What is the meaning of Psalm 35:20? They do not speak peace • David identifies a group whose words are void of true reconciliation or goodwill. • Their tongues, like those described in Jeremiah 9:8—“Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceit”—offer friendly phrases while hiding hostility. • In Romans 3:17 Paul echoes, “The way of peace they have not known,” showing that this heart condition spans both Testaments. • The statement is literal: such people genuinely have no intention of promoting harmony; their speech is a weapon rather than a bridge. But they devise deceitful schemes • The contrast intensifies: silence isn’t the problem—premeditated treachery is. • Proverbs 6:14 speaks of one “who plots evil with deceit in his heart; he always stirs up dissension,” a clear parallel. • These schemes are not accidental. They are deliberate strategies meant to harm, much like the conspiracies against Daniel (Daniel 6:4–5) or Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6:2). • God sees such plotting, and Psalm 21:11 promises, “Though they devise evil against You… they cannot prevail.” Against those who live quietly • The targets are peaceful citizens, people who “mind their own business and work with their hands” (1 Thessalonians 4:11). • Isaiah 32:18 foretells, “My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation,” revealing God’s desire for His faithful to enjoy tranquility. • Yet, as in Psalm 120:6–7, believers often find themselves surrounded by hostility precisely because they pursue peace. • The verse reassures modern readers: suffering for righteousness is not new; God’s servants have long endured such opposition. In the land • “The land” roots the verse in real geography—Israel—but also carries covenant significance: God grants territory as a blessing (Genesis 17:8). • Hostility aimed at peaceful dwellers therefore challenges God’s order, attempting to unsettle what He established. • Psalm 37:3 advises, “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness,” affirming that remaining steadfast where God plants you is an act of faith. • The phrase hints at ultimate justice: those who misuse the land will answer to its Owner (Leviticus 25:23). summary Psalm 35:20 exposes enemies who mask malice with words while plotting harm against quiet, law-abiding believers in the very place God appointed for them. David’s complaint acknowledges genuine danger yet affirms that God sees every deceit. For today’s reader, the verse offers both realism—opposition to godliness persists—and reassurance: the Lord who gave the land and loves peace will vindicate His people and thwart the schemes of the wicked. |
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