Let us continue our study of Psalm 35.  It was probably written during the trying days David had with Saul.  There are three scenes in this Psalm each ending with a doxology of praise.  We have looked at a ‘Battlefield Scene’ in verses 1-10. Now let us look this week at a ‘Courtroom Scene’ in verses 11-18.  Have your precious Bible in hand and we will walk down through this sweet text and unpack some nuggets of truth for us to delight in together.

In verses 11-12 I find ‘A Courtroom Declaration’.  It is like the opening statement of a trial lawyer.  David is laying out his case before the judge of all creation.  In verse 11 David speaks of false witnesses who rise up and speak things against him that he knows nothing about.  This is a tool that God has ordained on numerous occasions even in the death of His Son.  Why would our Lord do such?  That we may learn that all things work together for good.  It is well when our hands are so clean and our hearts so pure that we are confident that what is being said of us is truly false.  In verse 12 David declares that they gave him “…evil for good…” to the point that it stripped his soul of all eternal comforts.

In verses 13-14 David shares with us ‘A Courtroom Defense’.  David said that when he saw his enemy Saul sick his heart went out in sympathy to him.  He humbled himself before the Lord with sackcloth of repentance and fasting in Saul’s behalf.  David said his prayer seemed to return back to his own bosom.  Let us remember prayer is never a wasted activity. If it accomplishes nothing on its outward target it may bless the one who sent it beyond measure.  In verse 14 David continues his defense when he tells us he dealt with Saul as if he was the closest of family.  He bowed to his every need.  David played his harp on many occasions when the demons of hell were so after Saul’s peace.  David said I was touched in sympathy for him, as one would mourn for his mother.  The greatest loss a person can often encounter is the death of their mother.  David said that he had those similar feelings for the spiritual needs of Saul.

In verses 15-16 David shares with us ‘A Courtroom Desecration’.  David said that his enemies rejoiced at his down fall.  They gathered around him like vultures around a dying prey.  He said it was all done behind his back and that he was unaware of their evil plots.  They came like a pack of wild animals to tear apart his character.  Let us be assured that our God is the director of all that happens even to the attack upon our character.  We see this in the life of David as well as in the life of a greater than David, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Why would our God ordain such an attack upon His people?  If for no other reason than to be able to see that they meant it for evil but God will mean it for good.  He can masterfully bring glory out of gloom, light out of darkness, good out of bad, and inspiration out of insanity.  David sees them as hypocritical mockers at a feast.  These were those hired at a feast as buffoons of entertainment.

In verses 17-18 we find ‘A Courtroom Delight’.  In verse 17 David cries with anticipation and expectation of the deliverance by the Lord.  The Lord’s darling David would be delivered from the mouth of the lion.  He begins in verse 18 to give ‘…thanks…’ and ‘…praise…’ before a great congregation of much people when such deliverance comes to pass.  Most men publish their grief.  Good men proclaim their mercies.  Let us not be numbered with those who write their burdens in cement and their blessings in sand.  If we are, let us be assured we can anticipate little or nothing for which to praise Him for.