There are times in our lives when we do not know why those who were one-time friends, for some unknown reason, turn against us. We may not have experienced the degree of rejection David did when he was persecuted and pursued by King Saul. Still, any rejection tends to discourage us if we are not careful to turn the matter over to the Lord. David made this prayer for help when others were trying to injure his reputation and sought his life, and he did not know the reason. He did not understand why he was being hunted like an animal, and so he had to flee to avoid those who wanted to kill him.
People we do not know are enemies at first, may lie and act unjustly, even when we try to help them. God knows the actions and reasons, and we are confident that he always acts justly. In times of fear and distress, you must always fear the Lord, trust Him, rely on His righteousness, and remember His love for His own. God is gracious and wants to help His children. He is not hard-hearted but is a fair and wonderful Judge who always does what is right and just. When personal attacks come, it is up to us to go away from them and leave our defense to the Righteous Judge to do what is needed, even when we are treated as enemies by one-time friends.
This psalm has three appeals, and each concludes with a vow of thanksgiving. The first ten verses are an appeal for judgment because of the physical actions taken against David. His appeal is given in military language as he looks to the Lord as the Judge, the King, and the divine Warrior to defend him. In words of resentment, he wants his enemies disabled, defeated, discredited, and caught in their traps, which they laid for him. They had repaid his friendship with malice and slander. His call for justice was sincere as he spoke to the Lord as a warrior and used legal language like “Plead my cause,” because he knew the Lord was his Advocate.
There is a weight to persecution that discourages us if we allow it. It is all right to appeal to the Lord and set our hope in Him for justice. It is wrong for us to take vengeance into our own hands. This seems like a harsh prayer to the people of our day, who think we should be tolerant of everything. Remember that the Lord knows everything that happens to us and why it is important. He does give people time to repent and forsake sin. However, if one persists in continuing evil practices and opposition to the Lord and His people, He is the One to deal justly with any matter. “Vengeance is mine. I will repay, saith the Lord.” Turn the whole matter over to the Lord, and He will deliver us and justly pass judgment on those who oppose that which is of God.
We must let God deal with such situations in His holiness and righteousness. He is not vindictive like we tend to be. He is always just and makes things right according to His omniscience. People mock Christians today, partly because there is so much counterfeit Christianity and partly because true Christianity condemns that which is evil. Those who are committed and faithful to the word of God and the assembly of His people who gather to His name can expect to be ridiculed, despised, and avoided.
This is one of the imprecatory psalms in which strong words express strong emotions in poetic form. It may seem greatly overstated to us because we use polite words in our culture and time unless we are really angry. In the times and terms of David’s life, such expressions of emotions were acceptable. The basis of his appeal from verses eleven to eighteen is that he wants those who reward good with evil to be brought down. The people, likely former friends, turned against him and were happy because of his troubles. They got false witnesses to speak against him, and they mocked him themselves in his distress. He had prayed for them when they were sick, and now they persecuted him and spitefully used him. The Lord spoke about that in the Sermon on the Mount.
David was brought low by circumstances, not by moral failure. The hatred against him was without cause, like that of the Lord Jesus. If it happened to David, and it certainly happened to the Lord, we should not be surprised when it happens to us. He was innocent of the things he was accused of. He had compassion on them, but they showed none to him and were like animals toward him. It seemed like his prayers contained overstatements, but he wanted to take a stand against sin and injustice. Cruelty to some unbelievers is a very common practice, and to others, they have had very little experience in knowing how to deal with cruelty.
We need to know God and remember that His judgments are right. He will deal with sin. Rather than doubt and resentment being allowed in our minds, we should allow the waiting times to strengthen our faith. Revenge or personal defense for “our rights” should never be allowed in us. God Himself will deal with our problems, and if He wants to clear our name, He will do so in the eyes of those who really count.
David’s second appeal for judgment at the end of the psalm was that those who made false accusations and said they saw things that had never even happened would “be ashamed.” His words conclude with a call to those who supported him to “magnify the Lord” and exalt in the “well-being of His servant.” David vows to praise the Lord, who is righteous and does all things righteously. He gives thanks with confidence in the
Lord that He will answer his prayer. Righteous judgment brings joy. We should always say “Let the Lord be magnified,” no matter whether the answer is “Yes,” “No,” or “Wait awhile.”
PSALM 35. Friends turned traitors – a prayer for rescue from enemies This was probably written by David when he was persecuted by Saul, when false charges were being brought against him by Saul’s men, and when he was scorned and derided by the people. It can be applied to the church and the people of God in similar cases. The Lord refers to Ps.35:19 and applies it to Himself in Jn.15:25.