Psalm 35 Commentary
The psalmist assumes there is a God who defends the poor against the strong. This prayer works only if, indeed, a God exists who isn’t happy with injustice.
The basis for this prayer is yet another assumption that God hates it when individuals pay evil for good. He steps in to correct the injustice.
The tone of this prayer paints God as an entity for hire – a powerful entity for hire when one is in trouble. The psalmist does so by wanting his enemies to be God’s enemies. Prayer functions like a hotline at the police station or a fire station.
Of course, Psalm 35 isn’t the entire word of God! Psalm 139 tells us of a different God. He knows all things. His involvement dates from before mortals are born. He continues to be actively involved in the saint’s life through and through.
The picture of prayer as a hotline isn’t good!
A baby cries for food when he wakes up. What the baby may not know is that he was woken up for this very purpose. And the food is ready by this time!
In the background of Psalm 35 is evil. It rejoices in pain. It pays evil for good, inverts good, and trashes morality. The Psalmists’ cry against evil is God’s reaction through a human soul.
The mention of the angel of the LORD in verse 6 enlists intervention beyond human activity. Miracle salvation! A Hebrew man knew all about “Egypt and wilderness” experiences.
False accusation goes beyond verbal attacks against the innocent. You are sentenced to pain and suffering without a real cause for it. Think of Calvary and the many false accusations against our LORD Jesus, and see the real meaning. The servants of the LORD Jesus don’t have any better story!
Deception, greediness, and corruption ensure the saint has the roughest ride this side of creation. But the God of the righteous isn’t distant; he isn’t silent. Verse 22.
Take it from here and see why this prayer is possible. God is righteous. Verse 24. On account of this fact, the saint is declared innocent. And so it shall be! Then praise and thanksgiving ensue.
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