Psalm 123:1-2.
My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Psalm 35. Verses 11-12 drew me into communion with the Holy Ghost:
Psalms 35:11 ¶ False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
Psalms 35:12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
Have you ever been shocked at an accusation laid against you? David was accused of things that he could not even figure out what they were talking about. Usually, even if we were misunderstood, we can at least own responsibility for the action that offended them. Sometimes, however, there is no accounting for what someone gets worked up into their head.
Sometimes the answer is that the witnesses are themselves false. The word false translates חָמָ֑ס (Khaw-mawce’), which includes the idea of cruel intent. In other words, the word false here is descriptive of the person making the unjust accusation, and not a description of the accusation. The person making the accusation is false, without regard to the merit of the accusation.
What made this particularly painful for David was the discovery of falseness in those he considered friends, people to whom he had done much good, cared for, people for whom he wept, and prayed and mourned with them in their grief:
Psalms 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
Psalms 35:14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
Along the still waters, I reflected on this, identifying in a personal way with David’s sorrow. Pastors know what I’m talking about, but so do parents, or anyone who has felt betrayal. One of the most painful experiences in life is the discovery that someone close to you turns out to be false, willing to turn on you and falsely accuse you to serve some personal agenda.
In the valley, my heart on its knees in the shadow of His Cross, I read Psalm 35:17-18:
Psalms 35:17 ¶ Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
Psalms 35:18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
When I read “rescue (deliver) … my darling from the lions,” followed by “I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people,” the Spirit reminded me of Jesus’ cry from His Cross:
Psalms 22:20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
Psalms 22:21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
Psalms 22:22 ¶ I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
David moved from protest to praise in words that anticipated the glorious day our LORD, the “son of David,” Son of GOD, would fulfill the prophecy uttered by David in his heartache. Remember that these Old Testament saints lived in the shadows of the Cross. We live on the other side, walking in its full light!
The Spirit spoke Galatians 2:20 to my heart: “I am crucified with Christ.” Jesus bid me join Him there: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). His Cross was my turning point from the path to hell, to the promise of Heaven. And it is also my turning point from despair and heartache to joy and soul healing. It is my daily turning point, determining the direction my feet will walk in the course of each day. The Cross is my turning point from protest to praise!
At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy ran to catch up to us as we walked together into His harvest.
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap:
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