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PSALM

CHAPTER 35

1 A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. 3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. 4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. 5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. 6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. 7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. 8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

All of us, at one time or another, feel that we are persecuted unjustly by others. David certainly felt that way, and especially when he was being chased by Saul. Saul was not his only persecutor; but the people who "fed" Saul the provocation were tormentors too.

In this song there are three stanzas and three choruses. The first stanza is verses 1-8. David calls upon God to "plead my cause." He desires that God fight for him since he cannot fight against the armies of Israel, for they are his own people.

David had been faithful to the kingdom and fought valiantly. But some had wanted to see him ousted. Who knows why this was in their heart; but it was.

Who knows why some people in churches will unjustly speak vicious gossip about others? But it happens. I think the lesson here is that we are not to fight against them, we are only to ask God to take care of the problem.

Notice the poetic statement in verses 7-8. That trap which they have set, Lord, let it fall on them.

9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. 10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

Rather than allow the persecution to torment him, David asks God to let his "soul" be joyful in the salvation that God has given.

When others are critical, and/or make gossipping remarks, let us focus upon the joy of our salvation.

11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. 12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. 13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. 14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. 15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: 16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. 17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

"False witnesses" are those who stretch truths and/or tell lies. They were talking about David and impuning his integrity.

David was praying for them when they were in need, but they were treating him with criticism (verses 14-15). And they "rejoiced" when he was having to run from Saul (verse 16).

David asks God how long shall this go on? And he pleads for God to "rescue" his soul from these "lions."

Friends, gossip is as bad as murder! It assassinates the character of another person, and demeans that person before others. The victim of gossip feels as though they are being torn apart in a den of lions.

18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

But rather than allow ourselves to be caught up in retaliation, let us focus upon praising God as we should. Rather than allowing the persecutors to tear us down, let us continue to do what is right.

19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. 20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land. 21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it. 22 This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me. 23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. 24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. 25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. 26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

David continues to plead that the Lord Himself would solve this matter.

Again, let me say, it is improper for Christians to war against Christians (even with words). Therefore, we should continually plead with God, as David did, that HE and HE ALONE bring an end to unjust treatment of others.

One time I had just moved to a new church, and had only been there a few weeks. On a trip to town, my car had a flat tire. It was right in front of a bar. That was before cell phones. I went into the bar to call someone for help. Just as I made my exit, a man and his wife from my church passed by. I waved, they didn't. I KNEW that was gonna come up someday! And it did. There was some gossip that week about it. One very kind lady from the church called me to tell me about it. Sunday morning I made a point of mentioning that I had a flat in front of a bar, and was embarrassed to enter it and use the phone. The "gossipers" were CAUGHT! Everyone who had heard the gossip, knew that they had NOT stopped to see if I needed help!

God has a way of taking care of situations like that. We just need to pray that He will fight the battle for us.

27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. 28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

Let us concentrate on being God's children and doing what He has called us to do. Even when we are persecuted with malicious gossip.

CHAPTER 36

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. 3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. 4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

There are many people in the world who do not believe in God. Their constant "transgression" of God's laws shows what is in their hearts. They have no fear of God and a final judgment.

5 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. 6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. 7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. 8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. 9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. 10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

But God is merciful and kind. He is always working and trying to bring the lost sinners to salvation.

Those who have trusted in Jesus have found a "fountain of life" that causes them to rejoice in the eternaly salvation that God gives to repentant sinners.

Those who have trusted in Jesus have found a "light" that shows truth and leads the way out of the darkness of sin.

Let us, with David, plead that God will "continue" to be merciful and kind and offer salvation even to the unjust (verse 10).

11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me. 12 There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

And let us pray that God will sustain the saved sinners so that they will not be caught again in the traps of sin.

When God calls a halt to time, those who have not trusted Him will be "cast down."

Therefore, we should plead and work the more earnestly to show them Jesus.

Please continue in Bible Study with us.