April 17

Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know. They repay me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer kept returning to my bosom. Psalm 35:11-13.

David is describing his experiences as he is being pursued by Saul, who is bent upon destroying him. We have all known what it is to be the target of false accusations, to be lied about, and to receive only evil when our intent was to share good. Charles Spurgeon has some interesting comments on this as he says, “He (David) was loyal even to excess; yet they accused him of conspiring against the Lord’s anointed. He was not only innocent, but ignorant of the fault alleged. It is well when our hands are so clean that no trace of dirt is upon them.”

What is so important about the cited verses is that David is saying that all the while he was being accused he was busy praying for the accusers. He was fasting. And we see the result—his prayers kept returning to him. In other words, as Spurgeon explains, “Prayer is never lost: if it bless not those for whom intercession is made, it shall bless the intercessors. Clouds do not always descend in showers upon the same spot from which the vapours ascended, but they come down somewhere; and even so do supplications in some place or other yield their showers of mercy."

Yes, my friend, do not lose heart when you are falsely accused. Pray for those who malign you, and it can very well be that many blessings will fall upon you. The Lord would have it that way, for the same thing happened to our Savior as He walked this earth for our salvation.

Today Lord Jesus let me join in prayer for our enemies. It is as it should be, for You loved me while I was yet an enemy. Teach me the love that You have created for us to share, so that I can always desire to pray for those who do not understand my intentions. Let me not seek revenge, let me not hold any grudge. Instead let me be a model of forgiveness—always seeking the best for my enemies through the power of prayer.
You alone make all of this possible. Thank You. Amen.
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