Psalm 35:23-28 “Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me! Vindicate me, LORD my God, according to your righteousness. Don’t let them gloat over me. Don’t let them say in their heart, ‘Aha! That’s the way we want it!’ Don’t let them say, ‘We have swallowed him up!’ Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me. Let those who favor my righteous cause shout for joy and be glad. Yes, let them say continually, ‘May The LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!’ My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.”

First of all, can you imagine having the temerity to yell at God to wake up? Perhaps this is simply because David knew God was going to act because of His promises. While I wouldn’t suggest it as a standard way to pray, God also knows what is in our hearts. I think it’s better to be honest with Him instead of pretending to be filled with faith when we are angry and impatient.

Second, we should be joyful when we see how God works in someone else’s life and magnify His name! There may be times when we are tempted to be jealous because God isn’t working in our lives in the same way. That’s not the way we’re supposed to be. In fact, God warns us about that in the 10 commandments:

Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

And there is a very important reason for the prohibition:

Proverbs 14:30 “The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.”

For additional worship: Now Thank We All Our God (Reawaken Hymns)