^{7 “}I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me.
    I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me.
⁸ So let sudden ruin come upon them!
    Let them be caught in the trap they set for me!
    Let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me.”

Psalm 35:7-8, NLT

Innocence is often like a magnet– it attracts both good, and bad. I can only believe that David’s enemies are profoundly frustrated. It seems as David would navigate every trap and snare set to catch him. It was more than a “knack” for survival. It was his faith in a God who protects, loves, and shields.

That faith is remarkable. Sometimes, I catch myself wondering how it can endure such wickedness. But God preserves each one of His. The baby Jesus faced a complexity of hidden snares. Each time God brought Him through. And the deliverance always came at the right time.

 ^”After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” (Matthew 2:13)

Commentary

V. 7, ^“I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me.
    I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me.”

Maybe I’m reading into this verse, but I really believe that David is incredulous by their actions. He is simply amazed at his persecutor’s hatred. The phrase that is most significant is “I did them no wrong, but they…” Some people use a mousetrap to kill their mice. David is no mouse, but they are setting traps to destroy him.

My first drive-in movie was in 1967. They were showing “Swiss Family Robinson” on the big screen.  It was about a family of colonists that find themselves on a deserted island. By the time they are well situated, fanatical pirates show up. They planned on this, and set-up a lot of “booby traps.” One of them involves a deeply dug pit, covered with branches. Oh, and to make things more interesting, at the bottom  of the pit, was a fierce tiger. (I loved this movie!)

Pits are being dug deep. Efficient traps are being set. And David is impeccable. He has not done a thing to attract such hostility and hatred.

V. 8, “So let sudden ruin come upon them!
    Let them be caught in the trap they set for me!
    Let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me.”

Keep in mind, this is David’s plea and prayer to God. Perhaps the key word in this verse is “them.” David knows that God knows who are “them.” I’ve been in many sticky situations, and I didn’t know who my ‘enemies’ were. I had no idea what ambushes were being made. Years later, I can see them now. But at the time I never saw them coming.

David is praying for a wonderful reversal to happen. The very things that were intended to destroy him would destroy “them.” This really requires an act of God to make it happen.

ybic, Bryan

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