Psalm 35
"Help
me - life's not fair!"
Intro
√ Life's not fair
From our human perspective life just doesn't seem to be fair.
The wicked prosper, seem to be impervious to any consequence of their sin, and look like they'll never be caught.
The righteous, suffer persecution, false accusation, and worse - are often the victims of the wicked!
In the game of life it just seems that the good guys don't get a fair shake.
But, from Jesus' perspective we must remember that He has promised that all things work together for good.
The righteous will win!
The wicked will lose!
While its difficult for us in the midst of trouble to see it, bear in mind that Jesus can see the end from the beginning…
…while all we can see is the beginning.
Ex. Adolph Hitler
Righteous men did their best to save the world from Adolph Hitler. Yet, he miraculously escaped three assassination attempts on his life!
They just couldn't kill the guy!
As a result some 54 million people died during WWII.
You might ask, "what good came out of all that?"
Looking back we see that the war which couldn't be stopped produced a whole new world map…
The geo-political map was forever changed setting the world stage for the final events in human history which will precede the Kingdom of God!
In which, the righteous will win and the wicked will lose.
While I wouldn't suggest that WWII was a "good" thing, I would suggest that God is able in His power to turn what the devil and wicked people mean for evil…
…to work for good. In this example setting all the pieces in place for Jesus' long awaited return!
√ David's cry
While we wait for God to work things out we can join with David and cry out to the Lord for deliverance from the wicked because we know that He hears our prayers.
Psalm 35 breaks down into 3 "laments"
"Avenge me oh Lord!"
"Acknowledge me oh Lord!"
"Advocate for me oh Lord"
God hears our cries and can be trusted to answer them in His timing.
"Avenge me oh Lord! (vs. 1-10)
√ Be my superhero!
Ps. 35:1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me.
Ps. 35:2 Take hold of shield and buckler, And stand up for my help.
Ps. 35:3 Also draw out the spear, And stop those who pursue me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
We can't be sure of the time in David's life when he wrote this, however, there were many times in which his life was threatened by others.
David was always outnumbered by the wicked
There were times when he was without a weapon
In short, David wanted God to put on His armor, grab His weapons and come down and fight for him!
Ap. Everyone is looking for a superhero!
The hottest movies and books are all about the underdog, or weak being rescued by someone bigger than life.
Bruce Lee to Indiana Jones
Superman to X-men
Wonder Woman to Charlie's Angels
The point is that none of us like to feel helpless and at the mercy of the wicked. We all want some superhero to respond to our cry for help and…
"smote our enemies in the hinderparts" - Ps. 78:66
The glorious truth is that God is the real deal. He's not some fantasy superhero, He is the True and the living God who's eye is ever on His children to rescue them from their enemies.
√ Drive the wicked away!
Ps. 35:4 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.
Ps. 35:5 Let them be like chaff before the wind, And let the angel of the LORD chase them.
Ps. 35:6 Let their way be dark and slippery, And let the angel of the LORD pursue them.
Note the word pictures…
Chaff before the wind
Their way (the wicked) dark & slippery
…with the angel of the LORD right behind them!
David's prayer to the Lord regarding those who troubled him is that God would drive them out of his life and chase them until they were no more.
The idea of course is that God would deal with the wicked in such a way as they would never return to trouble David again.
Perhaps David was thinking of Saul. How many times did Saul try to kill David, repent, return home…
…only to come after him again!
Ap. Trouble that doesn't seem to go away
Sometimes it seems that just about the time we think God's rescued us from some trouble…
…we find it creeping right back into our lives!
When trouble (or people who cause trouble) continue to come into our lives I'd suggest that God may allow it for some greater purpose in our lives.
Ex. Getting ahead financially
The Lord teaching me not to depend upon human means to accomplish His purposes.
In David's life perhaps his troubles with Saul were in part to teach David that it would be God Who placed him on the throne and not his skill as a warrior.
√ Avenge me oh Lord!
Ps. 35:7 For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit, Which they have dug without cause for my life.
Ps. 35:8 Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly, And let his net that he has hidden catch himself; Into that very destruction let him fall.
Ps. 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; It shall rejoice in His salvation.
Ps. 35:10 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?”
David cries out…
"Avenge me oh Lord!"
David asks God to turn the evil intentions of the wicked around so that what they intended for David would come upon their own heads!
Before we begin "claiming" this prayer against out enemies let me point out that David is not the one taking vengeance on his enemies…
…rather, he is asking God to do it!
Great wisdom there!
Rom. 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
As much as I want to get even with those who trouble my life, I also recognize that I can't see the future and what God may want to accomplish in the life of my enemy!
Ex. The author of our above quotation from Romans - Paul!
Acts 7:58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Acts 8:1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
And…
Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
And…
Acts 9:1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
While we should certainly pray that we would be delivered from the wicked…
…let's not presume to know what's best for their lives by asking God to destroy them. Rather, pray that they might come to know the Lord!
Your "problem person" might just be the next Paul!
"Acknowledge me oh Lord!" (vs. 11-18)
Ps. 35:11 Fierce witnesses rise up; They ask me things that I do not know.
Ps. 35:12 They reward me evil for good, To the sorrow of my soul.
Ps. 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart.
Ps. 35:14 I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother.
Ps. 35:15 But in my adversity they rejoiced And gathered together; Attackers gathered against me, And I did not know it; They tore at me and did not cease;
Ps. 35:16 With ungodly mockers at feasts They gnashed at me with their teeth.
√ David's trouble
David's trouble came not just from those who were trying to kill him…
…he also had to contend with those who falsely accused him.
Worse, the people who falsely accused him were the very people that he had once tried to help!
Note vs. 13 & 14…
When these people were sick it was David who had humbled himself before the Lord and sought their healing.
Yet, when he was sick and in trouble - they just heaped up false accusations against him and made fun of his condition!
It must have seemed to David that he just couldn’t win with some people!
So what did David do? He went to the Lord for help!
√ Acknowledge me oh Lord!
Ps. 35:17 Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their destruction's, My precious life from the lions.
Ps. 35:18 I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.
Notice David's question…
"Lord, how long will You look on?"
It is apparent that David had already spent time crying to the Lord for deliverance from these troublemakers.
Yet, for reasons known only to the Lord…
…God hadn't yet answered David's prayer for deliverance.
In essence David is saying…
"Lord, are you listening to me? Do you see and hear what these people are up too!"
Ap. Unanswered prayers
We can all relate to David's prayer! How many times have we gone to God with some problem, or problem person…
Asking
Begging
Crying
…to God for help.
Yet, it seems like He isn't paying any attention. Almost like He might have something better to do than listen to my problems!
The truth is that God is listening and that He will respond to our cries…
…but He will do so in His perfect timing.
Ex. The Tribulation saints
Rev. 6:9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
Rev. 6:10 And they
cried with a loud voice, saying, “How
long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who
dwell on the earth?”
Rev. 6:11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
Brings us back to our opening dilemma.
Why is it that…
The wicked prosper, seem to be impervious to any consequence of their sin, and look like they'll never be caught.
The righteous, suffer persecution, false accusation, and worse - are often the victims of the wicked!
In part that answer is that the wicked will be punished and the righteous will be rewarded…
…in God's perfect timing.
Ex. The testimony of Gladys Staines
The unrepentant murders will be punished, however, the blood of Graham, Philip & Timothy has been a powerful testimony to bring life to many in India!
So, if it seems to you that God is not responding to your cries for help…
…ask for greater faith to wait for the Lord's timing.
Who can tell how many souls might be saved by your testimony!
"Advocate for me oh Lord!" (vs. 19-28)
√ Don’t let the wicked win!
Ps. 35:19 Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies; Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.
Ps. 35:20 For they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful matters Against the quiet ones in the land.
Ps. 35:21 They also opened their mouth wide against me, And said, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it.”
Basically David is asking the Lord to intervene so that the wicked could not gloat over him.
Oh how I can relate to David's cry! I just hate to see the wicked "win" and the righteous "lose"…
…especially if I'm the guy on the losing end!
What burns me up even more is when the supposed "winner" does the "I told you so dance".
Ex. Jesus on the Cross
Mat. 27:41 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said,
Mat. 27:42 “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.
Mat. 27:43 “He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
I know what I would have done (in my flesh!)
Once again we have to look at things in God's timing and by endure the taunts of the wicked.
However, know this, a day is coming in which the wicked will have to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord and that we who have served Him were right!
Php 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
So, keep an eternal perspective recognizing that Jesus (and you His servant) win in the end.
√ Advocate for me oh Lord!
Ps. 35:22 This You have seen, O LORD; Do not keep silence. O Lord, do not be far from me.
Ps. 35:23 Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication, To my cause, my God and my Lord.
Ps. 35:24 Vindicate me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness; And let them not rejoice over me.
Ps. 35:25 Let them not say in their hearts, “Ah, so we would have it!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”
Ps. 35:26 Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion Who rejoice at my hurt; Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor Who exalt themselves against me.
Ps. 35:27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
Ps. 35:28 And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness And of Your praise all the day long.
In view of all his troubles David realized that the only help for him was God.
So he cries out to God asking that the Lord would be his advocate. That God would…
Speak on David's behalf
Stir Himself up to rescue David from his troubles
Silence those who came against David
In short, while David was an accomplished warrior, a sovereign king, and controlled a powerful army…
…David knew from his own experience that God alone could be trusted to be his Advocate and defeat his enemies.
Close
Ap. We have such and advocate!
Jesus Christ is our only hope. He alone can stand between us and all our enemies.
When you're tempted to complain that…
"life's not fair!"
Remember that Jesus can be trusted to…
Hear our cries
Rescue us from our enemies
Punish the wicked
Reward the righteous
…but remember, it's in His time!