David’s 911 Call For Help! (2 Of 2)

This is not what the Bible teaches. In fact, it teaches just the opposite. Look at Matthew 5:44, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

I do not know anything in a Christian’s life that is more difficult to do than to:

- Say nice things about your enemies.

- Do nice things for your enemies.

- Pray for those who “despitefully use” us.

Nevertheless, this is exactly what the Lord has commanded us to do.

Why is this so difficult? Because most people have a “grudge” list, and “Woe be unto anyone who is on their list.”

Illus: We are told that Richard Nixon had such a list and he kept it in a small black binder. It included all who-

- Said bad things about him.

- Opposed him.

Their names went into the little black book and when a convenient time came, he did not get mad; he got even.

Politicians are not the only ones who have “grudge” lists. Many Christians seek revenge against those who oppose them.

Illus: In Luke, chapter 9, the Lord was not very well received. This made some of the disciples angry. Luke 9:54 tells us, “And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them.”

Aren’t you glad God refuses to allow people use Him, and His power, to get revenge on people.

If God had given His disciples the power to get revenge, those people would have all looked like burnt toast.

But, scripture records some times when men like David, who were NOT motivated by fleshly desires, pleaded with God to send judgment on someone, and God granted their requests. Those prayers are called imprecatory prayers.

Every time God granted those requests it was for a man of God, who was living for God. Those men of God understood that the attacks upon them were actually attacks on God.

We have already dealt with DAVID’S PLEA. Now let us look at...

II. DAVID’S PRAYER.

We can see why David was praying for God to assist him. Look at...

A. David’s predicament.

Look at verses 11-12. We read, “False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.”

Notice, David spoke of false witnesses that rose up against him. They did two things.

1. “They laid to my charge things that I knew not...”

David made it clear that he was being charged with things he did not even know about.

Illus: That would be like having the police come to your house and charge you with a robbery that took place the night before. You would say, “What robbery?” They would say, “The one you committed.” All you could say would be, “I not only did not commit the robbery. I do not even know about a robbery.”

Illus: Evil men had been going to King Saul and accusing David of sedition behind David’s back. David was one of the most loyal men King Saul had, yet he was being accused of things he did not even know he was being accused of. He not only was innocent of the charges, he had been ignorant of the fact they had been being made against him.

2. “They rewarded me evil for good...”

We all would naturally assume that if you do good things to and for people that good things will follow back from them, but often this is not the case. In fact, often just the opposite happens.

Illus: Every church can tell you about people that they reached out to help spiritually and financially who later set out to destroy that same church that had assisted them when they needed assistance.

That same thing happened to David. He said, “They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.” (Verse 12) What a predicament to be in.

Then look at-

B. David’s placating.

David told God how his enemies were treating him and of how they had accused him of things he was not even aware of. He also told the Lord how they had returned evil for good. It is evident the Holy Spirit wanted us to know how David had treated his enemies. David had not told the Lord those things just to make himself look good.

Illus: Have you noticed people usually tell their side of the story in such a way as to favor them so they come out looking good. Almost without exception, people will give a slant that favors them.

When people come to a church and put their former church down, the smart pastor will pick up the phone and call the former pastor. Often “The Rest of the Story” includes details the members “conveniently” left out because those details would not leave them in such a good light. In some cases, the people had caused such disruption that the people in the church they came from were better off when they left.