Psalms 35
Psalm 35 is a psalm of supplication in which David seeks help from God when he is unjustly persecuted. The entire psalm can be divided into three parts. Verses 1-10 describe David earnestly requesting deliverance from God against the enemies who trouble him. In verses 11-18, the situation is depicted in which he is slandered and attacked without cause, and he is betrayed. In verses 19-28, God’s justice is ultimately revealed, and David pledges to give thanks for God’s response.
1verseBy David. Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.
2verseTake hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.
3verseBrandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, “I am your salvation.”
4verseLet those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.
5verseLet them be as chaff before the wind, the LORD’s angel driving them on.
6verseLet their way be dark and slippery, the LORD’s angel pursuing them.
7verseFor without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.
8verseLet destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction.
9verseMy soul shall be joyful in the LORD. It shall rejoice in his salvation.
10verseAll my bones shall say, “LORD, who is like you, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?”
11verseUnrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about.
12verseThey reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.
13verseBut as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.
14verseI behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.
15verseBut in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn’t know it. They tore at me, and didn’t cease.
16verseLike the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.
17verseLord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.
18verseI will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people.
19verseDon’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes.
20verseFor they don’t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
21verseYes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, “Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!”
22verseYou have seen it, LORD. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me.
23verseWake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me!
24verseVindicate me, LORD my God, according to your righteousness. Don’t let them gloat over me.
25verseDon’t let them say in their heart, “Aha! That’s the way we want it!” Don’t let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”
26verseLet them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me.
27verseLet those who favor my righteous cause shout for joy and be glad. Yes, let them say continually, “May the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!”
28verseMy tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.
Main Content and Message
- Prayer in the Midst of Unjust Suffering: When he is subjected to wrongful attacks and accusations, David appeals to his innocence and asks for help, relying solely on God’s justice.
- Trust in God’s Judgment: He does not defend himself, and he trusts that those who do injustice will be destroyed by their own actions and that God’s judgment will ultimately come.
- A Pledge of Gratitude: Once the situation is resolved, the psalm concludes with David’s decision to praise God and give thanks.
Points to Ponder
- In my unjust circumstances, how am I expressing my feelings and my sense of injustice?
- What can I learn from David’s attitude of praying—entrusting the matter to God instead of fighting his enemies?
- How can I apply David’s example of not forgetting gratitude and praise even in suffering to my own life?
Try Applying It to Yourself
- Even when I am struggling or being misunderstood, I can build an attitude of trusting in God’s justice and placing wrongdoing in God’s hands.
- Learn to pray honestly, without hiding your sense of injustice, and lay it before God.
- Let us inscribe it in our hearts so that, even after the problem is resolved, an attitude of faith that never forgets gratitude and praise becomes the purpose of my life today.
