Of David.
Psalm 35: 1-3, Contend!
Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me.
Take up shield and buckler;
arise and come to my aid.
Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me.
Say to my soul, "I am your salvation."
David's traditional requests begin with "(1) Stand for me, God...." In this case the metaphors are those of a soldier at war but the initial word "contend" is a legal term, as if in a courtroom (say both commentators Alter and Kidner.)
The word translation "javelin", in verse 3, is an attempt to translate an unknown Hebrew word that may be closer to the hilt or shaft of a sword.
Psalm 35: 4-8, May they fall into the pit they dug
May those who seek my life
be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin
be turned back in dismay.
May they be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the LORD driving them away;
may their path be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
Since they hid their net for me without cause
and without cause dug a pit for me,
may ruin overtake them by surprise--
may the net they hid entangle them,
may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
David's requests typically continue with "...(2) and defeat my enemies!"
There are only two places in the psalms where the "angel" (messenger) of the LORD is mentioned; they are here and in Psalm 34. It is likely that this psalm is a sequel to Psalm 34, elaborating on the same themes as appearing in that shorter psalm.
Note in verse 5, the ascending parallelism, as the chaff is not just driven by the wind but by God's angel; as the path is not just dark and slippery but is run with God's angel in pursuit. The last verse is an ascending line of three parts,
"may ruin overtake them... may the net entangle them ... may they fall... to their ruin!"
Psalm 35: 9-10, Then! I will rejoice!
Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.
My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you, O LORD?
You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,
the poor and needy from those who rob them."
David is never afraid to say, "If you save me, then I will praise you" or "Please protect me and then I can rejoice in you!" There is a hint of negotiation, as if God benefits from David's praise. I like David's transparency in the psalms and I certainly sympathize.
David is always concerned about justice, about the poor and needy.
Psalm 35: 11-14, Unjust betrayal
Ruthless witnesses come forward;
they question me on things I know nothing about.
They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn.
Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.
David's enemies have betrayed him, gossiping about him, attacking him behind his back, yet David's actions have been pure -- when his enemies were sick, he prayed for them and fasted, mourned for them.
David describes the bitterness of betrayal; his care for them and their repayment of that kindness. It is not just their attack that stings, but their betrayal.
Psalm 35: 15-16, Gathered in glee
But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
attackers gathered against me when I was unaware.
They slandered me without ceasing.
Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;
they gnashed their teeth at me.
David's lament now swings back to detail the maliciousness of his enemies and the depth of their betrayal.
O Lord, how long will you look on?
Rescue my life from their ravages,
my precious life from these lions.
I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
among throngs of people I will praise you.
Let not those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause;
let not those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.
They do not speak peaceably,
but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.
They gape at me and say, "Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it."
The psalm oscillates between focusing on God and focusing on David's bitterness: "I call on You God to protect me from them ... oh, and let me tell You what they have done!"
Those of us who have been betrayed by a friend, must sympathize. Even as David focuses on God and calls out for help, his thoughts are distracted again by memories of what these people have done.
O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent.
Do not be far from me, O Lord.
Awake, and rise to my defense!
Contend for me, my God and Lord.
Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God;
do not let them gloat over me.
Do not let them think, "Aha, just what we wanted!" or say,"We have swallowed him up."
May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.
May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, "The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant."
Verse 21 ends with David's enemies swearing, "We have seen it!" but in verse 22 David echoes this statement, confident that God has indeed seen what really happened and will act in David's defense. David continues his plea with more calls for divine intervention, before turning to a brief conclusion and personal commitment.
Psalm 35: 28, All day long
My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.
David has wandered in grief and despair, asking why God has not answered him. Yet he continues to give thanks and praise.
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