A Poet Warrior

Meditations on the Psalms

August 22, 2022

A Poet Warrior

 

O Lord, oppose those who oppose me.

Fight those who fight against me.

Put on your armor, and take up your shield.

Prepare for battle, and come to my aid.

Psalm 35:1-2

King David was an interesting dichotomy: a poet and a warrior. His skills as a poet began to develop during his solitude as a shepherd. His skills as a warrior were thrust upon him, first when he confronted Goliath and later when he was pursued by King Saul. The imagery of battle is intertwined in many of his psalms.

Psalm 35 draws out our empathy and for many, painful memories. We experience empathy because we have known people who were betrayed. Trusted friendships were broken. Those who had been loyal supporters were now conspiring in opposition. While our usual expectations for such turnabouts are in the world of politics, regrettably they are quite common in families, friendships, and even church as well.

Psalm 35 invokes painful memories for the many who have been betrayed through divorce, failed business ventures, or other relationships. The psalmist presents a good pattern for processing our empathy and painful memories: talk to God. Honestly express the depth of our feelings. Trust God. The psalmist pleads for God to avenge; he does not take responsibility for meting out his own justice.

However, the psalmist is writing from the perspective of a poet-warrior living under the Old Covenant. We are living under the redemptive grace of the New Covenant. Therefore, after we have vented to God, we turn to scripture and seek the proper course for the followers of Jesus.

My Takeaway: The Sermon on the Mount is a good place to start:

“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!  In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:44-45a 

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.