September 23rd, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Deliver Us from Evil!

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Holy God, may this day reverberate with the praise to You that I cannot hold back. You deserve it!

Read Psalm 35:1-28

[1]Of David. Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. [2] Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid. [3] Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to me, “I am your salvation.” [4] May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay. [5] May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away; [6] may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them. [7] Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, [8] may ruin overtake them by surprise- may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin. [9] Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation. [10] My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.” [11] Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about. [12] They repay me evil for good and leave me like one bereaved. [13] Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered, [14] I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother. [15] But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; assailants gathered against me without my knowledge. They slandered me without ceasing. [16] Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked; they gnashed their teeth at me. [17] How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my precious life from these lions. [18] I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you. [19] Do not let those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; do not let those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye. [20] They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land. [21] They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it.” [22] LORD, you have seen this; do not be silent. Do not be far from me, Lord. [23] Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord. [24] Vindicate me in your righteousness, LORD my God; do not let them gloat over me. [25] Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!” or say, “We have swallowed him up.” [26] May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace. [27] May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.” [28] My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

The Messiah could have had twelve legions of angels to rescue him (Matt. 26:53), but he went to the cross for us. What great love!

Think Further

Fight, Lord! It is tempting to read the battles of Chronicles as fulfilled in the other-worldly kingdom of heaven. This psalm is one of a series in which David reacts to this-worldly enemies; the founder of the Messianic dynasty might have been killed before he gained the throne! The following psalms reflect on God’s faithfulness and justice, on the psalmist’s own sins, and on God’s deliverance. This one expresses a natural response to opposition: fighting back.

They repay me evil for good! We, like the ancient kings, live in a fallen, fighting world. People all over the world experience the sorts of enmity that David faced. Like David, they can cry to the Lord, but should they stop there? Should they, like the Israelites, call up their armies?  During the centuries of inquisition and crusade, Christians believed they must fight the enemies of God and of the church. Yet, in this psalm, David, the warrior, seems content to ask God to fight for him.

Delight in his salvation! Chronicles demonstrates that it is not military strength but divine presence that determines a battle. But how does God fight? The Bible moves towards God’s fighting his enemies in the Messiah. In Chronicles, even the best of the messianic dynasty fall into enmity with God; that is why the messianic kingdom can only be established through the cross.

Apply

Remembering God’s promise to be Solomon’s father (and yours), pray the Lord’s Prayer in the light of what you have learned from Chronicles this week.

Closing prayer

Father, I need to remember that the battle belongs to You. Keep me from taking up the fight instead of putting on the armor of God and standing firm.

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