EXPOSITION OF PSALM 35 (3)
Verses 11-18

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This psalm may be divided into three prayers. In the preceding message we observed the first: 1. prayer when enemies persecute (vv.1-10). In the next we will observe the third: prayer when enemies rejoice (vv.19-28). Here we observe the second:

II. Prayer when enemies reward good with evil (vv.11-18). The keynote to this division is found in the phrase "They rewarded me evil for good to the sorrow of my soul (v.12). They did so by rewarding slander for innocence (v.11) and hatred for kindness (vv.13-16). The psalmist prays to be rescued from the destructions of the wicked (v.17), and promises his praise to the Deliverer for the rescue (v.18).

35:11 "Fierce witnesses rise up; ..." The godly are subject to being slandered by malicious enemies who publicly accuse them of things they have not done. 1. They did so to the psalmist, as when they said to Saul, "Indeed David seeks your harm" (1 Samuel 24:9). 2. They did so to Christ, David's antitype, as when "the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death .... many false witnesses came forward .... two false witnesses came forward and said, 'This fellow said, "I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days"'" (Matthew 26:59-61). 3. They did so to Christ's apostles, as when they identified Paul as "a plague, a creator of dissension", and said "He even tried to profane the temple" (Acts 24:5f). 4. They have done to lesser Christians, as when they said of Stephen, "This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us" (Acts 6:13f). 5. They do so to saints today. If we preach the sovereignty of God in salvation (as from Romans 9:13, 15-21), they accuse us of denying the responsibility of man. If we preach divine election to salvation (as from Ephesians 1:4-6), they accuse us of preaching "God chose some to damnation, and they cannot be saved even if they would." If we preach divine predestination (as in Ephesians 1:11), they accuse us of preaching fatalism. If we preach the imputed righteousness of Christ as the only righteousness of the saints (as from Romans 3:21-4:8), they accuse us of preaching "imputed nonsense". If we preach that those who are "led by the Spirit ... are not under the law" (as from Galatians 5:18), they accuse us of being licentious libertines. If we do not employ their "altar call" and other man-made measures, they accuse us of not being concerned for the souls of men.

"... They ask me things that I do not know." Not only do the wicked publicly slander the godly (v.11a), but they also to our face endeavor to extort from us a confession of guilt of things of which we have no knowledge. For example, Campbellites have asked me, "Why do you preach against the church of Christ?" (by which name they identify their sect). I do not do as they accuse. Rather, I honor the church of Christ, and in so doing preach against every manmade organization that would be a counterfeit of it.

35:12 "They reward me evil for good, ..." (cp. Psalm 109:3-5). David's enemies did so to him - and his arch-nemesis admitted it (1 Samuel 24:8). Christ's enemies did so to Him also. "Jesus of Nazareth ... went about doing good" (Acts 10:38) - "healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people" (Matthew 4:23). They rewarded His good with death by the most shameful manner. And they treat His servants in a similar manner today.

"... To the sorrow of my soul." To be ignored by those to whom you have done good is disheartening. But to have them reward your good with evil is desolating to the soul.

35:13 "But as for me, when they were sick, / My clothing was sackcloth; ..." Sackcloth was sacking material made of goat or camel hair, and was worn during times of mourning or sorrow (e.g., Genesis 37:34). We are not told explicitly that David physically wore sackcloth when his enemies were sick; but we are assured that he mourned for them. As for Christ, when His enemies were sick with sin, He put off the heavenly robes of glory and put on the sackcloth of humanity (Philippians 2:6f) and suffered the sickness of His people - for "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses" (Matthew 8:17 & Isaiah 53:4). The godly do not don party clothes when their enemies are sick.

"... I humbled myself with fasting; ..." This was another customary indication of grief (e.g., 2 Samuel 1:12). It was not merely abstinence from food, but abstaining from food while afflicting the soul. Christ often fasted while ministering to the sick (as in Matthew 4:2). The godly do not feast when their enemies are sick.

"... And my prayer would return to my own heart." The godly obey the command of Christ to "pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44) - as He did for His enemies (Luke 23:34). The prayer may be mocked by the enemies. But it will be acknowledged by God. Perhaps He will have mercy on our enemies. But if He will not, He will return the prayer with blessing to the supplicant.

35:14 "I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; ..." David treated his enemies as though they were dear to him. Christ did so for His enemy Judas Iscariot, in fulfillment of the prophecy "Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me" (Psalm 41:9), and identifying him as "friend" even when he came to betray Him (Matthew 26:50).

"... I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother." David mourned for Saul while he was persecuting him, as he did when Saul died (2 Samuel 1:17ff). Christ mourned over those who persecuted Him, as when He wept over Jerusalem because they could not see the destruction that was coming upon its inhabitants (Luke 19:41-44; cp. Matthew 23:37-39).

35:15 "But in my adversity they rejoiced / And gathered together; ..." Saul and his courtiers were full of joy when any report came to them of David's troubles. So it was also with the enemies of Christ. They rejoiced when Judas Iscariot agreed to betray them, and when they finally were able to take Him captive. "Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad .... Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him" (Luke 23:8, 11). Those who beheld Him on the cross, even the robbers who were crucified with Him, mocked and reviled Him (Matthew 27:39-44).

"... Attackers gathered against me, / And I did not know it; ..." David could not see the rejoicing of his enemies because it was done behind his back. Christ could not see the rejoicing of His Sanhedrin enemies because they blindfolded Him (Luke 22:63f).

"... They tore at me and did not cease; ..." David's enemies incessantly tried to tear his reputation and character to shreds. Christ's enemies physically tore Him by plowing His back with a whip, plucking the beard from His face, and piercing His hands and feet and side on Calvary.

35:16 "With ungodly mockers at feasts / They gnashed at me with their teeth." They spoke fiercely, like snarling dogs. Christ acknowledged, "For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet" (Psalm 22:16).

35:17 "Lord, how long will You look on? ..." This is the common cry of sufferers (6:3; 13:1), as in "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" (Revelation 6:10). The saint when persecuted understandably desires immediate deliverance. But God may appear to "look on" for a while in order to "let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (James 1:4).

"... Rescue me from their destructions, / My precious life from the lions." The saint does not try to deliver himself from his persecutors. Rather, he says with Christ in Psalm 22:19-21: "But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion's mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me."

35:18 "I will give You thanks in the great assembly; / I will praise You among many people." Many who have been delivered from some great crisis in their life spend the rest of their life telling others about the crisis. The saint thanks and praises the Deliverer – as did Christ (Psalm 22:22f): "I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You. You who fear the LORD, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!"

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