Have you ever loved someone like family, only to be betrayed? Or have you ever prayed for someone who was falling, and when you fell, they cheered you on? This kind of pain is not only emotionally wrenching, but also shakes our faith. Why would the good we have done be repaid with hurt? Psalm 35 brings us into the psalmist's feelings of facing this kind of injustice, where sincere prayers and love are met with betrayal.

This psalm begins with the cry, "fight against those who fight against me" (verse 1). The imagery used displays an atmosphere of warfare. Words like, shield, javelin, and heavenly host further emphasize the nuance. This is not because the psalmist likes violence, but because his life feels like a battlefield. Interestingly, the enemies in question are not foreign nations, but people who were once close, even like family. They are not just opponents, but traitors. His plea was not merely for the enemy to be destroyed, but for God to act as an advocate for the unjustly oppressed. He pleads not for revenge, but for restoration.

In verse 7, the psalmist affirms that these attacks are unprovoked, "without cause they cast a net against me." This is not mere conflict, but rather suffering from slander and arbitrary behavior. But in the midst of it, there was one strength: hope in God's justice. He believes that God saves the "miserable people from the hands of the stronger people." Psychologically, this is a form of resilience mechanism, a person can still survive because he has faith in a power that is just and greater than the injuries he has experienced.

The most poignant part is located in verse 11 & 14. The psalmist opens up memories of when he used to pray and fast for these people when they were sick. He not only loved them, he grieved for them as if he had lost a sibling. But in return? They repaid me with evil. This is where we are faced with the darkest irony in human relationships. The psalmist reminds us not to stop at the hurt, but rather invites us to see that God is the defender of those who continue to choose the path of love in the midst of betrayal. Victory in faith is not when we retaliate, but when we entrust our wounds to God and do not become like those who hurt. For, sincere love is never in vain.