O LORD, oppose those who oppose me. Fight those who fight against me.
Psalm 35:1 NLT
I find such a Psalm hard. I don’t feel like I have many enemies and I really want to love my enemies, bless them that curse me, do good to them that hate me, and pray for them which despitefully use me, and persecute me (Matthew 5:44 KJV). I see this evidence of being a believer one of the greatest evidences to my own heart that Jesus is living in me. I know only He can love His enemies. It feels to me that David is often in the vengeance business and that he is quite sensitive and he doesn’t want people talking behind his back and making fun of him.
Main Point: We are welcome to cry for justice if we trust God to be the judge.
David wanted the injustice against him to stop but he was compassionate and cried to God for justice.
When I read Psalm 35:12-15 I took notice of David’s genuine compassion.
12 They repay me evil for good,
To the bereavement of my soul.
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled my soul with fasting,
And my prayer kept returning to my bosom.
14 I went about as though it were my friend or brother;
I bowed down mourning, as one who sorrows for a mother.
15 But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered themselves together;
The smiters whom I did not know gathered together against me,
They slandered me without ceasing.
David, even though he begs God for justice and to stop the mocking of those against him, clings to the golden rule. He treats others as he would want to be treated. David follows the teaching of Jesus for the Kingdom of God.
Love Your Enemies
(Leviticus 24:17–23; Luke 6:27–36)
38 You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’o 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; 40 if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well; 41and if someone forces you to go one mile,p go with him two miles 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and ‘Hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
We see this being worked out in the flesh when David spares Saul in the cave (1 Samuel 24).
And I think that’s the way I have to read David’s cries for justice and vengeance. David is appealing to God. He leaves it in God’s hands. He speaks his mind and he lets his emotions be known. But He trusts God, so that is why in verses 13 and 14 David is genuinely concerned for his spiteful enemy.
Jesus shows us the same heart of compassion that we see in David, His great great grandfather.
33 When they came to the place called The Skull they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”e And they divided up His garments by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him,g saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine.h 37“If You are the King of the Jews,” they said, “save Yourself!” (Luke 23)
Paul instructs us how to have that same attitude we see in David here and in Jesus on the cross (Luke 23:34), “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD. “Romans 12:19
Conclusion:
People are going to talk behind your back, people are going to be happy when you fail, people are going to be mockers and they’ll speak and act unjustly towards you. You can take that to God. You can trust God to be just. You can love your enemies and have compassion on them even while begging for the mocking and injustice to stop. It’s okay to cry out to God for it all to stop. But treat your enemies with compassion.
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