In the Lord I Take Refuge: 31 Days in the PsalmsSample

We live in a world of accusation. Sometimes our accusers are actual people, as is the case for David as he writes this psalm: “Wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me” (v. 2). When he attempts to forgive and show his accusers love (v. 4), they respond in intensified hatred, slander, and attacks. They will not allow him a moment of peace. David’s cry to God in this psalm is clear: “End it! Cut them off! Shut them up!” To our ears, this sounds too harsh, selfish, impatient, and unloving. How can David ask that “his days be few” (v. 8) or for God to “cut off the memory of them from the earth” (v. 15)? Is this even a Christian prayer? We want to plead with David to show a bit more grace, perhaps pointing him to Jesus’ words in Matthew 5 about loving our enemies and turning the other cheek. However, before we do, let us consider one more thing.

David is the king, anointed by God to rule over Israel. His accusers are, in reality, accusing the One who appointed him king. If God allowed the accusers to continue, peace would not come to God’s king or his people. They must be stopped.

David’s enemies are not the only accusers. We, too, live in a world of accusation. We find ourselves accused by others (Matt. 5:11–12), by ourselves (Rom. 7:21–24), and by Satan himself (Rev. 12:7–10). We are attacked on all fronts. Our accusers cry out that we are not pure, worthy, right, or enough. And perhaps we are not pure or worthy. But as with David, it is not our worthiness that matters. “God made [us] alive together with [Christ], having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Col. 2:13–15).

The way God answered David’s prayer is Jesus. In Jesus, the strength of our accusers is cut off. “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Rom. 8:33–34). When our crucified and risen king comes again, our accusers will be silenced once and for all. We will have peace.