Psalm 35

Alright, well I am off my schedule once again, but you know I figured out a long time ago that my schedule is not always the one that God goes by. J  Anyways, I was telling a friend today about reading Psalm 91 all the time and she said have you read Psalm 35 because it so good and I have been reading it every day.  She then went on to say that since she has been reading it things have changed in her life.  So before I could read it, she grabbed a Bible and began to read it aloud to me and everyone else who was nearby.  So I am learning to listen to what God is telling me and he used her today to give me this word and what a word it is…so powerful!  So here I go again analyzing every word---so where did my thoughts lead me today?  David!  I think David had had enough and said you know what Lord I belong to you and I am proclaiming that today by boldly speaking the truth!  I can just see the Spirit of God all over David as he is writing these words down.

You know so often I try to fix all my problems myself, I analyze situations and try to resolve the issues, but God so powerfully reminded me today that it is not my job to fix anything.  I am called to serve him, praise him, follow him, live for him, and worship him----that’s it!  Now I know what you are thinking….what about all the other stuff that we have to do like work and all our tasks at home. Well I do have to do those things, but doesn’t God tell us to do everything for his glory?  Our job, our duties at home, and even our extracurricular activities are all a part of our day to day life, but they are not our life.  All these people that we read about in the Bible had other things to do, they worked, they had other tasks, but they let God be at the center of all that they did.  David was an extremely busy man, yet he took the time to speak to God, to listen to God, and to write everything down.

So when I read Psalm 35 I don’t really think about harm coming to my enemies, I think more about who I am to God.  I am proud and humbled at the same time when I say that I am a child of God, what an honor and a privilege for God to send his Son to die in order for me to be his child.  So when you think ‘who am I?’ be reminded that when you choose Jesus as your savior ‘who are you not to be?’

Psalm 35

¹ 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.