Psalms for Psome – Ps 35 – I – Considering the Bible

My wife and I are reading through the Psalms in our evening reading and occasionally a nugget of the Psalms jumps out of the page. Don’t you love it when, after years of reading the “Old Book” passages become alive, reinforcing old teachings or simply warming your heart.

This is the book of Psalms, and it is rich.

I pray I can communicate a portion of the blessing we receive from this wonderful book. Let’s continue with the 35^th Psalm.

Psalm 35
19 Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause.
20 For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit.
21 They open wide their mouths against me; they say, “Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!”

David returns to the thought of unearned enemies, of hatred that is not deserved, of war that is unwarranted. We must remember, that in the prior to and in the midst of this trial, David had done no wrong, other than to follow after his God. These enemies are wrongfully his foes!

In the midst of a trial, as believers, we are to maintain a blameless character, with no deceit, anger or malice towards others, even our underserved enemies. (Consider Psalms for Psome – Ps 35 – C)

Speech and Sight

David, in this portion of the psalm, speaks of the recurring actions of his friends who have turned against him. These foes exercise their earthly senses of sight, giving them a sense of hope, of confidence and of victory!

Verse 19 speaks of David’s request to the Lord for His restraint upon those who are against him. David has entered this stance in prayer before in verse 4 through 6, and we have discussed this previously (check out Psalms for Psome – Ps 35 – B)

David continues describing the natural outgrowth of the man that knows no peace. Those who know not the Lord, that have no peace, can only speak of what they know.

They do not speak peace. This is simply a statement of negation, a statement that does not impact the believer. But you must understand that a vacuum of peace, creates the void for war. It is similar to the picture of light and darkness. Darkness is present because of no light! War is present because their is no peace.

“There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” – Isa 48:22 ESV

There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” – Isa 57:21 ESV

Due to the experience of “no peace” in the unwarranted enemy, to simply “not speak peace” is not enough for them. War shall come out of the void.

Of course, for our current situation, cultural and social restrictions have held back this war like tendency toward the peace seeking believer, upon the “quiet in the land”, but I ask you – Is this barrier falling? If so, is your peace remaining? Do you know of the Lord’s kindness, of His mercy, even in the midst of pain and disappointment?

But I digress.

In the midst of David’s trial, his foes devised words of deceit. They calculated, conceived and fabricated a story to destroy. This is a planned intentional attack against the “quiet of the land”, against those who seek peace.

…that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. – 1Ti 2:2 ESV

My friends, this post is not intended to create paranoia in the believer, to the extent that all we see is deception, the plans of the wicked, those who seek our destruction! It is true we have an enemy, but we also know the Great I Am, who has not only proven His great cunning and strategy in the victory of the cross, but more importantly, in the same victory of the cross, exhibited His great love for those who are in David’s place of vulnerability. We must continue to keep our eyes on Him, even in the midst of the erosion of our social and cultural norms. These norms are not to be considered our protection, but only the Lord our God.

But again, I digress.

Our unwarranted enemies will mock us, spitting out “Aha aha” in the hope of seeing their victories over us. For a time, they may witness our seeming defeats. We need to be prepared for a battle with those who are against the very Prince of Peace.