An empty town gateway square under an overcast evening sky, worn stone benches and trampled footprints in the dust.

Lament · David

Psalm 35

What do you do with anger at people who repaid your kindness with lies? David doesn’t reach for a sword. He takes it to God.

28 verses≈ 4 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–41Book IDavid's prayers: 'The LORD is my shepherd'Psalm 35
42–72Book II'As the deer pants'; the throne under pressure
73–89Book IIIAsaph and Korah: the kingdom falls
90–106Book IVBack to Moses: the LORD reigns
107–150Book VSongs of ascents, and the last Hallelujah

Contend with My Opponents, O LORD

A round hide-and-wood shield and a long spear leaning against a rough fieldstone wall in dim light, dust in the air, no one there.

Of David.

Contend with my opponents, O LORD;

fight against those who fight against me.

Take up Your shield and buckler;

arise and come to my aid.

Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers;

say to my soul: “I am your salvation.”

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Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD

and exult in His salvation.

All my bones will exclaim,

“Who is like You, O LORD,

who delivers the afflicted from the aggressor,

the poor and needy from the robber?”

Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult in His salvation.

Psalm 35:9

Reflect

Leave it with Him

Is there someone you want God to deal with? Tell Him, in plain words, and leave it with Him. What would it mean to stop carrying the case yourself?

Hostile witnesses come forward;

they make charges I know nothing about.

They repay me evil for good,

to the bereavement of my soul.

Coarse dark sackcloth laid over a low stool in a plain stone room, a clay bowl of food and a loaf untouched beside it.

Yet when they were ill,

I put on sackcloth;

I humbled myself with fasting,

but my prayers returned unanswered.

I paced about

as for my friend or brother;

I was bowed down with grief,

like one mourning for his mother.

But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee;

they gathered together against me.

Assailants I did not know

slandered me without ceasing.

Like godless jesters at a feast,

they gnashed their teeth at me.

0:28

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

How long, O Lord, will You look on?

Rescue my soul from their ravages,

my precious life from these lions.

Then I will give You thanks in the great assembly;

I will praise You among many people.

Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause,

nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice.

For they do not speak peace,

but they devise deceitful schemes

against those who live quietly in the land.

They gape at me and say,

“Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen!”

Question

Quick question

Look at where the fight goes.

In Psalm 35, what does David do with his enemies?

O LORD, You have seen it; be not silent.

O Lord, be not far from me.

Awake and rise to my defense,

to my cause, my God and my Lord!

Vindicate me by Your righteousness, O LORD my God,

and do not let them gloat over me.

Let them not say in their hearts,

“Aha, just what we wanted!”

Let them not say,

“We have swallowed him up!”

May those who gloat in my distress

be ashamed and confounded;

may those who exalt themselves over me

be clothed in shame and reproach.

May those who favor my vindication

shout for joy and gladness;

may they always say, “Exalted be the LORD

who delights in His servant’s well-being.”

Pray

Justice and mercy

Name someone who has wronged you. Ask the Judge for justice, and ask Him for mercy too. Then pray for that person by name, as Jesus told us to.

Three rounds

Whiteboard

Three times he brings the charge. Three times it ends in praise.

You’ve experienced

Psalm 35

0 of 150 psalms read

A verse to carry with you

Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult in His salvation.

Psalm 35:9

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