A sermon on Psalm 35 by Pastor Emeritus, Rev. Dr. Steve Froehlich.
Quotes:
First,… human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it. Secondly,… they do not in fact behave in that way.
– C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
We are a body knit together a common holy profession, by unity of discipline, and by the bond of a common hope. We meet together as an assembly and congregation, that, offering up prayer to God as with united force, we may wrestle with Him in our supplications. This strong exertion God delights in. We pray, too, for the emperors, for their ministers and for all in authority, for the welfare of the world, for the prevalence of peace, for the delay of the final consummation.
– Tertullian, The Apology
You do not have to believe in the Creator God to want to alleviate suffering.
– Andy Crouch, Playing God
It is true that sin is the cause of all this suffering, but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
-Julian of Norwich, 14th c.
Scripture Text: Psalm 35
1 Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me,
and fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take up the shield and buckler,
and stand up to help me.
3 Bring forth the spear and bar the way against those who pursue me;
say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
4 Let them be confounded and put to shame who seek after my life;
let them be turned back and brought to confusion who imagine evil against me.
5 Let them be as the chaff before the wind,
and let the angel of the Lord scatter them.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
and let the angel of the Lord pursue them.
7 For they have secretly laid their net to destroy me without a cause;
indeed, without a cause have they made a pit to take away my life.
8 Let sudden destruction come upon them unawares, and the net,
which they have laid secretly, catch themselves,
that they may fall into their own trouble.
9 Then shall my soul be joyful in the Lord;
I shall rejoice in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, “Lord, who is like you?
You deliver the poor from those who are too strong for them;
indeed, the poor and those who are in misery from those who rob them.”
11 Malicious witnesses rise up;
they charge me with matters I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good,
to the great sorrow of my soul.
13 Nevertheless, when they were sick, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting;
I prayed with my whole heart, as if it had been my friend or my brother.
14 I behaved myself as one who mourns for his mother;
I was bowed down with heaviness of heart.
15 But in my adversity, they rejoiced and gathered themselves together;
indeed, those who struck me came together against me, and I had no rest;
they tore at me, and would not cease.
16 When I stumbled they mocked me exceedingly,
and gnashed at me with their teeth.
17 Lord, how long will you look on this?
O deliver me from the calamities they bring upon me, and my life from the lions.
18 So will I give you thanks in the great congregation; I will praise you among many people.
19 O let not those who are my enemies triumph over me deceitfully;
neither let them wink with their eyes, those who hate me without a cause.
20 For their talking is not for peace,
but they imagine deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
21 They open their mouths at me, and say,
“Aha! Aha! We saw it with our own eyes!”
22 This you have seen, O Lord.
Hold not your tongue then; be not far from me, O Lord.
23 Awake, and stand up to judge my case;
avenge my cause, my God and my Lord.
24 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to your righteousness,
and let them not triumph over me.
25 Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha! We have what we want!”
Neither let them say, “We have devoured him.”
26 Let them be put to confusion and shame who rejoice at my trouble;
let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who boast against me.
27 Let them be glad and rejoice who favor my righteous cause;
indeed, let them say always, “Great is the Lord, who takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”
28 And as for my tongue, it shall be talking of your righteousness
and of your praise all the day long.
“Nevertheless” a sermon preached by Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. Steven D. Froehlich on Sunday, July 28, 2024 at New Life Presbyterian Church, 950 Danby Rd., Ithaca, NY. Join us for worship every Sunday at 10:00AM. Visit us at our website at www.newlifeithaca.org.
The intro and outro music is from “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” provided by Sandra McCracken and with her permission. Please visit her website at www.sandramccracken.com.
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