Hated Without A Cause

“Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause. For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit. They open wide their mouths against me; they say, “Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!”” -Psalm 35:19–21

Being hated without a cause is in view here. This is the ordinary response of wicked men. So normal and consistent is this behavior among evildoers that Jesus saw this verse as describing his predestined lot rather than simply David’s unfortunate plight. As a matter of fact, he called it a law. “But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’” -John 15:25

These wicked men rejoice in deceptive tactics (those who wink the eye), in stirring up trouble that disrupts the peace and prosperity of the land, and in slandering those who live good peaceable lives.

One takeaway here is that followers of Christ should not be surprised when evil men slander us, demonize us, and find ought against us for our faith. 

Jesus told us it would be the case: “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” -Matthew 5:11

So did Paul: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” -2 Timothy 3:12

And Peter warned us not to get ourselves in trouble as sinners and criminals but if we suffer as a Christians, then we have nothing to be ashamed of. 

“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.” -1 Peter 4:14–16

Another takeaway here might be to question how much we just “go along” with the schemes and plans of the evildoers of the land to avoid persecution.