Many believers today use the phrase “back to sender prayers” when praying against enemies, attacks, hatred, oppression, witchcraft, evil intentions, or persecution. In many churches and prayer gatherings, Psalm 35 is often quoted as one of the strongest scriptures connected to these kinds of prayers.
But while Psalm 35 contains strong prayers against enemies, believers must also carefully understand the full context of the passage and compare it with the teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
This is important because Christianity is not only about quoting Old Testament warfare prayers. It is also about understanding how Jesus transformed the believer’s response toward enemies, persecution, revenge, and forgiveness.
Psalm 35 reveals David crying unto God during severe opposition and false accusations. However, Jesus later introduced a higher standard that called believers to love their enemies, forgive persecutors, and overcome evil with good.
In this message, I want to explain the meaning of Psalm 35, why people connect it to back to sender prayers, what David intended in the chapter, and how the teachings of Jesus later reformed this kind of mindset.
What psalm is for back to sender?
The psalm for back to sender is Psalm 35.
This chapter is commonly used because David repeatedly prayed for God to fight against those fighting against him.
“Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me fight against them that fight against me.” — Psalm 35:1
Throughout the chapter, David called upon God to oppose his enemies, bring confusion upon them, and defend him from wicked people seeking his downfall.
Because of these strong prayers against enemies, many people today associate Psalm 35 with back to sender prayers.
What is the Psalm 35 back to sender?
The Psalm 35 back to sender is a plea for God to fight against your enemies using the same measure they are using against you.
In the chapter, David repeatedly prayed for his enemies to face the consequences of their wickedness and evil plans.
He asked God to defend him against false accusations, hatred, traps, and attacks from wicked people.
Many people today interpret this as praying for evil directed at them to return back upon the attackers.
However, while Psalm 35 reflects David’s cry for divine justice during suffering, believers must also understand that Jesus later introduced teachings centered on forgiveness, mercy, and love toward enemies.
The background and intention behind Psalm 35
To properly understand Psalm 35, we must first understand David’s situation.
David faced intense opposition throughout different periods of his life.
He experienced betrayal, false accusations, hatred, persecution, and attempts on his life.
King Saul pursued him.
Enemies plotted against him.
False witnesses rose against him.
Many times David found himself surrounded by people seeking his destruction.
Psalm 35 was written from the heart of a man crying out under severe pressure and injustice.
This is why the language inside the chapter is emotional, intense, and confrontational.
David was not calmly discussing theology.
He was pouring out pain before God.
That emotional context matters greatly when interpreting the chapter.
A critical analysis of Psalm 35
David asked God to fight for him
The chapter begins with David asking God to become his defender.
“Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me fight against them that fight against me.” — Psalm 35:1
This reveals David depending on divine intervention rather than personal revenge.
Instead of physically attacking his enemies himself, he cried unto God for help.
This is one positive lesson believers can still learn from the chapter.
Instead of taking revenge personally, David carried his pain to God.
David prayed against the plans of his enemies
Throughout Psalm 35, David prayed for the plans of wicked people to fail.
“Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul.” — Psalm 35:4
He believed his enemies were acting unjustly and maliciously against him.
His prayers reflected his desire for divine justice.
David described betrayal and false accusations
One painful part of Psalm 35 is where David explained that some enemies were people he had previously shown kindness to.
“But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth.” — Psalm 35:13
This reveals betrayal.
David had shown compassion toward them, yet they later turned against him.
This part of the chapter becomes relatable to many people who experience betrayal after helping others.
David desired judgment against wickedness
Many verses in Psalm 35 involve prayers asking God to judge evil people.
David prayed for confusion, destruction, and downfall upon his enemies.
This is the section many people connect to back to sender prayers.
However, this also becomes the most controversial part when examined through the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Why many believers use Psalm 35 today
Many believers turn to Psalm 35 during difficult situations involving oppression, hatred, injustice, persecution, spiritual attacks, or severe opposition.
The chapter gives language to people feeling wounded or attacked.
Some feel comforted knowing they can cry unto God when falsely accused or mistreated.
Others believe the chapter demonstrates God’s willingness to defend the innocent.
However, problems begin when believers transform the chapter into a mindset of hatred, revenge, bitterness, or constant obsession with enemies.
This is where the teachings of Jesus become very important.
Jesus transformed the believer’s response toward enemies
One major difference between the Old Testament and the teachings of Christ is the emphasis Jesus placed on forgiveness, mercy, and love toward enemies.
Jesus raised the spiritual standard far beyond revenge based thinking.
One of the clearest examples appears in Matthew 5.
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.” — Matthew 5:44
This teaching directly challenged the mindset of returning evil for evil.
Jesus instructed believers to respond differently.
Instead of hatred, He taught love.
Instead of revenge, He taught prayer.
Instead of bitterness, He taught forgiveness.
Jesus taught forgiveness repeatedly
Jesus consistently emphasized forgiveness throughout His ministry.
When Peter asked how many times he should forgive someone, Jesus responded with extraordinary mercy.
“I say not unto thee, Until seven times but, Until seventy times seven.” — Matthew 18:22
This revealed the heart of Christ concerning forgiveness.
Even while hanging on the cross after suffering cruelty and injustice, Jesus still prayed:
“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” — Luke 23:34
This became one of the strongest demonstrations of mercy toward enemies in scripture.
Paul also rejected revenge based living
The apostle Paul continued the teachings of Christ concerning how believers should respond to evil.
“Recompense to no man evil for evil.” — Romans 12:17
Paul later added:
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” — Romans 12:21
This teaching directly opposes revenge centered Christianity.
Paul encouraged believers not to become consumed by bitterness or retaliation.
Instead, Christians were called to overcome darkness through goodness, mercy, patience, and love.
Why Christians must be careful with back to sender prayers
Many modern back to sender prayers are often driven by anger, bitterness, hatred, fear, or obsession with enemies.
Some believers spend more time praying against enemies than developing Christlike character.
This creates spiritual imbalance.
While believers can certainly pray for God’s protection, justice, deliverance, and intervention, Christianity must never become centered on revenge.
Jesus repeatedly called believers toward forgiveness and love.
This does not mean believers should ignore wickedness or pretend evil does not exist.
It simply means Christians should not become controlled by hatred and vengeance.
The difference between justice and revenge
There is an important difference between asking God for justice and desiring personal revenge.
David cried unto God because he felt oppressed and attacked unfairly.
God is indeed a righteous judge.
Scripture repeatedly reveals God defending the innocent and opposing wickedness.
However, revenge driven prayers rooted in hatred can corrupt the believer’s heart.
This is why Jesus redirected believers toward mercy and forgiveness.
Can believers still pray for protection?
Yes.
Believers can absolutely pray for protection, deliverance, safety, wisdom, and God’s intervention during danger or persecution.
The Psalms contain many sincere prayers for divine help.
Even Jesus taught believers to pray for deliverance from evil.
However, prayers should not become celebrations of destruction against people.
The heart of Christianity remains redemption, mercy, and reconciliation.
How believers should respond to enemies according to Christ
Pray for them
Jesus specifically instructed believers to pray for persecutors.
Forgive them
Forgiveness protects the heart from bitterness and hatred.
Trust God for justice
Believers should avoid personal vengeance and trust God as righteous judge.
Overcome evil with good
Paul taught believers to resist becoming evil while fighting evil.
Guard the heart
Constant hatred and revenge centered thinking damages spiritual growth.
The deeper lesson inside Psalm 35
One deeper lesson from Psalm 35 is that believers can honestly pour out pain before God.
David did not hide his emotions.
He brought his fears, frustrations, betrayals, and suffering before the Lord.
That honesty in prayer remains valuable.
However, the New Testament reveals that believers are also called toward spiritual maturity shaped by the teachings of Christ.
The life of Jesus becomes the ultimate example.
He responded to hatred with mercy.
He responded to cruelty with forgiveness.
He responded to persecution with love.
Why the teachings of Jesus matter more for Christians
Christians are followers of Christ.
This means the teachings and example of Jesus remain central to Christian living.
While the Old Testament contains history, prayers, warfare accounts, and emotional cries from different people, believers must interpret everything through the life and teachings of Jesus.
Jesus fulfilled and transformed many old patterns.
He introduced a kingdom centered on love, mercy, repentance, forgiveness, humility, and reconciliation.
This is why believers should avoid building their entire spiritual life around revenge based prayers.
Conclusion
The psalm commonly connected to back to sender prayers is Psalm 35 where David cried unto God to fight against his enemies and defend him from wicked people.
The chapter reflects David’s emotional pain during seasons of persecution, betrayal, false accusation, and severe opposition.
However, while Psalm 35 reveals David asking God for justice, Jesus Christ later introduced a higher spiritual standard for believers.
Jesus taught believers to love their enemies, forgive persecutors, bless those who curse them, and pray for those who mistreat them.
The apostle Paul also taught believers not to repay evil with evil but to overcome evil with good.
This means Christianity should not become centered on revenge driven spirituality.
Believers can pray for protection, justice, deliverance, and God’s intervention, but they must also guard their hearts against bitterness, hatred, and vengeance.
The life and teachings of Jesus remain the believer’s highest example.
For more Bible verse explanations and spiritual teachings, visit our Bible Verses for Life Situations page where I explain scripture meanings in simple and practical ways.
You can also read Bible verse for a new beginning to understand how God restores people and gives fresh starts after painful seasons.
Also read Bible verse for arise and shine to understand how Jesus calls believers out of darkness into His marvelous light.