Plea for help in a crisis

Today we return to our study of the Psalms, seeking out the ways they express how God cares for us. Today we look at Psalm 35, which is mainly a Psalm of Lamentation.

Most of this psalm expresses the frustration and fear of a man who is being pursued by foes. Foes in battle, perhaps, and the battlefield may be a court-room or the court of public opinion. His foes accuse him, seek his life, plot evil against him, dig a pit for him to fall into, set a net to capture him, falsely accuse him, gather and mock him in his distress, tear him to pieces, act like raging beasts or even lions, and make deceitful plots against him.

Whom does all this cause you to think about? Yourself in difficult straights, perhaps? How about Jesus Christ, whose own suffering and death are expressed in these troubled verses.

The psalmist seeks vengeance and victory, and wants to see his foes crushed, scattered and vanquished. Do we sometimes seek the same thing? Here is one way the psalmist doesn’t speak the words of Jesus Christ, because rather than condemning His enemies, Jesus prays for them---and that is what He tells us to do as well! Nonetheless, can it perhaps be true that we ourselves have experienced an inner craving for vengeance and retribution against those who hurt us?

All of this is natural and very human, and when I pray this psalm I pray particularly for those who are living the same horror depicted in this psalm, that they may know the saving hope of the Lord.

And the Lord does come to save, and comes to set things right. And so, embedded in this psalm are cries to the Lord which express hope in him. My whole being will say: ‘Lord, who is like you who rescue the weak from the strong and the poor from the oppressor?’ (v. 10)

Even in the midst of his unfortunate circumstances, the psalmist occasionally takes a break from lamentation and reflects on what God has done for him in the past and what he hopes God will continue to do in these unfortunate circumstances. But my soul shall be joyful in the Lord and rejoice in his salvation. (v. 9)

At times it seems to him that God is standing afar off (v.22) and wishes that God would act sooner than He plans to do (do we ever feel that way?). How long will you look on? (v.17) This cry of “how long” is found in a number of psalms of lamentation. We want to cry out: “Come, Lord, fix this! Come quickly! Don’t delay!” And yet, for His own unfathomable reasons, He holds back until the time is right in his eyes.

The Psalm concludes with one last request which is expressed almost as a bribe. (Yes, the psalmist isn’t beneath bribing God---and again, we have to consider whether or not we do the same!)

Let there be joy for those who love my cause.

Let them say without end:

‘Great is the Lord who delights

in the peace of his servant.”

Then my tongue shall speak of your justice,

all day long of your praise.  (v. 27-28)

God bless you!