Psalm
35 reminds me that sometimes we feel like the world is against us.
The bills, the job situation, the neighbors, the speeding ticket, the
unkind word all hit at the same time and we wonder if there is a
conspiracy. In these times of frustration, we want God to go get all
of the bad guys. The psalm begins, “O
Lord,
fight
against those who fight against me… arise and come to my aid“.
In comparison, David actually had entire armies tracking him to
capture or kill him. If I were in David’s position, I would be
asking God to wipe them all out. Notice David begins his prayer by
addressing his
own attitude,
“Say
to my soul, “I am your salvation”.”
It is important to remember that we must first align ourselves with
God’s standards. Sometimes those that are “fighting against us”
are actually doing the right thing. God frequently gets our
attention by using other people. Don’t ignore the warning signs
that God has put in your path. Only after dealing with himself does
David turn to his pursuers, “May
those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame… with the
angel of the Lord driving them away“.
David asks God to put obstacles in the way of those that are
resisting God’s will, “may
their path be dark and slippery… may the net they hid entangle
them“.
Are you tripping on your own net? Don’t blame God when you face
the consequences of your own selfish behavior.
Next
David explains the benefit of obedience to God by drawing a
comparison. “Then
my soul will rejoice in the Lord
and
delight in His salvation“.
His attitude toward others is different. He now views his enemies
with pity. “Yet
when they were ill, I put on sackcloth… I
bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother“.
David has an inner joy, but his antagonists are filled with
bitterness, “when
I stumbled, they gathered in glee… They slandered me without
ceasing… they maliciously mocked… they gnashed their teeth at
me“.
Bitterness is self-consuming, and it steals our joy.
Finally,
David gives his situation to God. “Rescue
my life from their ravages, my precious life from these lions“.
He says; don’t let my persecutors “maliciously
wink the eye“,
believing they are above the law. “They
do not speak peaceably, but
devise
false accusations… O Lord,
You
have seen this;
be
not silent“.
David knows the best place for him is near God. “Do
not be far from me, O Lord“.
David
understands that the closer he is to God, the more he reflects God.
David desires to be conformed to God, “Vindicate
me in Your righteousness“.
That first requires us to recognize Him as “God
and Lord“.
And that is often the problem; God
cannot be God of your life, if He is not Lord of your life.
Romans 1:21 describes many in our society today, “For
although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave
thanks“.
David declared the he would not hesitate to be an active servant of
God.
“My tongue will speak of Your righteousness and of Your praises
all day long.”
Is God trying to get your attention? The most miserable place in
the world is being near the things of God without being under the
authority of God.