HE SHALL STAND AT THE RIGHT HAND

The accuser in a trial stood at the right hand of the accused; cf. v. 6 with Zech. 3. 1. David, to whom this psalm is ascribed, had been accused by a “lying tongue” with “words of hatred”, vv. 2, 3, and abused additionally with curses, vv. 1718. Among his adversaries, there was one who stood out in particular, vv. 6-19. Understandably, David was deeply wounded. He felt like a declining shadow at evening, like a detested locust shaken out of a garment. He was also the object of ridicule, vv. 22-26.

For practical purposes, Shimei might be considered as typical of David’s adversary, 2 Sam. 16. 5-8. He hurled accusations and invectives at David when the latter was fleeing from Jerusalem. Abishai asked to take off Shimei’s head, but David refused him, manifesting a meekness of spirit that was quite the reverse of the strong imprecations spoken at other times. Compare “so let him curse”, 2 Sam. 16. 10, with verse 28 of this psalm “Let them curse, but bless thou”. Balaam, hired by Balak to curse Israel, found it impossible, and had to admit “he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it”,Num. 23. 20. A curse pronounced upon God’s people is like the swallow which swoops but never lights upon them. We who are so richly blessed, Eph. 1. 3, must never forget that the Lord bore the curse for us, Gal. 3. 13.

The prayer for deliverance, vv. 21, 26, was motivated by the desire that deliverance should be seen to be by the hand of the Lord, v. 27. Our Lord was falsely accused by men but was exalted by God. Of Him it is said, “this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes”, Matt. 21. 42.

Should any of us pass through an experience like David’s, let us remember the Lord’s example: He “committed himself to him that judgeth righteously”, 1 Pet. 2. 23.

David ends with confidence and with his mouth full of praise, vv. 30-31. Jehovah, his Advocate, was at his right hand to defend him against the accusation of his adversary, as He defended Joshua the high priest in Zechariah 3. 1-5 referred to at the beginning.

“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? it is God that justifieth”, Rom. 8. 33.