RR Psalms Psalm 35:26,27 Part 15

Shalom,

Psalm 35:26 May they be ashamed and humiliated, those who rejoice over my misery. May they who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace. 27 May they shout for joy and be glad, those who delight in my righteous cause. May they always say: “Exalted be Adonai, who delights in the shalom of His servant.”

Four times in these two verses the Psalmist continues to express his thoughts by saying, “May they….”  In verse 26, both “May they” thoughts are directed toward those who oppose him.  Then in verse 27, there is a change of direction, and both “May they” thoughts are directed to those who support and love him.

Together, in verse 26, “May they… be ashamed and humiliated” and then, “May they” be at one with those who are, “clothed with shame and disgrace.”  This last thought is a pun in the Hebrew.  “Yil’b’shu Boshet,” meaning “may they be clothed with shame,” uses two similar, but distinctly different words.

The connotation of “shame” is to have your blessing delayed, so that you have to wait a long time for it.  In this way, “the opposer,” Satan, tries to use shame against those of us who love the Lord.  Have you ever noticed, while studying Scripture, the emphasis on waiting?  Satan is hoping you’ll grow tired of waiting and give up on God.  

Galatians 6:9 So let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we don’t give up.  

Then, in verse 27, there is a sudden turn-around.  “Yar’o’nu V’Yis’m’chu” means “May ‘yu’n’zez’ shout for joy and be glad” (NHT - New Hillbilly Translation).  Instantly, almost from out of nowhere, there is encouragement for those who are in agreement with our stand for God.  

When we align ourselves with God and His purposes, we sometimes feel like we have voluntarily painted a target on our own backs.  However; God promises much more… one day we will all shout for joy at the victory of His Son, Yeshua… the nations (all the other peoples of the earth) together with God’s covenant people, Am Yisrael….  

(This is the last verse of Moses’ summary prayer (Deuteronomy 32) as he recaps the 40 years of wandering in the desert.  Sounds similar to our reading for today from Psalm 35, doesn’t it.

Deuteronomy 32:43 “Make His people rejoice, O nations, for He will avenge the blood of His servants. He will return vengeance on His foes, and atone for the land of His people.”

Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue16 Sep 202523rd of Elul, 5785
De 29:16-29 [15-28]Hab 1-22 Ch 20Rev 5(Ac 13:26-52)

Rabbi H Michael Weiner

Recent

Archive

 2025

Categories

Tags