Psa 35:13 | KingComments | STEP | There is no mention of violence in these verses, the second section of this psalm. They are a long complaint dealing with slander, ingratitude, ridicule and hatred. There is no ground for all these forms of enmity. That makes it all unbearable for David. What David says in these verses happened to the Lord Jesus. Malicious witnesses rose up against Him to bring up something on the basis of which His enemies might condemn Him ( ; ). And this while He has done nothing evil. On the contrary, He has done only good and nothing else. David says here “that I do not know”. The Lord Jesus did not say that. He can say, “But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?” ( ). He is fully aware that He has done only and nothing but the will of God. How badly did the enemies of the Lord Jesus repay Him evil for good ( ). They have wanted to rob Him of life. He, Who “went about doing good and healing” ( ), has been portrayed as an evildoer to get Him condemned ( ). And how was David in the midst of his people? He has participated in their suffering in a way that is truly compassionate ( ; cf. ). He did not inquire superficially, with a polite question such as we often ask, in terms of ‘how are you?’ He has outwardly fully and inwardly deeply cared about their suffering and has shown this. He has prayed for them time and again. His sorrow is sincere and deeply felt, as if it were his friend or brother or someone grieving for his mother ( ). But what did those for whom David had been so good do when he was struggling and stumbling through life ( )? They gathered around him, not to help him, but to laugh at him. That is also what the enemies of the Lord Jesus did to Him ( ; ). They repaid Him hatred for His love. The people who, when David was in distress, so gathered around him to mock him, were “smiters”. David didn’t know them. “They slandered” or “they tore” him, that is, his reputation, to pieces with their slanders. They did it “without ceasing”. David’s enemies did not know when to quit, they just went on and on. David also knows how they behave when they are among themselves, in their own circle ( ). It is a company of “godless jesters at a feast”. The Hebrew word has the meaning of people who for the sake of a small reward (a cookie) are willing to mock others. Perhaps we can think of people who sat at Saul’s table and told Saul lies about him ( ). These jesters did this to be in Saul’s good graces and to take advantage of him as much as possible ( ). Therefore, they “gnashed … with their teeth” at him, which means they were plotting evil ( ). They were out to gain. That did not come because David always escaped their hands.

‏ Psalms 35:13

Evil Repaid for Good

There is no mention of violence in these verses, the second section of this psalm. They are a long complaint dealing with slander, ingratitude, ridicule and hatred. There is no ground for all these forms of enmity. That makes it all unbearable for David. What David says in these verses happened to the Lord Jesus. Malicious witnesses rose up against Him to bring up something on the basis of which His enemies might condemn Him (Psa 35:11; Mt 26:59-60). And this while He has done nothing evil. On the contrary, He has done only good and nothing else.

David says here “that I do not know”. The Lord Jesus did not say that. He can say, “But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?” (Jn 8:45-46). He is fully aware that He has done only and nothing but the will of God.

How badly did the enemies of the Lord Jesus repay Him evil for good (Psa 35:12). They have wanted to rob Him of life. He, Who “went about doing good and healing” (Acts 10:38), has been portrayed as an evildoer to get Him condemned (Lk 23:1-2 ; 5 ; 10).

And how was David in the midst of his people? He has participated in their suffering in a way that is truly compassionate (Psa 35:13; cf. Mt 8:16-17). He did not inquire superficially, with a polite question such as we often ask, in terms of ‘how are you?’ He has outwardly fully and inwardly deeply cared about their suffering and has shown this. He has prayed for them time and again. His sorrow is sincere and deeply felt, as if it were his friend or brother or someone grieving for his mother (Psa 35:14).

But what did those for whom David had been so good do when he was struggling and stumbling through life (Psa 35:15)? They gathered around him, not to help him, but to laugh at him. That is also what the enemies of the Lord Jesus did to Him (Mt 27:27; Lk 23:1). They repaid Him hatred for His love.

The people who, when David was in distress, so gathered around him to mock him, were “smiters”. David didn’t know them. “They slandered” or “they tore” him, that is, his reputation, to pieces with their slanders. They did it “without ceasing”. David’s enemies did not know when to quit, they just went on and on.

David also knows how they behave when they are among themselves, in their own circle (Psa 35:16). It is a company of “godless jesters at a feast”. The Hebrew word has the meaning of people who for the sake of a small reward (a cookie) are willing to mock others.

Perhaps we can think of people who sat at Saul’s table and told Saul lies about him (1Sam 24:10). These jesters did this to be in Saul’s good graces and to take advantage of him as much as possible (1Sam 22:7). Therefore, they “gnashed … with their teeth” at him, which means they were plotting evil (Psa 37:12). They were out to gain. That did not come because David always escaped their hands.