What does Psalm 35:26 mean?

Again, David asks the Lord to put his enemies to shame (Psalm 35:4) and completely disappoint them. They want David to be killed and disgraced (Psalm 35:11–16). David longs to be vindicated so clearly that his enemies will be humiliated for what they have attempted to do. They have been hoping for David's reputation to be shattered and his life to end; David prays these foes will be disappointed and unable to celebrate his downfall.

This is one of the "imprecatory psalms," or "imprecatory prayers," which call for God's active, immediate judgment on wicked people. While it's tempting to claim that David is merely looking forward to God's eternal judgment, or merely stating God's distaste for sin, there's no question his songs are active requests that God act against his enemies. It should also be noted that Paul considered false preaching about salvation so offensive that he announced: "If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8, 9).

In David's spiritual context, and his era, use of imprecatory prayer made sense. God was using the earthly nation of Israel as His means to bring about salvation. But for Christians who are saved by grace, this is not an approach we are meant to take. Now that Christ's sacrifice is accomplished, we should not pray for judgment on the wicked, but pray for their salvation (Matthew 5:44–48; Luke 6:27–38). Vengeance belongs to the Lord (Romans 12:17–21), and He will execute judgment in due time (John 3:36).