Friday 11th September

Psalm 35:26-28
 
Sometimes we get ourselves into such a pickle and so focus on the negatives that we lose sight of things that might otherwise be encouraging. Perhaps that has happened with David and while in verse 26 he returns to his familiar theme appealing to God that those who rejoice in his trouble would experience a similar outcome, he asks in prayer that those who delight in his vindication would be given cause to shout for joy to God.
 
This is the first time in the psalm we have heard that there might be people of such a mind, friends who want David to be vindicated and who, when he is, will rejoice. Up to this point it seemed he was all alone. It begs the question where have they been, why don’t they speak up for David. Maybe they are afraid for their own safety, too weak to be counted significant, who knows? If you’ve been in that situation and people come to you later when the crisis has passed or the vote’s been taken and say things like, “I was with you.” you tend to wonder why they didn’t speak up before-hand. Secret supporters are not much use in a crisis.
 
Having said that perhaps the people David now mentions have at last rallied to his cause or have been there all along and only now he feels encouraged by them. It just means that there is some light for him at the end of the psalm and the undergirding truth becomes clear that the Lord delights in the well-being of his servants.
 
Whilst that is an encouragement for the likes of you and me it points up the fact that when Jesus was tried in the Caiaphas’ court, and later crucified he stood condemned and he died utterly alone, deserted by everyone, until at last even the Father turned his face away.
 
The words of Samuel Crossman have always stirred my heart….”Why, what has my Lord done to cause this rage and spite, he made the lame to run and gave the blind their sight? Sweet injuries!  yet they at these themselves displease, and against Him rise.”
 
Whatever David in his lifetime suffered it was only a foreshadowing of the unfathomable forsakenness experienced by Jesus his descendant, his greater son and Lord. We though, because of him, can sing praise to God and of his righteousness.