Read this first: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+35&version=NIV
Most of this psalm seems to be the psalmist asking for God to answer him in one specific way. He asks for his enemies to look foolish for vindication and it’s implied that vengeance should happen to them. But then he concludes with this…
May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant.”
My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,
your praises all day long.
I’ve used the phrase of “turning enemies into friends” a lot in my teaching. I think that’s because it’s so countercultural and anti-internet. No one goes to the youtube comment section or twitter to make friends- I do believe people go there to make enemies. Although I guess did do it once- but that was many years ago and we’re still twitter friends. We had an argument on Tim Keller’s wall and he’s been dealing with depression. But that’s an exception. What God does is he comes to us who should be his enemies- his people who have sinned against him their whole lives and through his own sacrifice makes us his not only his friends but his children.
The fact that the Psalmist- likely David arrives at the same conclusion after talking smack about his enemies is very real. Yeah we’d prefer if our enemies were destroyed but God’s right they should be friends. We see this in David’s life not when fighting Goliath but when fighting with Saul. He won’t destroy Saul because if he does he will be going against God’s annointed. His goal was to turn Saul into a friend, unfortunately that didn’t happen. The temptation to take him out was there but it wasn’t necessary.
Seek peace- turn your enemies into friends by the power of God!
Marking It Up 