How can Psalm 37:12 guide our prayers for those who oppose us?

◄ Psalm 37:12: Praying for opponents? ►

The Verse in Focus

“The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash at them with their teeth.” — Psalm 37:12

Recognizing the Reality of Opposition

• Scripture calls those who hinder God’s people “wicked”—a moral, not merely social, description.

• Their “scheming” shows deliberate intent; opposition is often calculated, not accidental.

• “Gnash at them with their teeth” paints a picture of intense hostility; God does not minimize our pain.

Guidance for Our Prayers

• Acknowledge hostility honestly before the Lord, without soft-pedaling the wrong done (Psalm 62:8).

• Remember that God already sees and labels injustice; we need not sanitize it for Him (Psalm 139:1–4).

• Pray from a standpoint of covenant identity: we are “the righteous” because of His salvation (Psalm 37:39).

• Turn over schemes to the Lord instead of rehearsing them in anxiety (Philippians 4:6).

• Ask God to restrain, expose, or overturn evil plans according to His wisdom (Psalm 33:10).

• Intercede for the salvation of opponents, placing their greatest need above their present hostility (Matthew 5:44).

Staying Aligned with God’s Heart

• Choose trust over fretfulness (Psalm 37:1).

• Cultivate meekness—the assurance that God will vindicate in His time (Psalm 37:11; Romans 12:19).

• Guard against bitterness; leave judgment to the Lord while keeping your conscience clear (1 Peter 2:23).

Promises to Anchor Our Confidence

• “The Lord laughs at him, for He sees his day is coming” (Psalm 37:13). God’s supremacy is never threatened.

• “The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord” (Psalm 37:39). Our deliverance is guaranteed.

• “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous” (1 Peter 3:12). We are never out of His sight.

• “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed” (2 Timothy 4:18). Preservation is personal and continual.

Practical Prayer Outline

1. Address God’s character: righteous Judge and faithful Defender.

2. State the opposition truthfully, naming the scheme without watering it down.

3. Surrender the situation, renouncing personal vengeance.

4. Request God’s intervention—halt the scheme, protect His people, glorify His name.

5. Pray for the opponent’s repentance and salvation, echoing Christ’s heart on the cross (Luke 23:34).

6. Close with thanksgiving, affirming confidence in God’s sure justice and care.