What To Do When Facing The Enemy!

TREASURES FROM THE PSALMS WED PM OCTOBER 4, 2023 CBBCKING

What to Do When Facing the Enemy!

Psalm 35:1-9

Introduction:

Psalm 35 – lengthier Psalm… 28 verses long… not going to deal with every verse… main portions of the Psalm.

Structure = Psalm 35 easily divides into 3 stanzas all marked by a chorus of praise to God…

• 1st Stanza – (35:1-9)

• 2nd Stanza – (35:10-18)

• 3rd Stanza – (35:19-28)

Psalm 35 = involves conflict… learn in the spiritual realm that worship and war go together… see this theme throughout the history of God’s people in the OT.

• Exodus 14 = Red Sea = followed by a time of praise and worship

• Joshua 5 = Conquest of Jericho… Joshua meets the Capt. Of the Lord’s host… falls before him in worship.

• 1&2 Sam; Book of Kings = Israel when facing the enemy worshiped before and after the battle… before the battle seeking the Lord’s help in the battle… praise the Lord for victory after the battle.

Psalm 35 = David facing the enemy… in a fight… battle going on in his life… time of peril… uncertain of the outcome.

Interesting = number of times throughout the Psalms that you find the Psalmist in a battle.

**Find ourselves like the Psalmist battling our way through life… personal battles, health battles, financial battles, work battles, family battles, friend battles, emotional battles, spiritual battles.

Jacob = all these things are against me.

Story Behind the Psalm:

Not told the exact occasion when David penned this Psalm… most Bible scholars agree that it was during the early young adult years of his life… warrior in Saul’s court.

Scriptural Backdrop: 1 Sam. 18-20

David = won a great victory – slew the Philistine giant… Goliath of Gath… Israel routed the Philistines. As he returned to Jerusalem riding in a victory parade beside Saul at the head of army… women began to sing… “Saul hath slain his thousands but David his tens of thousands.”

David = in defeating the enemy… had made enemies – King Saul! Others sided with Saul… not so much because they were loyal to Saul, but because they loathed David.

David = risen in the ranks… behaved himself wisely… had the heart of the people. David was in their way!

Those he thought were his friends… rose up against him as his enemies…

v.1 – fought against him.

v.4 – plotted against him.

v.7 – sought to entrap him.

v.11 – falsely accused him.

v.20 – stirring up the people against him.

v.25 – devour him.

v.21 – mocked him.

vv.24,26 – gloated over him.

v.17 – heart of the Psalm, key verse – compares his enemies to lions.

Interesting = number of times Psalmists compare the enemy to lions…

Psalm 91:13 – Moses

Psalm 22:13 – Lord Jesus

Psalm 7:2; 10:9; 17:12; 57:4 – David… v.15 - Lion = tearing him in pieces

1Pet.5:8 – Christian … enemy seeks to devour, tear in pieces!

Preach: “What to Do When Facing the Enemy!”

1. LET GOD FIGHT FOR YOU!

Cf. David didn’t take matters into his own hands… understood that the battle was the Lord’s:

Look: v.1

How often are we guilty of trying to fight the battle on our own wisdom, our own strength, our own ability… only to end in failure and defeat.

David’s plea – vv.3-4 – Lord you fight for me!

Nehemiah 4:20 – “our God shall fight for us.”

Psalm 35 = companion Psalm 34 = only 2 Psalms that mention, “the angel of the LORD”

Ps. 34:7 – the angel of the LORD protecting the believer.

Ps. 35:5,6 – the angel of the LORD pursuing the enemy! Putting the enemy to flight.

Ps. 35 = Imprecatory nature – David praying for God to judge his enemies.

Imprecatory Psalm = not a prayer for personal vengeance.

Heart of David (vv.12-15)

Prayer = for Divine justice!

Look: v.7 – David on more than one occasion states his innocence… [vv.11,19,28] – he was Israel’s king in waiting… had the Lord’s anointing oil upon him… to fight against David was to fight against God.

2Sam. 13 – find God fighting against David! God can’t fight for you if He has to fight against you!

If you want God to fight for you then must take God’s side against yourself! Heart right with God!!!

1. Let God Fight for You

2. LET GOD DELIVER YOU!

Look: v.10 – “too strong for him” = David realized his own weakness… couldn’t deliver Himself… cried out for the Lord to deliver him.

Note: v.17

Phrase: v.10 – “all my bones” = bones have a message – not just bones of David but the bones of Christ - Psalm 34:20.

Message in the Bones:

Psalm 34:20 = Messianic, prophetic in nature – spoke of David’s greater Son, the Lord Jesus… finds its fulfillment at Calvary.