Jesus, Our Avenger in Spiritual Battle

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 35:1-28

 

Psalm 35:28

And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness
And of Your praise all the day long.

(NKJV)

 

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States, a day set aside for us to remember the things we are thankful for. This can be difficult because we live in a chaotic world where the news is full of evil, tragedy, and sorrow. However, there is something we can all be thankful for. When our ancestors Adam and Eve sinned, and God evicted them from paradise, God did not turn His back on them but instead began the process of restoring humanity to a relationship with Him. However, like any relationship, it is a two-way street with God already doing His part (John 3:16), waiting on us to do our part (Romans 10:9-10). David knew the Lord was his avenger, but do we know that when facing battles in our lives?

 

David, as King of Israel, faced many battles, beginning with Goliath and then King Saul wanting to kill him. The time of the writing of this psalm is unknown, but it likely occurred during a time when David felt overwhelmed by his enemies. It begins with David pleading his case before the Lord, asking for deliverance from enemies pursuing him, seeking his destruction (Psalm 35:1-3). He then asks the Lord to put those seeking his harm or death to shame and dishonor and to be thrown into confusion (Psalm 35:4). David asks that their way be dark and slippery, with them being like chaff blown in the wind, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them (Psalm 35:5-6). These enemies of David have no cause for seeking to harm or kill him and have tried to ensnare David in a net, which David asks the Lord to turn back on them (Psalm 35:7-8). David’s soul shall be joyful in the Lord and rejoice in salvation with his bones, saying who is like the Lord, the deliverer of the poor and needy (Psalm 35:9-10).

 

Fierce witnesses have risen up, asking David things he does not know, rewarding him with evil for good (Psalm 35:11-12). David even prayed for these witnesses when they were sick, like they were his friends or even a brother (Psalm 35:13-14). Instead of being grateful for his prayers for them, these people rejoiced and, unknown to David, gathered as attackers against him (Psalm 35:15-16). David then asks how long the Lord will just look on, pleading for rescue (Psalm 35:17). David then promises to give thanks to God in the great assembly and praise Him among many people (Psalm 35:18).

 

David does not want his enemies to rejoice over what happens to him because his enemies do not seek peace but devise deceitful plans against the people of the land (Psalm 35:19-21). David knows the Lord has seen all that is occurring and asks that He not be silent or far from him (Psalm 35:22). David asks the Lord to stir Himself up and come to his vindication in righteousness so that his enemies will not rejoice or gloat over him (Psalm 35:23-25). David asks that his enemies come to shame, dishonor, and confusion (Psalm 35:26). In contrast, David asks that those favoring his righteous cause would shout for joy and be glad, with them continually magnifying the Lord, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant (Psalm 35:27). David vows to speak of the Lord’s righteousness and to praise Him all day long (Psalm 35:28).

 

Like David, God’s people come under attack from enemies who seek to destroy or silence them. The psalm begins with David pleading with the Lord to fight against those fighting against him (Psalm 35:1-3). His desire is for the Lord to avenge him and bring his enemies down (Psalm 35:4-8). While David had real flesh-and-blood enemies seeking his destruction, the conclusion of this psalm reveals the heart of David, as he understands that the battle was spiritual, requiring praise and speaking of the Lord’s righteousness. In the New Testament, Paul wrote about a battle that is not against flesh and blood, emphasizing the need for spiritual weapons and continual prayer (Ephesians 6:10-18). We must, like David, remember that the battle belongs with the Lord and not to attempt to fight it alone, something David may have learned from Samuel (1 Samuel 17:47).

 

We are in a spiritual battle, a battle that began in the Garden of Eden. In this war, Satan successfully separated Adam and Eve from God, along with their future descendants, of which we are all a part. However, God also began the process of reconciliation with the first messianic prophecy in Genesis 3:15. This prophecy had fulfillment with the birth of the Messiah as recorded in Luke 2:1-20 and came to full fruition with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 27-28).

 

Now, anyone who believes in Jesus, which means acknowledging their belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for salvation from sin (Romans 10:9-10), can have reconciliation to God that was lost in the Garden. God created us to have fellowship with Him, and why He went to such great lengths to reconcile His relationship with us (John 3:16). If you have not done so, I invite you to pray with me now and begin a relationship with God, your creator.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post.