EXPOSITION OF PSALM 35 (1)
Introduction
Psalm 35

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This "Psalm of David" is an imprecatory psalm, one invoking a curse upon others (see vv.1b, 3a, 4-6, 8, 17, 26). It is the first of about seven imprecatory psalms (see also Psalms 58, 59, 69, 83, 109, 137). There are also imprecatory passages in other psalms (see 5:10; 6:10; 28:4; 31:17f; 40:14f; 41:10; 55:9, 15; 70:2f; 71:13; 79:6, 12; 129:5-8; 140:9f; 141:10; 149:7-9).

The psalmist cites at least six reasons for uttering these imprecations against the wicked. They had waylaid him without cause (v.7). They had brought false testimony against him (v.11). They rewarded him evil for the good he had done (v.12). They maliciously rejoiced at his trouble (vv.15f). They devised deceit against the peaceful (v.20). They rejoiced when they saw their wicked schemes succeeding (v.21).

Nevertheless, many people are critical of such imprecations from God's people against the wicked. We will here cite reasons for justifying such imprecations.

I. The key to understanding these imprecations is found in the "rule of first occurrence". According to this rule, the Biblical text in which a certain subject is first found generally sheds much light on subsequent texts in which it is found. The first imprecation in this book is found in Psalm 5:10: "Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against You." 1. Observe the objects of the psalmist's imprecation: rebels against their Creator and Lawgiver who have multiplied their transgressions against Him and their fellowmen (v.10). They are furthermore described in Psalm 35 as "boastful" (v.5a), "workers of iniquity" (v.5b), "those who speak falsehood" (v.6a), "bloodthirsty and deceitful" (v.6b), "enemies" against the godly (v.8a), and those whom God must "hate" (v.5b), "abhor" (v.6b), and "destroy" (v.6a). 2. Observe the desire in the psalmist's imprecation: justice – from God's hand, not his own (see Romans 12:19)! God's honor must be preserved, righteous victims must be vindicated, and evil-doers must be punished. The psalmist here sees sin as it truly is and evil-doers as they truly are, and identifies himself with God against sin and sinners. Do you?

II. These imprecations are not against men as men, but as evil-doers. The man persecuting the psalmist in the present instance was probably his arch-nemesis Saul, who repeatedly tried to destroy David. 1. When David looked upon Saul as a man, he loved him. David spared Saul's life when he easily could have killed him in a cave (1 Samuel ch.24) and on another occasion while Saul slept (1 Samuel ch.26). David lamented with great sorrow when Saul was slain by another and executed justice upon the man who claimed he had killed Saul (2 Samuel ch.1). David showed lovingkindness to Saul's descendants (2 Samuel 9:3). 2. But when David looked upon Saul as an evil-doer, he hated him. David declared, "Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies" (Psalm 139:21f).

III. These imprecations accord with human sentiment in general – especially sympathy to victims and justice to evil-doers. He who will not condemn evil and evil-doers will be viewed as one who will condone them. The world tells us that he is not worthy to be called a man who experiences no righteous indignation when impious people rebel against rules of common decency to maliciously oppress and mercilessly destroy those who have not wronged them – as in the manner of Hitler, slave-traders, and even animal abusers. We say to the world that he is not worthy to be called a Christian who experiences no like righteous indignation when evil-doers rebel against the Most High God to unjustly oppress and destroy His people – as in the manner of Pharaoh of Egypt, Ahab of Samaria, and religious Babylon today.

IV. These imprecations do not violate any New Testament principle – such as that expressed by Christ when He required His people to "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). We stress this point because some say the psalmist's imprecations expressed an Old Testament morality that was corrected by Christ in the New Testament. While Christ did indeed correct a misunderstanding some had regarding Old Testament morality, David was not among them. Indeed, David had performed what Christ requires (vv.13f): "But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; and my prayer [for them] would return to my own heart. I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother" – and he had otherwise done "good" to them (v.12). David was willing to forgive wrongful acts, but he would not condone wrongful attitudes.

V. These imprecations are in accord with those against gospel perverters. Paul the apostle declared that "my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved" (Romans 10:1) - a prayer David also, as the king of Israel, would have prayed. Paul furthermore expressed the same desire for Gentiles also when he confessed that "I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some" (1 Corinthians 9:22). But he also expressed vehement imprecations against the man who perverts the gospel of Jesus Christ, twice saying "let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8, 9). (See also Paul's imprecations against other evil-doers in Acts 23:1-3 & 2 Timothy 4:14.) Men would surely imprecate the impious liar who would distribute false maps and directions that would lead the unsuspecting traveler to his physical destruction. So does the Christian imprecate the lying preacher who propagates a false gospel that would lead men to their eternal spiritual damnation. Let such an evil-doer fall into the trap he has set for others, and let him do so to the glory of God.

VI. These imprecations are Christ-like. David was a foremost type of Christ in the Old Testament. Indeed, Christ is called "David" (Jeremiah 30:9; Ezekiel 34:23; 24; 37:24, 25; Hosea 3:5). All that is said of David in this psalm is typical of Christ. Indeed, Christ may be seen as the speaker of this psalm.

1. As David showed kindness to the sick (vv.13f), so did Christ – for those sick in both body and soul (Matthew 8:16). As David for the sick humbled himself with fasting, so did Christ humble Himself in His incarnation, in which for the sake of the sick He often fasted and hungered. As David for the sick clothed himself in sackcloth, so did Christ clothe Himself in the spiritual sackcloth of our misery and mourning. As David for the sick was bowed down heavily, so did Christ bear a great burden for the healing of the sick. As David prayed for the sick, so did Christ.

2. As David's goodness to others was rewarded by them with evil to the sorrow of his soul (v.12), so was Christ's – as when the people among whom He done many wonderful works demanded His crucifixion (Luke 21:23-25). As David's enemies set traps for him without cause (v.7), so did Christ's enemies – as when they "plotted how they might entangle Him" (Matthew 22:15ff). As David's enemies brought false testimony against him (v.11), so did Christ's enemies – as when "all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death" and "many false witnesses came forward" and accused Him of things of which He was innocent (Matthew 26:59-61). As David's enemies maliciously rejoiced at his trouble (vv.15f), so did Christ's – as when they mocked Him in His agony on the accursed tree (Matthew 27:39-44). As David's enemies rejoiced when they saw the success of their wicked schemes (v.21), so did Christ's.

3. As David invoked curses against those who unjustly wronged him, so does Christ. He prays that those who sin against Him in ignorance be forgiven (Luke 23:34) – and they are forgiven (as in 1 Timothy 1:13). But regarding those who hate Him and say "We will not have this man to reign over us" He replies, "But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me" (Luke 19:12-27). To those who refuse to show kindness to Him and His people He will pronounce, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me" (Matthew 25:41-45). He furthermore says "Woe to you ... [who] devour widows' houses" (Matthew 23:14). And He calls upon saints to rejoice when lying and oppressive false religion is destroyed (Revelation 19:1-6).

And as the righteous God and just Judge of His people, Christ will honor their complaints against evil-doers who oppress them (as in Luke 18:1-8). He will destroy the malicious wicked and deliver their righteous victims, all to the glory of His holy name. Let us all seek forgiveness from Him now!

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