PSALM 35

1 [A Psalm] of David. Plead [my cause], O LORD, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, And stand up for my help. 3 Also draw out the spear, And stop those who pursue me. Say to my soul, “I [am] your salvation.” 4 Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor Who seek after my life; Let those be turned back and brought to confusion Who plot my hurt. 5 Let them be like chaff before the wind, And let the angel of the LORD chase [them]. 6 Let their way be dark and slippery, And let the angel of the LORD pursue them. 7 For without cause they have hidden their net for me [in] a pit, [Which] they have dug without cause for my life. 8 Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly, And let his net that he has hidden catch himself; Into that very destruction let him fall. 9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; It shall rejoice in His salvation. 10 All my bones shall say, “LORD, who [is] like You, Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?”

PSALM 35:1-10

THE LORD WON’T LET THEM BULLY ME ANYMORE

There was this kid who was getting bullied by an older kid at school. The bully would just pester this guy; hurling insults, making him eat dirt, and sometimes even wedgies. The kid had tried everything, nothing seemed to work until one day the kid was on his way home from school, but bully caught up to him, and then out from the bushes stepped the kid’s dad. All the sudden the bully had to run away, but when he got home he was in trouble. He had to meet with the principle and then the counselor.

Sometimes you have to just look at what you are facing and admit that the situation is beyond your control and you don’t have the ability to handle it. King David is a pretty incredible advocate for those who have been taken advantage of and he is an incredible warrior, but today we see in Psalm 35 that he calls out for the Lord to come and plead his case and fight his battles.

David knows that he is outmatched by those who hate him, but rather than throw in the towel, he calls on the Lord to bring charges and battle against his enemies. 

Psalm 35 is what is known as an imprecatory Psalm. It is a psalm where David prays for the destruction of his enemies. We might pause at that and think for a moment that this sounds out of line, but as we look further into this psalm I think we will find that David was right and ok to pray this way. 

It is important to know that David was not known for being a vengeful man. He had many occasions to take vengeance on his enemies such as Saul, Nabal, Absolom, and Shimei, but he shows patience rather than vengeance.  

These Psalms are prayers for God to do what He has ultimately promised to do. 
Have you ever noticed that when we pray for “His kingdom to come,” that includes praying for the Lord to vanquish all his enemies and those who stand in defiance to Him? If we read the end of the book, we know that praying this way is praying for God to come in and bring to heal those who have rebelled against him.

PRAYER

Father, We confess that we live in a fallen world. Everything is not as it should be. There are moments that people make themselves out to be our enemies and bullies. The power balance is in their favor and we have little ability to act on our own behalf to defend ourselves. In many of these instances your people have suffered great harm and loss. It hurts. It really hurts when that happens. Yet, LORD, we trust in you for justice. We trust that one day your kingdom will come. We trust that one day you will set all the wrongs right. So we call out for your justice. Give our enemies what they deserve. And if in your good pleasure you should turn our enemies into our brothers and sisters, we are blessed to know that they have come through the same mercy and grace that we have come through to get to you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.