2. Reward Me (vv. 11-18). David stated the evidence that proved he was innocent. The enemy depended on lies, false (“malicious”) witnesses who accused him of being a traitor. (See 27:12; Deut. 19:15-21; 1 Sam. 24:10.) Quite the contrary, it was Saul and his officers who were the traitors, for they returned evil for the good David did to them. On two occasions, David could have killed Saul, but instead, David returned good for evil (1 Sam. 24; 26; and see Ps. 38:20; 109:5; Jer. 18:18-23). Saul even admitted that David was the better man (1 Sam. 24:17). It pained David deeply that the men he had served with in Saul’s army had betrayed him (see 41:9; 55:12-14). He had prayed for them when they were in need, but his prayers returned to him unanswered. David received a blessing because he prayed, but God couldn’t send a blessing to such evil people. The only “return” David got from his prayers was evil for good, so he asked the Lord to send him good to compensate for their evil. Those who criticize David for his imprecatory prayer in verses 4-8 should remember that first he prayed for their help and healing. Saul’s men “tore David apart” with their wicked words (v. 15). Like court jesters, at their meals they made him the butt of their vicious jokes (v. 16; and see 69:12). (On the question “How long?” see 6:3.) David knew that God would eventually reward him for his faithfulness, but he didn’t know when. His first praise to God (vv. 9-10) was personal, but the second expression of praise (v. 18) is in the congregation with the saints.