I have read through Psalm 35 quite often over the past few days. In it David prays three times.
Verses 1-10 could be summarized as a prayer for protection from the attacks of those who were his enemies wrongfully. David wanted the Lord to be His Advocate in both the proverbial courtroom and on the battlefield.
In verses 11-18 David prays that God would look at the evidence and act on it and finally in verses 19-28 David wants vindication for himself and justice for his enemies.
All of David’s prayers were eventually answered, but what struck me most about this psalm were the songs of praise that came directly after each of his three pleas for help.
Verses 9-10 ( after his prayer for protection)
And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD;
It shall rejoice in His salvation.
All my bones shall say,
"LORD, who is like You,
Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him,
Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?"
Verses 18 (after his prayer for God to act on his behalf)
I will give You thanks in the great assembly;
I will praise You among many people.
Verses 27-28 (after David’s plea for vindication and justice)
Let them shout for joy and be glad,
Who favor my righteous cause;
And let them say continually,
"Let the LORD be magnified,
Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."
And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness
And of Your praise all the day long.
Beloved…Despite the deep betrayal, hurt, fear and loss that David was experiencing, what he wanted most was for His God to be glorified. David’s delight was in the Lord. It was His salvation for which he trusted, waited and prayed. In this Psalm David teaches me not only to pour my heart out to my God and depend on His help, but also to desire that He be magnified in and through everything I face in this life. Ultimately, David wanted what God wanted. The words of Psalm 37:4 come to mind.
Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Ending with Psalm 62:5-8 and Psalm 34:1-10
My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.
Selah—Psalm 62:5-8
I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.—Psalm 34:1-10
