Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

4. The Freedom of the Lord- (21,22 The last two verses of the psalm contrast the consequences of living for evil or living for God!

1. Evil - Living without the fear of God will result in trouble and punishment. “ Calamity will surely overtake the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.” (21)

2. Serving God - Choosing the fear of the Lord will result in redemption and pardon. “ But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. Everyone who trusts in him will be freely pardoned.” (22)

The promise is to ‘everyone’ who trusts in the Lord and the result is total freedom from guilt.

1 Keil & Delitzsch

PSALM 35: HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE Enduring Persecution

This psalm of David was written during the time he was being hunted by Saul in the wilderness. It is a passionate prayer for judgment on David’s unnamed enemies. It is divided into three sections each ending with a strong emphasis of praise to the Lord. I. THE LORD IS A WARRIOR - 1-10

II. THE WAR OF WORDS - 11-18 III. WORSHIPFUL PRAYER -19-28

INTRODUCTION :

“ A psalm of David ”

The language of this psalm is reflective of the conversation between Saul and David after David spared his life in the cave of Adullam: “ …Then he began to cry. And he said to David, ‘You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. Yes, you have been wonderfully kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it. Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power!” (1 Sam. 24:16-19) Jesus quotes this psalm (v. 19) as a prophecy of all the hostility he experienced in his life and min- istry: “ The people of the world will hate you because you belong to me, for they don’t know God who sent me…But as it is, they saw all that I did and yet hated both of us-me and my Father. This has fulfilled what the Scriptures said: ‘They hated me without cause.’” (Jn. 15:21, 24, 25)

I. THE LORD IS A WARRIOR - 1-10

David gives ten petitions for God to arise and fight his battle.

1. “ O Lord, oppose those who oppose me.”(1)

2. “ Declare war on those who are attacking me. ” (1) He is remembering Moses’ song: “ The Lord is a warrior; yes, the Lord is his name!”(Ex. 15:3)

3. “ Put on your armor, and take up your shield.” (2) This is both the small arm shield and the large body shield that protected the warrior.

4. “ Prepare for battle and come to my aid.”(2)

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