August 18, 2023 -- Psalm 35:12-13, 17-18 -- The Psalm Series: Not a victim but a victor in Jesus

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

They repay me evil for good;
   my soul is bereft.
But I, when they were sick—
   I wore sackcloth;
   I afflicted myself with fasting;
I prayed with head bowed on my chest.

How long, O Lord, will you look on?
   Rescue me from their destruction,
   my precious life from the lions!
I will thank you in the great congregation;
   in the mighty throng I will praise you.
Psalm 35:12-13; 17-18 ESV

Today’s verses are quoted from the second division of David’s lament, the cry of his soul, verses 11-18. The first is 1-10 a call for help; the third division is 19-28 the call for justice. David expresses the anguish of his heart as his good intentions and actions are spurned and rejected by those around him. In fact the expression that seems to govern this part of David’s heart cry is the phrase “they repay me evil for good”. A brief examination of David’s life proves this to be false. One example is enough. He took Bathsheba from his friend Uriah. This same Uriah was one of his mighty generals. David had Uriah killed to cover up his sin. So, no, David is not perfect in doing good. In fact, this Psalm foreshadows Jesus—He alone can perfectly and honesty say: “they repay me evil for good”. As David through the sacrifices of the Old Testament believed on Jesus and as we today as New Testament believers believe in Jesus, we know we are not victims. Jesus stood in our place. He paid the debt we owed to the wrath of God.

This second section lists the wrongs of the enemies: they are like lions. They rejoice against believers. They are relentless in wrong-doing. Yet believers are not victims. Ultimately it is Jesus Who lived perfectly while all evil-doers did their best to crush Him. He was blameless in the pathway of God, at every step honouring our Father and resisting the Devil. Therefore He is the reason David, and all believers, praise God, thanking Him in the great congregation! Believers are never victims because Jesus holds our victory in His hands. Our Father and our Savior Jesus have sent the Spirit to ensure His victory is applied to every part of our lives.

What the Devil intends for evil, the LORD is using for good. Believers are living all the same kinds of heart aches and sorrows and struggles of other people in the world, yet Christians live them as people whose hope is anchored in Jesus Christ. We will thank God in the great assembly because in Christ we have overcome the world. These light and momentary afflictions are achieving for us a weight of glory beyond our current comprehension.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. With David, and Psalm-singers through-out the centuries we declare, “my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in His salvation”. King Jesus, thank You for the victory You have won—turning away our Father’s anger against our sin. Thank You Triune God for the gift of the Holy Spirit by Whose presence in our lives we have everything we need for life and godliness. When we suffer, let our lives shine especially brightly for Jesus at those moments so that the people around us will see it is through Jesus we overcome the world. Amen.

https://youtu.be/CQm4gfoAtwk "Yield Not to Temptation" Phillip Carter

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