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Day 280

Psalm 35:20 "They device deceitful matters..."

Day 280 – Psalm 35

“They device deceitful matters…” Psalm 35:20

ANOTHER GLIMPSE OF THE WICKED AND THEIR ACTIVITIES

David presented another picture of the wicked and their activities to the Lord in prayer. This was done with hope that God would rescue him swiftly.

“Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies;
Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.
For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful matters
Against the quiet ones in the land.
They also opened their mouth wide against me,
And said, ‘Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it.’ ”
Psalm 35:19-21

1. Presentation of a list of wicked activities

a) They make themselves the enemies of David (for all the wrong reasons).
b) They hate without a cause.
c) They do not speak peace (for they had plans to kill).
d) They devise deceitful matters against the quiet ones in the land.
i) These are the righteous ones.
ii) These are the meek ones.
iii) They will not resort to violence and are thus easy victims.
iv) The wicked opened up their mouth to speak against the righteous (David as an example).
v) They are ever watching for mistakes made and would not hesitate to seize whatever weaknesses exhibited to accuse David.

2. Protection from the Lord

a) “Let them not rejoice over me”
This is a plea for protection and deliverance ultimately.
b) “Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause”
This is a reference to the conspiracy of his enemies and betrayers. They had their own secret codes of communication that included “knowing winks”.

A prayer for protection from the wiles of enemies is a sane thing to do.