Psalms 35:1-10

Of David.

1 Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.

2 Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid.

3 Brandish spear and javelin^[a]against those who pursue me. Say to me, “I am your salvation.”

4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.

5 May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away;

6 may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.

7 Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me,

8 may ruin overtake them by surprise— may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.

9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORDand delight in his salvation.

10 My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

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Psalms 35:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 35

\\<<[A Psalm] of David>>\\. This psalm seems to have been written by David, when he was persecuted by Saul; and when many false charges were brought against him by his courtiers; and when he was the scorn and derision of the people; the subject of it is pretty much of the same kind with the seventh psalm, and might be written about the same time that was, and on the same occasion; and it may be applied to the church and people of God in like cases. There is a passage in it, Ps 35:19, which our Lord seems to refer to and apply to himself, Joh 15:25; and some interpret the whole of it concerning him. The Arabic version calls it a prophecy of the incarnation; though there does not appear any thing in it applicable to that.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 24

1. S 1 Samuel 24:15
2. S Exodus 14:14; Psalms 43:1
3. Psalms 3:3
4. Psalms 3:7; Psalms 62:2
5. S Genesis 50:24; S Job 17:3
6. S Numbers 25:7
7. S Joshua 8:18
8. Psalms 27:1
9. Psalms 38:12; Psalms 40:14; Jeremiah 4:30
10. Psalms 69:6,19; Psalms 70:2; Psalms 83:17; Isaiah 45:16; Malachi 2:9
11. Psalms 25:3
12. Psalms 129:5
13. Job 21:18; S Job 13:25; Psalms 1:4; Isaiah 29:5
14. Psalms 34:7
15. S Job 18:8
16. S Psalms 7:4
17. S Job 9:31; S Psalms 7:15; S Psalms 55:23
18. Isaiah 47:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:3
19. S Psalms 7:15; Psalms 9:15
20. S Psalms 2:11; S Luke 1:47
21. Psalms 9:14; Psalms 13:5; Psalms 27:1; Isaiah 61:10
22. S Exodus 9:14; S Psalms 18:31; Psalms 113:5; Exodus 15:11
23. Psalms 18:17
24. Psalms 12:5; Psalms 37:14; Psalms 74:21; Psalms 86:1; Psalms 109:16; Psalms 140:12; Isaiah 41:17

Footnotes 1

[a]. Or "and block the way"