Day 174: Psalm 35

SCRIPTURE LINK: Psalm 35

BACKGROUND

The modern reader is often jarred by reading this psalm which contains strong words against enemies. This psalm is called by some an imprecatory (or cursing) psalm, because of David’s call to God for punishment of the ones harassing him. It is called a lament by others. A lament is a song or poem of grief and mourning. This psalm does contain cries of grief and it does ask for God to render justice to those treating David unfairly, but I’m not sure the entire psalm fits either category well.

It’s not clear when the psalm was written or what predicated it. We do know that David was treated poorly by powerful people at least twice: by King Saul, who hunted and hounded him unmercifully and by Absalom, David’s own son, who rose up in rebellion against him and tried to take the throne of Israel. It’s possible that this psalm was written specifically in response to either Saul’s persecution or Absalom’s betrayal, or it could have been written in response to some entirely different situation!

Psalm 35 cycles through the series of complaint, prayer, and praise three times. David complains about his enemies’ treatment of him; he asks for God’s help; he praises God (or promises to praise God). Sometimes complaint and prayer are mixed together. If you want you can look at the cycles: 1 – 10; 11 – 18; 19 – 28.

And one other note of interest: Jesus himself quoted part of this psalm in John 15:25. He quoted Psalm 35:19. “The word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.” So this psalm is in some sense a foreshadowing of Jesus’ innocent suffering.

REFLECTION

Okay, so let’s look at the psalm!

What is David’s complaint?

Someone is trying to kill him, is plotting evil against him (4). These people are trying to trap him when he is innocent (7). People are accusing him of things he didn’t do (11, 15). People are repaying him evil for the good he did them (12). In the past, when these people were sick, David had prayed for them – not glibly – but with fasting and true sorrow (13 -14). Then, when David stumbled somehow, these same people rejoiced and gathered others to injure him (15) by being deceitful about him and tearing him apart (17). They hate him and they are trying to hurt him by whatever means they can and he doesn’t deserve what they’re doing.

What is the usual human reaction in circumstances like this, when we are being treated unfairly? Isn’t it to fight back somehow, either assertively or perhaps with passive aggression somehow? To do to them what they did to me? To get even?

What does David do? I think that if we really look at this psalm, we’ll see how David dealt with his unfair treatment with integrity.

He prays. He turns to God. He tells God what is happening (complains) and then he asks for justice in the situation, for God to aid him. He doesn’t turn around and do to them what they did to him.

He asks God to fight for him and defend him (1-3), to turn back those hurting him (4), to make them ashamed of what they’re doing (4). He asks that their efforts come to nothing (5), that his enemy be caught in his own net, the trap he is laying for David (8). It seems to David that this unfair treatment is going on too long and he asks God to rescue him from his powerful attackers(17). David comes as a plaintiff (24) to God the judge. He has been wronged and he asks God to hear him and judge in his favor – with fairness.

David does not seek vengeance. He doesn’t repay evil for evil. He turns to the God who is Judge, who redresses wrongs, and asks for justice in the situation.

Then what does David do?

Even before God answers, David praises Him. His focus is turned from his own situation to the God who hears and who will judge fairly. “My soul shall rejoice in the LORD” (9); “I will praise you among a mighty throng” (18); “…My tongue shall declare Your righteousness And Your praise all day long.” (28).

APPLICATION

When someone wrongs you, or lies about you, or accuses you falsely, or treats you unfairly, how do you respond?

Do you make excuses for them and shove the hurt away, thinking to yourself that you shouldn’t be thinking unkind thoughts?

Do you retaliate in kind? “They hurt me so I’m going to hurt them back?”

Do you get even in more subtle ways, either passive aggressively, or with little digs, or with “the silent treatment” ?

All of those are natural human responses. But they’re not the right responses. I think we can learn something from this psalm. We should recognize that we have been hurt unfairly and name how we’ve been damaged to God. If the unfair treatment continues we should ask for Him to help – for justice in the situation. And we should praise Him for His help even before it comes.

PRAYER

Help us to turn to you, Father, when we are treated unfairly, rather than respond in a natural human way. Thank-you that you are a God who hears and helps. Help us to leave justice in your fair and loving hands.