the Third Week after Easter
Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 3 of 5
Psalms 35:1-16
The Angel of the LORD who "encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them" (Psalms 34:7) is here called upon to chase and to pursue the enemies of the righteous (vv. 5, 6). "After a time of patience and of tireless grace, grace maintained without result, instead of avenging themselves, the remnant will rely upon God to obtain deliverance" (JND). This deliverance of Jewish believers will be accompanied without fail by the judgment of the wicked. So far as Christians are concerned, we know that their deliverance will not be accomplished by the destruction of the unjust, but by they themselves being taken up to meet the Lord! Christians and unconverted people will not always remain together. When the Lord comes on the cloud, the former will be taken from the earth, and the others will be left there for the terrible "hour of temptation" (Revelation 3:10). On the other hand, when the Lord appears in glory, the believers of that time will be left on the earth for the glorious reign, whilst the wicked will be taken away (Luke 17:34-36).
What ingratitude is shown by the natural man! David speaks of it from experience, having so often suffered from it (vv. 12-15). But Christ knew and felt this ingratitude so much more deeply. "They have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love" (v. 12; Psalms 109:5).
