Psalm 144 Praying For, Not Against

 Observation: This is a psalm attributed to King David, and it's a truly interesting one. It begins by humbly admitting human frailty: "what are human beings that you are mindful of them?" So far, so good. But then it makes a bizarre leap of logic. "Since we humans are so frail and transient, it would be that much easier for you to smite my enemies with fire and lightning, so please do that." Well, that didn't go as I expected. But once that chunk is over, David begins to pray for prosperity and abundance in Israel.  

Application: Is it okay to pray against an adversary? Despite Jesus' command to "pray for those who persecute you," we see many prayers in psalms like this one, where God's people seem to be doing just that. In our increasingly divided nation, I have heard Christians jokingly use Psalm 109:8 to "pray for" a president with whom they disagree. "may his days be few; may another seize his position." (I have heard this "prayer" aimed both at president Obama and President Trump). But as one of those pesky pastors who insist on reading things in context, I need to remind folks that verse 9 goes on, "may his children be orphans, and his wife a widow." It is a prayer for an adversary's death. 

Even though Psalm 109 is in the Bible, I  can't justify any prayer for death for any individual, no matter how much suffering they have caused. But what I appreciate in Psalm 144, despite its call for divine smiting, is that it eventually comes around to the result David hopes for. Yes, he's a human king, and wants his enemies dead. But what he wants more is health and prosperity for his nation. Healthy children, barns full of produce, plentiful livestock, peaceful streets. That's David's goal. Maybe with God's help, in that time and place, David can get as far as loving his people more than he hates his enemies. Maybe in our own time and place, with the guidance of Jesus, who prayed for his own enemies even as they were crucifying him, we can get farther.

The last thing I want to do is shame people for feeling how they feel in these intensely traumatic times. Maybe what we can manage right now is, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done." And we know from the life of Jesus that God's kingdom includes better healing, more inclusive community, and a deeper kind of prosperity and justice than we humans could have envisioned on our own anyway. If you are struggling in your prayers, I'm going to pray for you today. 

Prayer: Jesus, help me to act like you, and especially pray like you. I pray it in your name. Amen.