Salvation Belongs to the LordSample

Salvation from Evil

For most modern Christians, this verse is an embarrassment. It is unthinkable to them that Christians called to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39) can ever pray such violence. Such imprecatory prayers that call upon God to destroy the wicked are often viewed as unchristian. However, there is nothing unchristian about a child of God calling God to judge the wicked who plot against God’s people. In fact, it is the most Christian thing to pray for one’s salvation from the wicked by the destruction of evil. Jesus himself taught us to pray, “deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13).

David calls upon God to arise from his throne and come save him from his desperate predicament. This was no ordinary prayer but a rallying war cry for God to act on behalf of his covenant child! During the wilderness wanderings, whenever the children of Israel set out from camp, Moses would loudly pray, “Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered! Let them flee before you!” (Numbers 10:35). David calls upon God to similar action, to go before him and fight the battle. He calls God to put down the ungodly rebellion against the Lord’s anointed king. To this end, he calls upon violent action. David is confident that God will not passively sit by with his beloved son in peril. God will act without mercy against all who dare to touch his anointed one.

David’s prayer for salvation was answered by a decisive victory in battle. The servants of David, though outnumbered, defeated the men of Israel with twenty thousand dead (2 Samuel 18:7-8). Absalom, who dared to rise up against the Lord’s anointed, was killed. (2 Samuel 18:10-17). David experienced salvation in God’s just violence. In contrast, the Son of David, Jesus, who lived the perfect sinless life, was condemned. Jesus was slapped on the cheek (John 18:22). The soldiers placed a crown of thorns upon Christ and struck him with blows (John 19:3). The innocent one suffered mercilessly. God engaged in active violent action against Jesus. On the cross, God crushed his beloved (Isaiah 53:10) so that he might answer sinners’ prayers for salvation! By this just violence, salvation comes to us as God arises from the dead in Christ Jesus and saves all who call upon the name of the LORD (Romans 10:13), crushing the head of the Serpent, our ancient foe (Genesis 3:15).