2023-08-08 12:34:29
The Way of the Word: The Thirty-Fifth Psalm – A Contemplative Reading.
Thirty-fifth Psalm – A Reflection – Audio
Monsignor Joji Vadakara, Vatican City
David’s thirty-fifth psalm is the lamentation of one who has been betrayed and accused by the friends he loved like a brother, and who has suffered many tribulations and reproaches. The psalmist prays that evildoers may be revealed as unrighteous, and thanks God with firm faith that his prayer will be heard. David realizes that his former friends have now turned once morest him. David pleads with faith that the Lord’s punishment once morest them will not be delayed and that justice will be done for him. The psalmist describes God as a valiant soldier who fights alongside him. David prays for public redress once morest injustice rather than a vengeful man who utters curses once morest those who do injustice. The fact that it was written at a time when there was no thought of the followinglife, or of having to answer for evil before God following death, helps us understand the psalmist’s prayer better.
A plea to reveal the injustice of the wicked
In verses one through eight of the Psalm we see David praying for protection for himself, while the wickedness of those who do unrighteousness is revealed. David prays, “Fight with him who fights with me” (Ps. 35, 1). Those who work once morest someone who strives to live according to God’s will work once morest God. David takes refuge behind God, who comes to save him in armor and shield (Ps. 35, 2). The concept of God whispering to his heart, to his soul, like a friend, “I am your salvation” (Ps. 35, 3), also illustrates the depth of David’s faith in God.
From the fourth verse to the eighth verse, “Make those who seek my life ashamed and confounded! Let those who plot evil once morest me turn back” (Ps. 35, 4), David prays not only for protection from those who work once morest him, but also for the destruction of the wicked. David prays that destruction may fall upon them, that they themselves may fall into the net they have spread, and that they may fall into it and perish (Ps. 35, 4-8), because they plot mischief once morest the righteous, and lay a net once morest the servant of God without cause, and seek to overthrow him. Twice, David pleads for an angel of God to be sent to protect him, and twice, David claims that it is for this reason that the enemy is working once morest him. David’s prayer is that the injustice of those who do injustice to the righteous will be turned once morest them.
Delight in God the Savior
In verses nine and ten we see David rejoicing and giving thanks in advance to God, who preserves the righteous and punishes the unrighteous according to their works: “Then I will rejoice in the Lord; You will rejoice in His salvation. Lord, my bones will proclaim; Who is your equal? You save the weak from the strong and the weak and the poor from robbers” (Ps. 35, 9-10). We should not rejoice in the destruction of others, but in God who gives salvation. The joy when we experience salvation is deep.
Friends turned enemies
In verses eleven through sixteen, David writes regarding men who have replaced good with evil, treated with enmity instead of friendship, and acted with hatred and malice instead of love. Great is the heartache caused by vile and unjust testimony, unjust accusation, and receiving evil for good (Ps. 35, 11-12). David claims before God that he was striving for the good and happiness of men who are now working once morest him. The psalmist treated them with extraordinary love in their sickness. David complains that in their plight, he mourned and prayed for them as a brother, but now, instead of helping him in his fall and suffering, they rejoice, mock him, and gnash their teeth once morest him (Ps. 35, 13-16). In pains and failures, a surer refuge should be sought in God than in men. God is merciful and does not judge evil once morest the righteous.
David’s prayer once morest the wicked
In verses seventeen to twenty-one we see David praying for punishment once morest men who work wickedly and live in unrighteousness. David prays that the punishment will not be delayed once morest his enemies who attack him like a lion (Ps. 35.17). They are men who do not desire peace, who plot treachery once morest the righteous of God, without reason, who wait to wink and mock (Ps. 35, 19-21). In the face of attacks and accusations from them, David confesses in verse 18 the desire and decision to give thanks and praise to God in front of everyone in the experience of God’s protection of his life: “Then I will give thanks to you in the great assembly; I will praise you in the crowd” (Ps. 35, 18). It is the duty of every believer to shout before the world God’s blessings and his protection in this world full of evils, and to thank the righteous Lord.
Salvation, Punishment, and a Just God
In verses twenty-two to twenty-six of the Psalm, we see David praying for the punishment of the people who do evil and injustice once morest him, and for the justice that should be received by the person who lives according to the Lord’s will. David prays to the all-knowing God to break his silence and wake up to do justice to him soon. Because the Lord is righteous, David is waiting for justice according to His righteousness (Ps. 35, 22-24a). David pleads for God’s justice because he is sure of the goodness of his life and the innocence of his heart. At the same time, David prays that evil will not be allowed to work and to rejoice in the misfortunes and pains of the righteous, and that proud and wicked men wait to celebrate and rejoice (Ps. 35, 24b-26).
David prays for the punishment of the enemy and the wicked, prays for the joy of those who stand with the righteous, and in the light of his experience of the blessings and protection of the Lord, closes the psalm by announcing his decision to proclaim the justice of the Lord before the world and give thanks to him (Ps. 35, 27-28). This psalm also invites us to give thanks to the God who covers evildoers with shame and dishonor, but who is pleased with believers who live according to his will and pours out blessings on them.
Psalm in life
May Psalm 35, which contains David’s prayer for justice in the light of an experience of seeing others as brothers and friends, working for and praying for their good, and being rewarded with evil, enmity and ridicule, be a reflection in our lives. When evil is said and done once morest a righteous and weak servant of God, when he speaks once morest those who walk hand in hand, when he betrays with a kiss, the pain that rises in the heart of the innocent, plead for justice before God, and live knowing that God, who knows the hearts, will judge honestly. Instead of rejoicing in the failures of others, let us be able to pray for them and love them like brothers, regardless of reward. Let us strive to humbly but faithfully seek refuge before God, who knows our hearts, to submit our pains to Him, and to find comfort and joy in His justice and mercy. May God grant us to sing the praises of the Lord.
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