Great is the Lord, who delights in blessing his servant with peace (v. 27, NLT).
Psalm 35 has a great ending, perhaps the best of any Psalm. Let me repeat it . . .
Great is the Lord, who delights in blessing his servant with peace.
Peace! We can all use peace.
Psalm 35 depicts a story of betrayal. There is nothing worse keeping us awake at night than friends who turn against us.
During our trials, let’s remember that God delights in blessing His servants with peace.
David was running for his life from King Saul. Though David had been anointed as God’s chosen king, Saul was seeking David’s life so that one of his sons could inherit the throne.
David at first got along well with Saul, and in fact David’s best friend was Jonathan — one of Saul’s sons. Then things began to go badly. David says . . .
- I did them no wrong (v. 7)
- They laid a trap for me (v. 7)
- Malicious witnesses testify against me (v. 11)
- They repay me evil for good (v. 12)
- They mock me and call me names (v. 16)
And David is describing his former friends and co-workers!
Have those close to you ever turned against you? It adds insult to injury. David writes about his actions toward his now accusers when they were in difficulty . . .
Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them (v. 13).
I was sad, as though they were my friends or family (v. 14).
Now that David was running for his life, how did his friends treat him? What was David’s payment for his compassion toward them?
But they are glad now that I am in trouble; they gleefully join together against me (v. 15).
David cried to God for vindication. I appreciate Psalm 35 because we get a strong sense of the emotional frustration in David’s prayers to his Father in heaven.
O Lord, you know all about this. Do not stay silent. Do not abandon me now, O Lord. Wake up! Rise to my defense! (vv. 22-23).
Declare me not guilty, O Lord my God, for you give justice. Don’t let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles (v. 24).
Now, back to verse 27. David’s conclusion and his hope was . . .
Great is the Lord, who delights in blessing his servant with peace.
David was delivered from his enemies, his honor was restored, and he became king of Israel. His former friends (now enemies) were scattered. And, we note in 1 Chronicles that God replaced David’s former wavering friends with at least 30 devoted, mighty men of God (see 1 Chronicles 11.).
Let’s remember when we are falsely accused, and our enemies seek evil for us . . .
That the God of David is our God, too!
Amen. Peace out!