Psalms 41:10

"But thou, O Jehovah, have mercy upon me, and raise me up,

That I may requite them.

By this I know that thou delightest in me,

Because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.

And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity,

And settest me before thy face forever."

"O Jehovah, have mercy upon me" (Psalms 41:10). This verse concludes the prayer that began in Psalms 41:4, both the beginning and the ending of it being a plea for mercy.

"That I may requite them" (Psalms 41:10). Some of the alleged `scholars' have a fit about this. What a hard-hearted old scoundrel David was that he would think of executing justice upon the traitors who had just engaged themselves in an effort to destroy the government and replace the king! Such seems to be the thoughts of some who bitterly criticize these words. "Kittel, for example, cites this as an example of `hot glorying vengeance' and labels it `carnal passion,' claiming that we can never sanction it."[13]

It is precisely this attitude on the part of men who should be teaching Christianity that has perverted the common understanding of it to be that nobody, but nobody, should be punished.

Our society today is in serious trouble because of this anti-Christian, foolish, and rebellious attitude on the part of alleged "teachers of the truth." The proof of this is simple enough. Our city of Houston, along with many other great American cities actually killed more people through violent crimes on their streets in each one of those cities during the brief period of the Persian Gulf War than were killed by waging the war.

It is a shame and a reproach that our society has forgotten that God said, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God made he man" (Genesis 9:6). This is not "an option" that governments have in dealing with murderers; it is an order, a Divine and binding order; and the neglect of it by any society is absolutely suicidal.

Certainly, as the king, the head of the government, and the judge and ruler of Israel, it was David's duty to put to death the vicious criminals who almost toppled his kingship. We are disgusted with the opinions of people who really do not think any criminal should suffer the appropriate punishment for his deeds. Did not our Lord say:

"But these mine enemies, that would not that I should reign over them, bring hither and slay them before me."

- Luke 19:27"

"David not only prayed for health here so that he might carry out his duty of just requital as the royal Judge of Israel; but he included a three-fold testimony of the Lord, who (1) shows his good pleasure in vindicating his own (Psalms 41:11); (2) does not allow integrity to go unrewarded (Psalms 41:12a); and (3) and brings sinners into an intimate relationship with himself (Psalms 41:4,12b)."[14]