Plead My Cause

"Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.  Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.  Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation." (Psalm 35:1-3) 

Have you ever had an enemy
One you couldn't see and couldn't touch
One who vexed your every moment
One who grieved your heart so much?

Have you ever had an enemy
One made of flesh and bone
One who looked you in the eye
And mocked the kindness shown?  

Have you ever had an enemy
One who looked a lot like you
One who went everywhere you went
One who did everything you do?  

Have you ever had an enemy 
One who hated without a cause
One who sought to destroy you
One who pursues and then withdraws?

Have you ever had an enemy 
One who would not relent
One who who not go away
No matter how much time was spent?

Have you ever needed courage
to stand and say, "No More!!!!"
Have you ever needed strength
to push closed an open door?

There is a mighty warrior
One who hears your desperate plea
One who see the relentless torment
One who sets the captives free

There is a God in heaven
who knows you by your name
Who fights against your enemies
Who puts them all to shame

The battle is not yours to fight
He will stand up; come to your aid
He is your rock and your salvation
Stand aside: He will make a way...


Many years ago I was in a very abusive relationship.  He was the epitome of what evil looks like cloaked in skin.  He was a manipulative, controlling monster.  During that period of time in my life I was a very different person from the one I am now.  I was a weak, broken, hurting, insecure, fearful woman.  And he took complete advantage of that in every way possible.  He planned to break my spirit, my mind, my body, and my soul.  And he just about succeeded.  

But God had other plans.

By the grace and mercy of God I was able to escape after years of abuse.  It's been well over twelve years now since I cut him off and out of my life.  And just a few weeks ago his number showed up on my office phone.  Normally that would have caused me to fear, but this time it made me righteously angry.  I immediately blocked his phone number and took all of the other necessary steps to cut him off once again; the most important of which was to plead my cause before the Lord. 

Within the last several months I have had a family member come against me financially; attempting to attach debt to me that is most definitely not mine.  She assumed like all of the other times in the past that she could 'scare' me, that she could intimidate me into paying for things that I did not purchase, for a company I am no longer associated with.  But I am not that scared, easily intimidated woman anymore.  So I did what I needed to do: I prayed and pleaded my cause before the Lord.  I reached out to the highest authority and I trust Him to set it all right.  She planned to make me look bad, to destroy my credit, to belittle me and my God.

But God had other plans.

By His grace I am not scared.  I am stronger and have more peace in His presence than I have ever known.  I will not be bullied because my God is a Mighty Warrior. (Exodus 15:3) I will not be intimidated because "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)

I prayed and continue to pray the entirety of Psalm 35 as my anthem of freedom before the Lord. "Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt." (Verse 4) "...and let the angel of the Lord chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them." (Verses 5b-6)  "Let destruction come upon him unaware: and let his net that he has hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall." (Verse 8)  "Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause." (Verse 19)  "Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify themselves against me." (Verse 26)  

I did not come to this place of courage and defiance against 'my enemies' without first praying for them both, without seeking the Lord on their behalf, without asking His mercy upon them.  It was when they persisted, when it was evident that their hearts were anything but turned toward the Lord, that my righteous refusal of their tyranny commenced.  Listen to what David says about halfway through Psalm 35:  "They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.  But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.  I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.  But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not..."  (Verses 12-15)

I heard God say the end of verse three, deep in my heart this morning as I prayed; "I am thy salvation."  He has me.  And He won't let go, nor will He allow my enemies to triumph over me.  I felt the end of my fear.  I felt the end of my intimidation.  I felt the end of their ability to effect me.  And I felt the end of their ability to harm me anymore.  

Do you have enemies?  Do you need God's help?  Are you living in fear?  Let the Lord plead your cause, let Him stand up for your help, let Him be your salvation.  His heart for you is immense.  His grace is overwhelming.  His care and protection of those that are His is fierce.  Trust Him.  He won't ever let you down...not ever!



Written by Anne Marie Hawke
July 2020

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