RR Psalm 35:11,12 Part 7

Shalom {{firstName}},

Psalm 35:11 Violent witnesses rise up. They question me about things I know nothing about. 12 They repay me evil for good—my soul is forlorn.

The Hebrew word translated as “violent” is Chamas (Chet-Mem-Samech). Yes, this is the same sounding word as the political/military rulers (prayerfully not for long) of Gaza.  That same geographical area was a Philistine stronghold in King David’s time and even before.  It is that same “anti-Hebrew principality that is causing mayhem in the Middle East today.  

What does Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance have to say about this word, Hamas, that is used 60 times in the Hebrew Scriptures (mostly in the Psalms)?  The following translations are offered, “cruelty, damage, false, injustice, oppressor, unrighteous, violence against….”  Please pray that these “witnesses of injustice” will be defeated, and that the hostages (both living and deceased) will be released from captivity.  

In the Hebrew, there is a play on words between the last word of verse 11 and the first word of verse 12.  Verse 11 ends with “they question me” (Yish’a’lu’ni) while verse 12 begins with “they repay me” (Yish’al’mu’ni).  There is one letter difference in these sound-alike words.  A question is a “Sh’ay’lah,” while a payment is a “Sh’lay’ma.”  A question is an inquiry, sometimes translated as a “prayer.”  

Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem—“May those who love you be at peace!

Asking the Lord (through prayer) to bring shalom to Jerusalem is exactly the opposite of the violent witnesses who repay evil for good.  This idea of those who “repay evil for good” will appear in several other Psalms.  Jeremiah has had enough of it…. Jeremiah 18:20 Will good be repaid for evil? For they dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before You to speak good on their behalf, to turn Your wrath from them.

However; not so with us, who follow Yeshua.  Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45a so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

The Psalmist is going to go into much detail about his terrible situation before calling upon God in verse 22 to speak deliverance and be close, but it may be a few days before we get there.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu4-Sep-202511th of Elul, 5785
De 23:24[25]-24:4Amos 6-72 Ch 10Heb 10 (Ac 5)

Rabbi H Michael Weiner

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