’t have to prove a fool is a fool, it happens automatically!  If it truly is foolish, then there is nothing I need to argue or point out.  Messages don’t always have to be responded to.  It’s ok to let them hang out in the air.  Like an emotional argument, statements are made that aren’t fully thought through because they aren’t contemplated with wisdom like a strategic strike.  They are reactions that usually just make things worse.  Most keyboard warriors simply put on a show for the world stage and prove to unbelievers that we have no clue what we are talking about and believers that maybe they shouldn’t follow Christ after all.  It’s counter to the Kingdom message!  David, on the other hand, understood this concept and simply trusted in God for His justice.  He knew that the foolishness of the world would eventually consume itself.  If it is something that was true and righteous, it would stand the test of time.  Gamaliel also understood this when the religious elite began to talk about trying to shut down the Christian movement in the early church in Acts 5:

34 But a certain man stood up in the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee ⌊named⌋ Gamaliel, a teacher of the law respected by all the people, and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. 35 And he said to them, “Men and Israelites, take care for yourselves what you are about to do to these men! 36 For before these days, Theudas rose up saying he was somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined ⌊him⌋. ⌊He⌋ was executed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and ⌊caused people to follow him in revolt⌋. And that one perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 And now I tell you, keep away from these men, and leave them alone, because if this plan or this matter is from people, it will be overthrown. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them, lest you even be found fighting against God.”

I believe Gamaliel’s wisdom comes from studying the scriptures and seeing the journey that David walked with God amidst similar situations!  Later on, Saul of Tarsus, full of conviction and zeal for Yahweh began arresting and killing followers of Jesus until the Lord stopped him in his tracks.  His heart was in the right place but his understanding of the situation was guiding him in the wrong direction.

So then, let’s take Psalm 140 as an exhortation.  Are we trusting in our own strength and zeal for righteousness or in God’s provision and protection…regardless of what we are experiencing?  This is the sanctification process.  This is the test that the Lord allows us to endure so that we can learn to lean more on His wisdom than our own understanding and strength.  History shows the atrocities caused by man’s ways of doing things, even in the name of God Himself.  But did He ordain those things?  Next time you get fired up about something, take time to pause, pray, and observe.  Wait and see what the Lord is doing and trust Him instead of trying to resolve the situation yourself.