Psalms 35:4

Psalms 35:4-6 says, “Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.” These verses in Psalms 35 go into more detail about why the Christian does not need to seek revenge on those that persecute them. Not seeking revenge however does not mean letting people walk all over you.

Some of the worst forms of persecution come from the governments of this world. Regarding government and the issue of authority Jesus said in Mark 12:17, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Romans 3:1-3 says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.”

The reason that the greatest forms of persecution against the Christian often comes from the governments of this world is explained in Isaiah 27:1 which says of the devil, “the dragon that is in the sea.” We see consistently in history men like Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, and the Caesars of Rome, calling themselves gods and demanding that men worship them or die. They are examples of men who have given themselves over to the devil. These are examples of Anti-Christ’s. The devil wants to be God. Therefore he opposes the one true living God, Jesus Christ. The devil is the, ‘antichrist.” He is the dragon in the midst of the sea that often is found among the seats of power in this world attempting to tempt such men and gain control and influence over the governments of this world so that he can oppose God by persecuting the believers and attacking the Bible.

We know that God loves freedom because He gave man a free will. Proverbs 30:19 says God loves, “the way of an eagle in the air.” The great theme of the Bible is the theme of redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ. To be redeemed means to be made free from slavery.

This is why we know that we live in the last days. The devil loves slavery. When men are brought into the bondage of slavery, like that which the children of Israel suffered for 400 years in Egypt or that which black Americans suffered for 200 years, and like that which many in the world suffer today, such a circumstance is a government attempting to dominate men and to keep them from hearing the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the devil’s work. The work of Christ is the work of redemption.

Sometimes God raises up men like George Washington or Abraham Lincoln to resist the powers that be and to fight for the freedom of men. It is the duty of the Christian to stand for freedom because God loves freedom. It is not wrong to stand against governments that oppose freedom. Because the opposition to freedom is the work of the devil and slavery of any kind is against the teachings of the Bible.

As a Christian when it comes to such situations it really becomes a question of what God’s will is for you. Sometimes God wants us to rise up against the forces of tyranny and to fight for freedom. And sometimes Christ wants us to suffer under the subjection of tyrannical governments and even die for the sake of the Gospel. When you find yourself in such a situation with a government be sure you follow the Lord’s leading. Either way a Christian should never compromise on the truth of the Word of God.

Psalms 35:4-6 says, “Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.” The key phrase to notice here is “let the Angel of the LORD.” Remember in the previous verses we were told that Jesus will: plead, strive, and fight against those that fight against us.

Second Thessalonians 2:7 says, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” Even though God has given man a free will it is still God who is in control. It is God that lets or does not let happen. In Psalms 35 we are going to see the word “let” used 12 times. And it is used in reference to what God is going to allow to happen to those who turn away from the truth and persecute the Christians. Psalms 35, Verse 4: “Let them be confounded…”, Verse 5: “Let them be as chaff before the wind: and Let the angel of the LORD chase them.” Verse 6: “Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.” Verse 8: “Let destruction come upon him at unawares, and let his net that he hath hid catch himself:…” Verse 19: “Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.” Verse 25: “Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.” Verse 26: “Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify themselves against me.” Verse 27: “Let them shout for joy, and be glad that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified,...”

These things will happen because the Angel of the LORD will chase them and persecute them. Jesus is the one who pleads, strives, and fights for us against the evil forces of this world and against those that cast their nets to lay snares on the souls of men. Jesus of Nazareth is the one who gives redemption unto men that trust in His promises and the forgiveness that is found in his blood.

God loves freedom. Freedom is an opportunity and privilege from God to be used to choose righteousness. When a nation loses its freedom it is often a judgment from God because that nation has turned away from the truth, turned away from God, and turned away from the redemption that Christ offers. No one understands freedom better than the believer in Jesus Christ because the believer in Jesus Christ has been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

As stated in the Pledged of Allegiance, America was one a nation founded under the principle of “One Nation under God.” And as stated in the Declaration of Independence “..life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Perhaps that is why the founders of the country of America chose the eagle to represent them. God loves the way of an eagle in the air.

Sadly America has not been vigilant. Those who should have taught the word of God did not. Those who should have stood for freedom did not. There may be no better verses to describe America today than those found in the book of Revelation which says in Revelation 18:2, “the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”

One of the greatest characteristics of Babylon as described in the book of Revelation is when it says in Chapter 18, “the kings of the earth committed fornication with her” and her merchandise is of “slaves, and souls of men.”

When men have lost their freedom and they do not know that they have how blind they are indeed. When a country that should have stood for freedom and the Bible is run by dictators and those who are demon possessed it is because those who had freedom gave up their freedom when they turned away from the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and so God gave them over.

If there is anything that characterizes the country of America today it is the persecution against the Christian and the slavery which exists. The end result of those however who abuse the free will that God has given them by resisting righteousness and truth and who persecute God’s children is given for us in Psalms 35:5-6 which says, “Let the angel of the LORD chase them.” “Let the angel of the LORD persecute them.”

There is only one true living God, Jesus Christ of Nazareth born of the Jews, who died for the sins of the world, and rose again. It is Jesus who pleads, strives and fights. If you do not have Jesus who do you have that can “plead”, “strive”, and “fight” for you against all the evil of this world? There is redemption; it is found through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 9:15 says, “And for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redeption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

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