Psalm 31: 23-24, "Love the Lord, all His saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud He pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."
Said another way, "I tell you these things, so that you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) And "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11)
There are so many promises in there, but these are those that call you to "Be strong and take heart". It is so huge. Dr. Constable wrote that if God be our strength, we may hope that He will both put His strength in us and put forth His strength for us. And He does.
David is facing persecution from his enemies that are plotting to kill him. We may not face death, but we probably all faced persecution from "enemies" verbally, possibly even physically. David calls out to God to silence them. While He wants that all might come to know Him and for us to love our enemies, it is not bad to call on Him to end their persecution of us. When it seems their salvation is not possible and our desire is to end the inequity of evil men, it is okay to go to God and ask Him to do what He has already promised all who are His...to protect us, to be our refuge, and let HIM take His vengeance out on evil.
Even when evil seems horrific (ISIS), God is in charge and He knows what is best. His ways are always better than ours. He took a Saul whose life's purpose was to persecute Christians and made him to be one of the greatest leaders of the early church. It's okay to go to Him and tell Him your pain and call on Him to come to your rescue...then stand back and let HIM do HIS thing and trust it is always for good.
I may not get to see how the story ends, but I love a God that is for me and His glory, "Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me." (v.3)
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