Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
Psalm 7 – Praying through the Bible #171 – A Prayer of Innocence Against the Guilty
An ex-convict, hoping to keep the “ex“ current, became a Christian. The problem was the judge was still deliberating his case and punishment. Part of the crime consisted of illegal drug use. He approached me to write a letter to the judge on his behalf. I did. To this day I don’t know if the young man knew what I wrote; but I doubt it was what he had hoped. I didn’t write, “Dear Judge, so-and-so has turned his life around by turning his life over to Jesus. Therefore he is no longer the same man and incarceration is unnecessary.” Instead in so many words I wrote to the judge “If he is guilty and you think jail is the best cure, put him in jail. However, we as a church are putting him into a drug rehab program organized by our own members.” I doubt the young man would have appreciated the first part; but such is not without Biblical precedent.
The following prayer of David consists of both an innocent person, and those guilty. The guilty are put forth before God as worthy of punishment while the innocent is asking for protection.
“Yahweh my God, I seek refuge in You; save me from all my pursuers and rescue me or they will run me over with an 18 wheeler in a hit and run with no one to rescue me.” (This is a Perry-Phrase. The original had a lion analogy ripping apart the author. Not too many lions around here, but plenty of cars!)
This prayer presents before God rhetorical questions asserting innocence: “If I have done this; if I have done harm to one at peace with me or have plundered my adversary without cause” (vv.3-4)…. David says if he is guilty he is willing to suffer the righteous and natural consequences (v.5).
Since David is innocent the prayer asks for God to “rise up…in your anger” (v.6). Judgment against those who are wrongfully pursuing an innocent man is called for (vv.6-8). He urges, “vindicate me LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity” (v.8). He understands God examines the thoughts and emotions (lit., hearts and kidneys) (v.9). He proclaims repentance is necessary to stop God’s deadly weapons of arrows tipped with fire (vv.12-13). This is a prayer for God’s vengeance which is righteous because an innocent man is wrongfully pursued.
Prayer Challenge: Imprecatory prayers make us uncomfortable. We need to recognize God’s judgment is always righteous, and sin brings its own natural consequences (v.14-16). Let us: 1) Make sure our hands and hearts are clean; 2) That the guilty are punished, for our own protection; 3) For God to reach down in righteous judgment upon them; not out of glee, but in hope they will see the error of their ways. That way they can join us in praying “I will thank the LORD for His righteousness; I will sing about the name of Yahweh the Most High” (v.17).
Comments