🎤 Psalm 35 Song - My Soul Shall Rejoice

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In Psalm 35, David asks the Lord to give his enemies a taste of what they've been giving him. He urges God to reveal the true character of these malicious people; to humble them, to shame them, to give them a taste of their own medicine! He asks God to come to his defence and to actually be his salvation; to save him!

When I read these types of scriptures, I'm tempted to identify with David. I begin feeling justified in my anger to those I see as enemies. I am reassured, and even placated by thinking that God will undo them in some way. I imagine Him validating the purity of my motives and intents, and ruining those who would stand against me.

There are a couple of problems with that, though. Firstly, we live in the New Testament era, and so are trying to love our enemies. Jesus taught us to be kind to those who mistreat us. Secondly, as I grow in faith and humility, God has given me a glimpse into the nature of my own heart. I know I am not pure in motive.

So then, how does one interpret such an imprecatory Psalm? What value does it have for a Christian?

I like thinking of these verses as prayers that have received surprising answers. David asked God to be his salvation, and we ask God the same thing; and so our loving Father sent Jesus to save us!

This is an important point that we Christians should remember when reading the old testament. Just because it contains stories of vengeance, calls for destruction, and injustice on display, this does not validate us behaving in these ways. Jesus revealed the true nature of the Father, as the many prophets before him did: God is love.

When we call out to God (as David did in this psalm), and ask for His intervention in challenging situations, we may find our own hearts changed. We begin seeing the part we play in the difficulties, or God may even give us insight into the struggles our enemy faces. I've noted a compassion for difficult people grows in me, as I seek to emulate the God of love.

As David sings, "You deliver the weak from those too strong for them, the weak and needy from those who despoil them."

Lord, change our hearts.

Amen.

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Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
Of David.

1 Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of shield and buckler,
and rise up to help me!
3 Draw the spear and javelin
against my pursuers;
say to my soul,
‘I am your salvation.’
4 Let them be put to shame and dishonour
who seek after my life.
Let them be turned back and confounded
who devise evil against me.
5 Let them be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord driving them on.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7 For without cause they hid their net for me;
without cause they dug a pit for my life.
8 Let ruin come on them unawares.
And let the net that they hid ensnare them;
let them fall in it—to their ruin.
9 Then my soul shall rejoice in the Lord,
exulting in his deliverance.
10 All my bones shall say,
‘O Lord, who is like you?
You deliver the weak
from those too strong for them,
the weak and needy from those who despoil them.’
11 Malicious witnesses rise up;
they ask me about things I do not know.
12 They repay me evil for good;
my soul is forlorn.
13 But as for me, when they were sick,
I wore sackcloth;
I afflicted myself with fasting.
I prayed with head bowed on my bosom,
14 as though I grieved for a friend or a brother;
went about as one who laments for a mother,
bowed down and in mourning.
15 But at my stumbling they gathered in glee,
they gathered together against me;
ruffians whom I did not know
tore at me without ceasing;
16 they impiously mocked more and more,
gnashing at me with their teeth.
17 How long, O Lord, will you look on?
Rescue me from their ravages,
my life from the lions!
18 Then I will thank you in the great congregation;
in the mighty throng I will praise you.
19 Do not let my treacherous enemies rejoice over me,
or those who hate me without cause wink the eye.
20 For they do not speak peace,
but they conceive deceitful words
against those who are quiet in the land.
21 They open wide their mouths against me;
they say, ‘Aha, Aha,
our eyes have seen it.’
22 You have seen, O Lord;
do not be silent!
O Lord, do not be far from me!
23 Wake up! Bestir yourself for my defence,
for my cause, my God and my Lord!
24 Vindicate me, O Lord, my God,
according to your righteousness,
and do not let them rejoice over me.
25 Do not let them say to themselves,
‘Aha, we have our heart’s desire.
’Do not let them say, ‘We have swallowed you up.’
26 Let all those who rejoice at my calamity
be put to shame and confusion;
et those who exalt themselves against me
be clothed with shame and dishonour.
27 Let those who desire my vindication
shout for joy and be glad,
and say evermore,‘Great is the Lord,
who delights in the welfare of his servant.’
28 Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness
and of your praise all day long.

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

#scripturesongs #psalm35