Psalm 35 Continued…
In the first three verses of Psalm 35 David begins his pleas with military imagery. God is called upon to fight and do battle with others on his behalf. God is asked to take up weapons of war and come to David’s aid.
We are all know the reality that situations in life can feel, at times, like we are in a war. And we see in this Psalm that it is not a foreign enemy that is standing against David, but his own kin…people of his own tribe and family. David feels as if he is engaged in a battle for his very life.
In verses four through eight David is wishing for God’s punishment of his enemies. The military imagery does not continue in these verses. The wishes are not for their weapons to be turned against them. The wishes are for these enemies to know shame and humiliation, to be driven away like “chaff” and to be captured in their own traps. David says he is being attacked without cause. These enemies are attacking without any reason.
Verses 5-6 are unique in all of the Psalms. The evil ones are compared with chaff and David asks that the “angel of the Lord” be the one to drive them away. We saw this same phrase in Psalm 34. The “messenger of the Lord” or “Angel of the Lord” is seen as protective of God’s people. The angel acts in the same way God does.
Why does this “messenger” appear in these two Psalms? It could simply be poetic license on David’s part or it may be that David’s view of God as Yahweh Sabaoth (the Lord of Hosts…the Lord of Angelic Armies) came natural for him as a commander of earthly armies.
Verses 9-10 David now, inexplicably gives praise and thanksgiving. This expression of trust has several purposes. First, it contrasts the acts of David and the enemies who harm without cause. Second, it serves as an additional reason or motivation for God to save the one who has trust in God’s grace and power. Finally, it is the way humans under stress react. We too, can flip from wishes against those hurting us to trust in God and back again. We, like David, are confronted with that dual reality that life is difficult and painful but God loves us and will save us.
PRAY
Father, help me to always praise you in my day of trouble.