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

Psalm 35:1 (NASV)

The enemy lurks around every corner and uses everything in his power to try to pull down believers. In these times we might feel like the powers against us our overwhelming, and this is exactly how David felt when he penned Psalm 35.

Let hose be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life; Let hose be turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me.

Psalm 35:4 (NASV)

David was being pursued by his fellow soldiers and countrymen, who were seeking his destruction because of the envy of King Saul. David was a man who knew the hills and valleys, but he was constantly on guard.

The Prayer in Psalm 35 Continues.

⁵ Let hem be like chaff before the wind, With the angel of the LORD driving them on. ⁶ Let their way be dark and slippery, With the angel of the LORD pursuing them. ⁷ For without cause they hid their net for me; Without cause they dug a pit for my soul.

Psalm 35:5-7 (NASV)

It’s hard to say I really understand what David felt, but actually I feel the pain of this type of conflict currently. I know that David was being hurt by people who didn’t even know the truth, they knew what they were told. You see Saul despised David, and the faith of David. When David killed Goliath, we know David was the hero. The problem was, David trusted Saul, even married Saul’s daughter. Saul, turned on David, and without mercy chased him trying to have him killed.

God’s hand of providence protected David,

Let destruction come upon him unawares; and let the net which he hid catch himself; Into that very destruction let him fall.

Psalm 35:8 (NASV)

God had a purpose for all the evil against David, and even though David didn’t know it at the time, God would use this horrible situation for Good.

Even though David was in this great struggle, he rejoiced, because he trusted God’s plan.

⁹And my soul shall rejoice in the LORD; It shall exult in His salvation. ¹⁰All my bones will say, ” LORD, who is like Thee, Who delivers the afflicted from him who is too strong for him, And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?”

Psalm 35:9-10 (NASV)

As a child it was told to me that “Sticks and Stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt you”. This is not true, because words are very powerful. David here is afflicted with lies, trying to prove a lie filled narrative.

Malicious witnesses rise up; They ask me of things that I do not know.

Psalm 35:11 (NASV)

This verse alone could be another blog, and I feel right now for David. He is being attacked directly by the evil one, the deceiver, the father of lies.

They repay me evil for good, To the bereavement of my soul.

Psalm 35:12 (NASV)

So often this is the common narrative of this fallen world, when we give our best, the world gives us it’s worse. This is soul crushing. This is the knife in the gut after a guy gives a beggar some money. This is crushing stuff.

¹³But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting; And my prayer kept returning to my bosom. ¹⁴I went about as though it were my friend or brother; I bowed down mourning as one who sorrows for a mother. ¹⁵But at my stumbling they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together; The smiters whom I did not know gathered together against me, They slandered me without ceasing. ¹⁶Like godless jesters at a feast, They gnashed at me with their teeth.

Psalm 35:13-16 (NASV)

David never stopped loving the people who were being used to attack him, he knew the plot was much deeper, that they were being used of the evil one. When they were sick, David lamented and prayed and fasted for them. We should be on our knees praying for our enemy, finding every way possible to show them unconditional love, even though they are filled with wrath and vengeance.

Lord, how long with Thou look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, My only life from the lions.

Psalm 35:17 (NASV)

David felt like I feel now, I know God is in control, I know he has a plan, but it seems like there is not action, no response. No help, except for the single fact, he wasn’t ever allowed to be captured. Even though David made this lament, He was untouchable. David is pouring out his feelings here, and I understand the feelings David is trying to express.

¹⁹Do not those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me; Neither let those who hate me without cause wink maliciously. ²⁰For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

Psalm 35:19-20 (NASV)

Lies, deceit, evil… why? What is the motivation? This is where the evil one has power over the unbelievers, those who don’t seek the things of the worlds to come. They seek power and control in this world, meekness is weakness. And they even dishonor the very chosen one of God. David never speaks evil about his enemy, he really just wants them to stop. He is seeking peace, but they seek his destruction.

²¹And they opened their mouth wide against me; They said, “Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it!” ²²Thou has seen it, O LORD, do not keep silent; O LORD, do not be far from me. ²³Stir up Thyself, and awake to my right, And to my cause, my God and my Lord. ²⁴Judge me, O LORD my God, according to They righteousness; And do not let them rejoice over me.

Psalm 35:21-24 (NASV)

Quick to bring lies, It only takes one person to start the spreading of lies, one person is the spark, and the gossip spreads like wild fire. The problem is all they know is the account of the liar. They don’t know the whole truth, they believe what they want to believe. It’s fun to troll people, and abuse people’s character, but that quickness to act, will condemn themselves. God is show to anger, But when The LORD Judges, his condemnation is eternal.

²⁵Do not let them say in their heart, “Aha, our desire!” Do not let them say, “We have swollowed him up!” ²⁶Let those be ashamed and humiliated altogether who rejoice at my distress; Let those be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves over me. ²⁷Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication; And let them say continually, “The LORD be magnified, Who delights in the prosperity of His servant.” ²⁸And my tongue shall declare Thy righteousness And Thy praise all day long

Psalm 36-25-28 (NASV)

You see, David in the end just wanted to see salvation and right thinking come to his fellow countrymen. He wanted peace with his earthly king, Saul. He wanted them to praise God together in the assembly. But that never happened. David never died by the hands of his enemy, God spared his life, and he eventually became king of Israel. I never stopped trusting God for his provisions, even when he was in dire straights. But God had a plan, because out of the line of David, was born the salvation of the world, born in a the city of David, Bethlehem.

God does work all things together for His Glory.