November 6, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

God’s Agenda

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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 THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

When we are attacked or accused, Psalm 35 gives us pointers on how to deal with it. We can vent our feelings of aggression to the Lord, and commit our need for vindication to him.

Why doesn’t God do something?! Day after day the news shows us horror, injustice and evil—and we feel overwhelmed. With David, we might protest, “How long, Lord, will you look on?” (17). However, prayer submits the details of our lives to God’s agenda—to his timetable. In the end, we trust in his judgment and justice. The prophet Zechariah shows us a God who defends his people and ultimately brings victory through the Messiah (Zech. 14:9). Here, David—fleeing for his life, suffering injustice, malice and mockery—determinedly praises God: “My tongue will proclaim… your praises” (28). God is concerned about the stories of our lives, as well as the big picture.

 

David’s enemies are violent and deceitful; they are out to get him (7). He keeps on trying to do things right—praying for his opponents—but they respond with mockery and bad intent (25). The language David uses might seem vindictive (1–10), yet here David recognizes the reality of evil and expresses his confidence in God who will, eventually, put things right (Rev. 18:1—19:2). Meanwhile, what can we do?

 

Sometimes God calls us to action—for example, “Build my house,” as in Haggai and Zechariah—but it is his agenda. Sometimes we must simply wait, bearing the unfairness, our weakness and poverty—praying for those who make our lives difficult (Matt. 5:44). The agents of evil in our world might sneer at our gentleness and passivity, misinterpreting it for weakness (19–21), but, like David, we can depend on God: he is the one who rescues us (10), fights for us (23) and delights in us (27). In the midst of our suffering, we can express joy and gladness, as we testify to the greatness of our God, on whom we depend.

Apply

How do you respond when people treat you unfairly? In what life situation do you wish the Lord would fight for you?

Closing prayer

“Alleluia! Sing to Jesus! / His the scepter, his the throne / Alleluia! His the triumph, / His the victory alone” (W. C. Dix, 1837–1898).

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