Psalms 35

Psalms 35:1

Psalm 35: Friends Turned Traitors35:1-3 In an innocent use of his imagination, David calls on God to arm Himself with a generous supply of weapons and to thereby deal summarily with those professed friends of the psalmist who turned out to be his cruel adversaries. The psalmist wants to see the LORD reach over for His shield and buckler and move into action, hurling His well-aimed spear, then saying to David in an aside, “I’ll take care of them and be your Savior.” 35:4-6 It would be even-handed justice for these would-be murderers to be ashamed and disgraced, and for their devilish plots to be repulsed and foiled. It would be a righteous thing for them to become as helpless and weightless as chaff in the wind, driven relentlessly by the angel of the LORD (the Lord Jesus Christ in one of His pre-incarnate appearances). Yes, it would be fitting retribution for their way to be as dark and slippery as ice, with the angel of the LORD in hot pursuit. 35:7, 8 They had no good reason for plotting against the psalmist as they did, for trying to capture him as if he were a wild animal. So now let the Lord lower the boom on them unexpectedly, and let them be caught in their own net! 35:9, 10 Then David will be joyful in the LORD, celebrating His salvation. All his being will join in acknowledging the LORD as the incomparable One who saves the defenseless from the superior power of his opponent, the helpless and needy from the spoiler. 35:11-14 To understand the psalmist’s deep emotional involvement, we must realize that these people who are now testifying against him were once his friends. Now they malign him and accuse him of things of which he has no knowledge. For all the kindness he has shown to them, he is getting paid with hatred. No wonder he is disconsolate! When these same people were sick, it was another story. David had grieved over them sympathetically. He couldn’t even eat. With his head bowed down in sorrow, he had prayed for them continuallyjust as he would for an intimate friend or brother. His mourning was as deep as when one mourns the death of his own mother. 35:15, 16 But when calamity and adversity struck David, they were elated. They rose up in a body to accuse him. They brought along railing derelicts from the street to defame him with a continuous tirade. Impertinently they taunted him in a rising crescendo, at the same time baring their teeth in hatred. The psalmist’s experience makes us think of the Lord Jesus before Pontius Pilate or before Herod; much of the language here applies forcefully to what He endured. 35:17, 18 How long can the Lord look down on the injustice of it all before being moved to action? The time has come to rescue the innocent one from the havoc of his foes and to save his precious life from these human lions. 35:19-21 What a travesty it would be if those who are David’s enemies for no good reason should have occasion to gloat over his downfall and wink their eyes in apparent triumph. They don’t want peaceall they want is to concoct false charges against decent, law-abiding citizens. Whenever they see the slightest slip they say, “Aha, aha! Just as we predicted! We saw you do it.” 35:22-25 But You have seen too, LORD. You’ve seen the whole miserable mess. Don’t shut Yourself up in silent seclusion. Don’t stay so far from me. It’s time to awake and take resolute action to defend me and my righteous cause. I long for You to vindicate meYou always do what is rightand to thwart their desire to celebrate my collapse. Don’t ever let them exult that they have seen their desires fulfilled, that they have succeeded in devouring me. 35:26 O Lord, see to it that those who rejoice to see me fall will be thoroughly disgraced. Dress them with ignominy and dishonor for the insolent way they have treated me. 35:27, 28 But may all those who are hoping for my ultimate acquittal have reason to shout for joy and be glad. Let them bear witness that You are truly a great Lord because You take such a keen delight in the welfare of those who serve You. And my tongue won’t be silent, either; it will be continually telling others about Your justice and Your praiseworthiness!