For the woman who needs to remember God is her protector.
TODAY’S READING: Psalm 35
MAJOR MOMENT: David cried out for God to protect him against those who betrayed him.
KEY VERSE: Psalm 35:18 I will give You thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise You.
At some point, we’ve all felt the sting of betrayal by someone we love. David did, too — and he let that sting drive him to cry out to God, who fights for us and will ultimately enact justice. Today we’ll dig into David’s prayer of thanksgiving to the God “who delights in the well-being of His servant” (Psalm 35:27).
In Psalm 35, David was under attack again — this time by men who sought to destroy him when he’d done nothing wrong. David’s prayer reveals these were people he’d cared about at one time, (vv. 13-14) making their betrayal even more heartbreaking.
Verses 1-3 are full of war language. Jot down the battle terms you notice. What was David asking God to be and do for him?
The first word in this psalm, “contend,” actually referred to legal matters in Hebrew (Psalm 35:1). By using this word, David reminds us God is not only our Advocate but also our Judge. David’s enemies were testifying falsely about him (Psalm 35:11; Psalm 35:20), but David didn’t just idly hope the truth would come out.
He prayed for God to bring justice, and in faith, he thanked God even when others might have been believing lies about him.
Just like Psalm 86, this dark psalm doesn’t seem like a prayer of thanksgiving. It certainly reflects real life, which is often a mix of happiness and heartbreak. Still, we can always thank God because thanksgiving is an act of worship not dependent on our circumstances. Often, our prayers might sound like David’s as we pour out our hearts while acknowledging what is true about God.
Think of a time when you experienced heartbreaking circumstances. How did thanksgiving change your perspective of the situation? Or how could thanksgiving change your perspective now, looking back?
In this psalm, we see David giving thanks for God’s heart for the poor, needy and weak. (vv. 9-10, 22-24) There are three instances of thanksgiving woven into David’s pleas for deliverance, his lament over his enemies’ hatred, and his petition for justice. These instances are tied to his body and soul, location, and time:
BODY AND SOUL
“My whole being” refers to wholehearted praise and joy.
- David’s bones and his very soul rejoiced at the Lord’s salvation. (vv. 9-10)
LOCATION
Once God saved David from his enemies, David promised to offer thanksgiving not only in private but in community, so others would come to know of God’s deliverance and have the opportunity to trust Him. (v. 18)
TIME
David also promised to thank God continually. David would not soon forget God’s deliverance. (v. 28)
Make a list of some ways you can thank God, your protector...
With your whole body and soul:
In community:
Continually:
Let’s look at verse 27. What was David hoping would happen?
Who would be glorified by this situation?
Even when others hate us, or just dislike us, “without cause” (vv. 7, 19), the Lord delights in our well-being, our happiness and our security. As you pray whispers of thanksgiving to God this week, you may also consider repeating the words of Psalm 91:2 (GNT):
You are my defender and protector. You are my God; in You I trust.
God does not forget His people, and He says all will be made right (Psalm 103:6; Jeremiah 9:24). God’s character is the foundation for giving thanks. David acknowledged that “Lord, You have seen this” (Psalm 35:22); God does not overlook or miss what is happening to us. David was so confident of this that he prayed others would join him in saying, “Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of His servant!” (Psalm 35:27, ESV). The word “welfare” means peace and completeness, especially in relationship with God.
David invites us to “shout for joy and gladness” (Psalm 35:27) because of God's great salvation.
Although we might feel powerless and voiceless, our hearts can rise up in prayers of thanksgiving because our God sees, cares for and defends us.
Even in betrayal, we can give thanks. We give thanks not for the betrayal but for God’s character, care and concern for us.
PRAYER PRACTICE
Think of a time when you were betrayed. Craft a prayer thanking God for His comfort during that time, and if applicable, for the result afterward.
PSALM 100
A psalm. For giving grateful praise.
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise His name.
5 For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.
~By Shelby Dixon and Sarah Frazer
Excerpted with permission from 30 Days of Prayer by Proverbs 31 Ministries, copyright Proverbs 31 Ministries, Inc.
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Your Turn
You may be walking through a mix of happiness and heartbreak today. You may be wrestling with betrayal by someone you once loved. Thank the Lord who is your defender and protector. Trust Him to comfort you and to bring justice as the right time and place. ~ Devotionals Daily