Anger is something we all have to deal with to some degree. The emotion of anger itself is not necessarily sinful. Certain injustices and abuses in our society should inspire us to anger.
Jesus obviously felt anger as He drove the moneychangers from the temple. Paul in Ephesians 4:26 tells the reader to be angry but do not sin. He develops the thought further with the instruction to “not let the sun go down on your wrath” (NKJV).
Why is this so? Because when we allow anger to linger in our thoughts, we give the devil a foothold in our hearts. This anger will - drive us to foolish actions, damage our relationships and may even impact our health both physically and mentally. Unfortunately, the anger we most often feel is a selfish anger when we don’t get our way, or someone hurts our pride.
The text today is one of the psalms classified as imprecatory. (There are several classifications of psalms.) An imprecatory psalm simply calls for God’s righteous judgment to fall upon one’s enemies. They are a call for justice. These psalms were less about vengeance and more about God’s protection and deliverance. Consistent with the lesson truth, the psalmist presented their adversary to God rather than taking means into their own hands.
Psalm 35 is not against King Saul himself, but it is against those who were slandering David and were encouraging Saul’s men to take David’s life. In verses 1-3, King David begins with a plea that God would come to his aid. He wanted to be sure that God was on his side. David’s first response is to pray and to trust God for deliverance. In verse 2 the language shifts to military terms and for shield and spear to be taken up on his behalf.
Elsewhere in the Old Testament we read that the battle does belong to the Lord - 1 Samuel 17:47 and 2 Chronicles 20:15. The two shields one small (buckler) are defensive. One to block a sword in personal hand to hand combat and the other larger shield to absorb arrows fired from a distance. The offensive tools of battle the spear and javelin could be used to engage the enemy. Again, we see a difference, a spear is meant to be thrust at the enemy within reach, whereas a javelin is thrown from a distance. Our adversary will also use different modes to attack us and our spiritual weaponry must also be varied to repel the enemy.
The closing phrase of verse 3 reinforces the thought that the Lord will come and banish the enemies. The CSB uses the word “deliverance” but other translations (ESV, NIV, NKJV) all say the Lord speaks “I am your salvation!” to David’s soul. We must just be certain we are on God’s side.
In the previous verses (vv. 4-9) David asks for judgement to fall on his pursuers. In verses 13-16 David turns his attention to how unfairly he has been treated. He has been kind and good to them. When they were sick or found trouble, David prayed and fasted on their behalf. When they suffered loss, he shared in their grief and mourned as if he had lost a member of his own family. Unfortunately, David’s kindness was repaid with scorn and persecution (vv. 15-16). When David stumbled (perhaps this alludes to his adultery with Bathsheba) crowds gathered to take delight in his downfall. We see this today. Crowds place people on a pedestal in the hopes they will soon fall from grace. These fallen people are from many walks of life: politicians, athletes, entertainers, and preachers. And if someone is nearby with a phone, they are sure to take video of another’s personal tragedy as it unfolds. The crowd will kick a man when he is down rather than lend a helping hand. David had attempted to take the high road. He did what was right even if it was not popular. In Romans 12:19-21 Paul echoes the teachings of Jesus when he reminds the reader that we are to feed our enemy when he is hungry. We may overcome evil by doing good.
In verses 17-18 the poetic flow of the psalm turns back to a plea for God’s help and deliverance. Yes, God is aware of David’s suffering. He is learning the lesson that God does not always work according to our time frame. But he does work and as we wait, we must remain confident and faithful. It is natural for us to question the ways of God because we can’t understand them, but faith is trusting God to do the right thing at the right time.
Something we see from David in the previous Psalm (34:1) is that he will bless the LORD at all times and His praise is upon his lips continually. Our praise is not dependent upon our circumstances. Our praise is however dependent upon the nature of Almighty God. We also know that David was not shy about praising God in the presence of others. I recall David dancing in the streets when the Ark of the Covenant was returned to Jerusalem. Michal, David’s wife and Saul’s daughter, confronted David about his behavior to which David responded that he “will become even more undignified than this” (2 Samuel 6:22). In the verses from the lesson David proclaims he will praise and give thanks to God while among great crowds of people.
We too should praise God for the great things He has done. Let’s not keep that praise to ourselves. God’s graceful work in our lives is meant to be shared with everyone we meet. May our living in thankful response to God be a testimony to a dying and dark world.
Thanks again and God Bless You All,
Chris Larsen
