When Kindness Is Repaid with Hatred (Psalm 35) | Charles Spurgeon

Deep Dive into The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon - Psalm 35Psalm 35, as explored in the sources, is a powerful Davidic appeal to God for justice against malicious oppressors. Historically linked to David’s flight from King Saul or the insurrections of his later years, the psalm reflects the cry of a heart burdened by slander but sustained by a clear conscience. The sources highlight a triple structure within the psalm, where themes of complaint, prayer, and a promise of praise are repeated three times, a pattern echoing the persistence of Christ’s prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane.In the opening section, David petitions God to act as both a legal Advocate and a military Champion. He uses vivid metaphors, asking the Lord to take up a "shield and buckler" and a spear to block the path of persecutors. A central spiritual insight is the profound comfort found when God speaks directly to the soul, saying, "I am thy salvation." David’s desire for his enemies to be "confounded" is framed not as personal malice, but as a justified longing for the defeat of those who rebel against God’s righteousness.The middle section of the psalm focuses on the bitterness of betrayal. David recounts how he showed deep sympathy—wearing sackcloth and fasting—when his enemies were ill. In a "devilish" reversal, they rewarded his good with evil, gathering to mock him during his own adversity. This cruelty is noted as a "marvellous prophecy" of the suffering of Christ. Despite being surrounded by "lions," David vows that even his bones will praise God for delivering the poor from those too strong for them.The final portion is an urgent call for divine intervention. David urges God to "awake to judgment" and not remain a silent spectator to injustice. He claims a personal relationship, calling Jehovah "my God and my Lord." The psalm concludes with a commitment to perpetual praise, rooted in the belief that God delights in the prosperity of His servants.To understand this divine protection, imagine a valiant warrior holding a narrow mountain pass with a spear; he stands firm not merely to defeat the host, but to provide a shield of time and safety so his weaker brothers can escape their pursuers.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainerSpotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t5dz4vEgvHqUknYQfwpRI?si=e-tDRFR2Qf6By1sAcMdkdwhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730