Psalm 35 Continued…
Psalm 35 was quoted by Jesus while he was speaking to his disciples about when they receive persecution. Here is the passage from John:
John 15:18-25 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’
That last verse, verse 25, is where Jesus quotes directly from Psalm 35:19. “Let not those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; let not those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.”
Some important points to consider, this is from a discussion Jesus was having about why persecution will happen to his followers. We will face it. It is an inevitability for the devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Our nation and our culture is not growing more tolerant of the church an Christians, it is growing increasingly less tolerant. And, if you love Jesus, expect to suffer for that. Jesus told us this would be the case, so, there is no reason for us to expect that it would be any different.
Also, notice in John that Jesus said, as he quoted Psalm 35, that this was written in the Law. Now the law, for the Jew, was usually considered the Torah, the first five books of the Bible that contained the law. But Jesus’ view of Scripture is far more encompassing that merely the first five books. Jesus’ view of Scripture was that all of it, even David’s imprecatory prayer, was the “Law of God.”
This is what Paul taught us about the Word of God as well, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). All of God’s Word is intended for us to be followed, learned, and lived out.
I am convinced that there is no human experience for which the Word of God is not helpful. It is as useful to the human as air is to our lungs. Without God’s Word we starve our own soul. And sadly, so many people choose that condition even though they are committed to Jesus, at least in profession. May what we say we believe become who we are and how we live.
PRAY
Father, give me a passionate yearning to love your Word more and more each day!