1. David’s situation
V7. Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause
dug a pit for me,
v11-16
v11. Ruthless witnesses come forward;
they question me on things I know nothing about.
v12. They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn.
v13. Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself
with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
v14. I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed
my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.
v15. But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
attackers gathered against me when I was unaware.
They slandered me without ceasing.
v16. Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;
they gnashed their teeth at me.
V19-21
v19. Let not those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause;
let not those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.
v20. They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against
those who live quietly in the land.
v21. They gape at me and say, “Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we
have seen it.
David was suffering betrayal. He had served and helped them (v.13-14). He treated them as his friend or brother (v.14). But what did he get from those people. They repaid evil for good (v.12). They sought his life (v.4). They devised false accusations (v.20).
2. David’s response
Our usual response toward betrayal is to get revenge. But does it solve the problem? Look at David’s response.
David asked God to fight for him.
v1. Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against
those who fight against me.
David asked God to act according to His knowledge and truth.
V22. O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent. Do not be far from
me, O Lord.
David left vengeance for God to exercise in righteousness.
V24. Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God; do not let
them gloat over me.
3. When enemies become friends
Jesus also endured the same situation as David. Jesus entrusted his course to God.
I Peter 2:22,23
V22. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.
V23. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate;
when he suffered, he made no threads. Instead, he entrusted himself to
him who judges justly.
Why Jesus react this way? Look at I Peter 2:24,25
V24. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we
might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been
healed.
V25. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned
to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Jesus Christ has suffered for us to save our souls from dying because of our sins. He has made us friends of him.
Christ died for us when we were still his enemy.
Romans 5:6-8
V6. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless,
Christ died for the ungodly.
V7. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a
good man someone might possibly dare to die.
V8. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.
We are asked to follow Jesus’ example, to entrust our course to God. Vengeance is not ours.
“To this you were called,
because Christ suffered for you,
leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”
(I Peter 2:21)
