1 – “You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah” (Psalm 59:5, ESV)

RAF: Note carefully that this is an imprecatory Psalm. The occasion is when Saul sent men to take David at his home to kill him. While David prays for God to intervene and punish, yet his own actions are merciful and gracious. God will deliver Saul into his hands several times in the future, but David will spare him. He leaves his anger, his desire to strike back – even his actual defense – to God. In prayer we may safely rage against our enemies. For our God can not act unjustly. He can neither over-punish, nor under-punish. We can get it off our chests. And then, in real life – like David – we can act in mercy.

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