V1 O g 1-3. Appeal for help.
h 4-8. Impression.
i 9,10. Praise.
P 11. Evildoers. Words.
Q 12. Their evil for good.
R 13. His good for evil.
R 14. His good for evil.
Q 15. Their evil for good.
P 16. Evildoers. Words.
O g 17,18. Appeal for help.
h 19-26. Deprecation.
i 27,28. Praise.
g k1 1-. Defensive.
l1 -1. Offensive.
k2 2. Defensive.
l2 3- Offensive.
k3 -3. Defensive.
Psalm 35)
1 Contend (or strive) my cause (Fig. in the words "plead", "fight", "take hold", "stand up", draw out", "stop", "say", &c.; continued in vv.4,5. Psalm probably written during and concerning the times of 2 Sam. 21-24,26, and 27, but it relates also to David's Son and David's Lord, the Messiah, in view of Ps. 22. Cp. especially vv.15-21 with Matt. 26:67. Mark 14:65. Luke 22:63.), O LORD, with my contenders:
Make war against them that fight against me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler,
And stand up for my help.
3 Draw out also the spear, and close up the way against them that pursue me:
Say to me, "I am you salvation."
4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul:
Let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind:
And let the angel of the LORD (see 34:7) chase them.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery:
And let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
7 For without cause (see v.19) have they hid for me their net in a pit, (i.e. a pit covered with a net.)
Which without cause they have dug for my soul.
8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares;
Into that very destruction let him fall.
9 And I shall be joyful in the LORD:
It shall rejoice in His salvation.
10 All the members (the application belongs to [1] to the O.T. saints [139:13-16], and [2] to the later members referred to in Eph. 1:22,23; 2:21; 4:4-16. note the experiences: 6:2 [vexed];22:14 [out of joint]; but "not broken" [34:20. John 19:36. Ex. 12:46]; His heart broken [69:20]; so our hearts [34:18]) of my body shall say (they speak: and always of Him. They all and always confess Christ as Lord [1 Cor. 12:3. 1 Pet. 3:15), "LORD, who is like unto You,(Cp. their words [71:19; 73:25; 89:6. 1 Sam. 2:2. Deut. 33:26,27.)
Which rescues (cp. 2 Tim. 4:18. 2 Pet. 2:9. 1 Cor. 15:54-57. 2 Cor. 1;10. Hos. 13:14) the oppressed from him that is too strong for him,(Law too strong [Gal. 3:10,13]; sin too strong [Rom. 5:21]; the word too strong [John 16:33]; self too strong [Rom. 7:24]; death to strong [2 Tim. 1:10])
Yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoils him?"
11 False witnesses did rise up; ("Many of them". Cp. Matt. 26:60,61; 2740. Mark 14:55-58.)
They laid to my charge things that I knew not.
12 They rewarded me evil for good
To the bereaving of my soul.
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth:(put, by symbol, for feelings of sorrow)
I humbled my soul in the Fast;(I.e. in the great Day of Atonement.)
And my prayer returned into my own bosom.
14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother:
I bowed down heavily, as one that mourns for his mother.
15 But in my falling they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together:
Yes, the outcasts gathered themselves together against me, and I knew them not;
They did cry out (see Isa. 11:4), and ceased not:
16 With hypocrites [at feasts] mocking at the feast,
They gnashed upon me with their teeth.
17 Lord, how long will You look on?
Rescue my soul from their destructions,
My only One (see 22:20) from the lions. (Cp. Ps. 2215,16.)
18 I will give You thanks in the great assembly (or convocation):
I will praise You among mighty People.
19 Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me:
Neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. (Quoted in John 15:25.)
20 For they speak not peace:
But they devise deceitful matters (Heb. words of fraud) against them that are quiet in the land.
21 Yes, they opened their mouth wide (implying contempt) against me,
And said, "Aha, aha, our eye has seen it." (Implying contempt.)
22 This You have seen, O LORD: keep not silence:
O Lord, be not far from me.
23 Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication,
Even to my cause, my God and my Lord. (Cp. John 20:26)
24 Vindicate me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness;
And let them not rejoice over me.
25 Let them not say in their hearts, "Ah, so would our soul have it:" (I.e. we have our great desire at last.)
Let them not say, "We have swallowed him up."
26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at my hurt:
Let them be clothed with shame (cp. 109:29; 132:18) and dishonor that magnify themselves against me.
27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my justification:
Yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified,
Which has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.
28 And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness
And of Your praise all the day long.