SCRIPTURE: Psalm 35
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land. [Psalm 35:20]
David has been betrayed, and he is deeply hurt.
This psalm expresses that hurt, and his desire for his betrayers to hurt like him.
David describes how he had cared for these people [Psalm 35:13-14], which makes the betrayal that much more painful.
How can they turn on him like this?
David wants them to experience the suffering they’ve inflicted on him.
This is not the same spirit as Jesus [Luke 23:34], but it is understandable.
David is being honest; only Jesus could respond with this kind of mercy.
Only with God’s Spirit can we do it too.
While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” [Luke 22:47-48]
Jesus, the Son of David, experiences the same betrayal – betrayed by one He loved, betrayed with a kiss.
Though He is able to forgive him, this betrayal still hurt, deeply.
This gives us an insight to how God feels about our sin. He loves us, and He hurts deeply because of our betrayal [Genesis 6:6].
Thankfully God does show mercy, and does not settle for revenge.
We may wish for revenge, like David, but if God metes out revenge, not mercy, then we too will be punished.
Yes, the pain of when other’s betray us is deep, but let this reveal how our betrayal of God affects Him.
Let it remind us that we all need mercy.
One more thing.
We should not be surprised if, while striving to bless people and do good as Jesus-followers, we too may face the pain of betrayal.
I know people who devoted themselves to doing good, then were falsely accused and suffered for it.
If it happened to Jesus, we can expect it to happen to us too [Matthew 10:25].
This is all a part of carrying the cross, of suffering for the cause, of helping those lost in sin.
Jesus urges us not to give up doing good when we suffer for it – He urges us to trust Him, follow Him, and love like He did.
In the end we will be vindicated, and God will reveal His mercy.
PRAYER:
Lord, I pray for those right now who are experiencing this betrayal. May they experience Your mercy, and may they express it as well.
May my tongue also tell of Your righteousness and Your praises all day long!
Today God Is First as He is every day. But during the day others may misinterpret our acts of kindness, our deeds, our motives, the works of our hands. We are His servants and yet His people will envy, or see false motives in our actions or give false testimony or take advantage of our actions . . . but in all things, I must stay the course and do what is good and right and true . . . and as far as it depends upon me, live at peace with all mankind. The joy is not in the journey, but the destination. God has in past, and will in the past, as He has shown to His people, His mercy. And so all His people go forward each day doing His will with a song in their heart.
This is the day(2)
That the lord has made(2)
We will rejoice(2)
And be glad in it(2)
This is the day that the lord has made
We will rejoice and be glad in it…
Take and receive
Take and receive O lord my liberty
Take all my will my mind my memory
Do thou direct and govern all and sway
Do what thou wilt, command and I obey
Only thy grace and love on me bestow
Possessing these all riches I forego
All things I hold and all I own are thine
Thine was the gift to thee I all resign
Do thou direct and govern all and sway
Do what thou wilt, command and I obey