Psalms 35:20

"Don’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes."

Key Reflection

In first-century Israel, Psalm 35:20 spoke to a society where reputation and public opinion could be critical for survival and influence. The psalmist calls upon God not only to prevent his enemies from falsely celebrating his misfortunes but also to ensure that those who maliciously gloat over him are thwarted in their attempts to deceive others through subtle, deceitful actions. This verse reflects the common fear of social ostracism and the importance of maintaining a good reputation in a tight-knit community where public opinion could impact one’s standing significantly.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

For they speak not peace -They seek a quarrel. They are unwilling to be on good terms with others, or to live in peace with them. The idea is that they were “disposed” or “inclined” to quarrel. Thus we speak now of persons who are “quarrelsome. They devise deceitful matters -literally, “they think of words of deceit.” That is, they set their hearts on misrepresentation, and they study such misrepresentations as occasions for strife with others. They falsely represent my character; they attribute conduct to me of which I am not guilty; they pervert my words; they state that to be true which never occurred, and thus they attempt to justify their own conduct.

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