Exchanging Evil for Good

S
(Psalm 109:4,5) In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

O
In shocking, graphic detail, David inventories how he promotes justice in the midst of an unjust and painful world. Half of this psalm lists specific prayers that cause spiritual crimes to boomerang back upon evildoers. Before being able to pray this way, though, David loved and prayed for his accusing adversaries, and he did good to them when they hurt and cursed him (v. 4, 21, 18).

A
How easy it is to abuse justice by two equally pain-producing extremes: either taking justice into our own badly informed hands or allowing fear to shrink us into a false apathy that causes us to forsake justice. Vengeance clearly belongs to God, not to people (Romans 12), yet He requires people to fearfully use this tool (Romans 13; 1 Peter 4; Ephesians 1:22,23).

P
Lord, You explain that "light dawns in the darkness for the upright" and that Your people are "gracious, merciful, and righteous" (Psalm 112:4). For a season, You evidently allow evil be believe it's winning (1 Corinthians 5:5) so that the contrast between it and Your character becomes increasingly evident. I volunteer to walk the Valley of the Shadow so Your dawn can be increasingly glorious (Proverbs 4:18).