Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly terrified. Let them turn back and suddenly be put to shame.
David asks that the plans of his enemies be brought to nothing and that their arrogant confidence collapse. “Be ashamed” here means to see the defeat of one’s own evil way. That shame can also become the beginning of repentance, if a person recognizes his error and turns back. David does not carry out judgment with his own hands, but leaves it to God. This is an important boundary for understanding prayers for judgment. The believer should not seek personal revenge, but may ask that the Lord frustrate the works of evil, stop injustice, and reveal the truth. In the light of Christ’s teaching, the believer should also pray for the enemy’s turning. The defeat of evil is seen most deeply not only in the sinner being punished, but also in his repentance. The psalm ends with the confidence that God can suddenly change the situation. After a long night, His help can appear unexpectedly.