Psalm 35:1-28
A Psalm of David.
Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;
Fight against those who fight against me.
[2] Take hold of buckler and shield,
And rise up for my help.
[3] Draw also the spear and the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me;
Say to my soul, "I am your salvation."
[4] Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life;
Let those be turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me.
[5] Let them 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.
[8] Let destruction come upon him unawares;
And let the net which he hid catch himself;
Into that very destruction let him fall.
[9] And my soul shall rejoice in the Lord;
It shall exult in His salvation.
[10] All 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?"
[11] Malicious witnesses rise up;
They ask me of things that I do not know.
[12] They repay me evil for good,
To the bereavement of my soul.
[13] But 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.
[14] I went about as though it were my friend or brother;
I bowed down mourning, as one who sorrows for a mother.
[15] But 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.
[16] Like godless jesters at a feast,
They gnashed at me with their teeth.
[17] Lord, how long wilt Thou look on?
Rescue my soul from their ravages,
My only life from the lions.
[18] I will give Thee thanks in the great congregation;
I will praise Thee among a mighty throng.
[19] Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me;
Neither let those who hate me without cause wink maliciously.
[20] For they do not speak peace,
But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
[21] And they opened their mouth wide against me;
They said, "Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it!"
seen it, O Lord, do not keep silent;
O Lord, do not be far from me.
[23] Stir up Thyself, and awake to my right,
And to my cause, my God and my Lord.
[24] Judge me, O Lord my God, according to Thy righteousness;
And do not let them rejoice over me.
[25] Do not let them say in their heart, "Aha, our desire!"
Do not let them say, "We have swallowed him up!"
[26] Let those be ashamed and humiliated altogether who rejoice at my distress;
Let those be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves over me.
[27] Let 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."
[28] And my tongue shall declare Thy righteousness
And Thy praise all day long.
Psalm 35
Open It
A Psalm of David.
Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;
Fight against those who fight against me.
[2] Take hold of buckler and shield,
And rise up for my help.
[3] Draw also the spear and the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me;
Say to my soul, "I am your salvation."
[4] Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life;
Let those be turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me.
[5] Let them 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.
[8] Let destruction come upon him unawares;
And let the net which he hid catch himself;
Into that very destruction let him fall.
[9] And my soul shall rejoice in the Lord;
It shall exult in His salvation.
[10] All 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?"
[11] Malicious witnesses rise up;
They ask me of things that I do not know.
[12] They repay me evil for good,
To the bereavement of my soul.
[13] But 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.
[14] I went about as though it were my friend or brother;
I bowed down mourning, as one who sorrows for a mother.
[15] But 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.
[16] Like godless jesters at a feast,
They gnashed at me with their teeth.
[17] Lord, how long wilt Thou look on?
Rescue my soul from their ravages,
My only life from the lions.
[18] I will give Thee thanks in the great congregation;
I will praise Thee among a mighty throng.
[19] Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me;
Neither let those who hate me without cause wink maliciously.
[20] For they do not speak peace,
But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
[21] And they opened their mouth wide against me;
They said, "Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it!"
seen it, O Lord, do not keep silent;
O Lord, do not be far from me.
[23] Stir up Thyself, and awake to my right,
And to my cause, my God and my Lord.
[24] Judge me, O Lord my God, according to Thy righteousness;
And do not let them rejoice over me.
[25] Do not let them say in their heart, "Aha, our desire!"
Do not let them say, "We have swallowed him up!"
[26] Let those be ashamed and humiliated altogether who rejoice at my distress;
Let those be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves over me.
[27] Let 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."
[28] And my tongue shall declare Thy righteousness
And Thy praise all day long.
Psalm 35
Open It
1. How do you think you would feel if one of your close friends suddenly turned against you?
* 2. What can break up friendships?
3. When was the first time you felt betrayed by a friend?
Explore It
4. To what character trait of God’s did David appeal? (35:1-3, 10, 23-24)
* 5. How did David want the Lord to treat his adversaries? (35:1-8, 25-26)
6. What military images did David use to describe God’s deliverance? (35:2-3)
7. Against what did David need to be defended? (35:4-10)
8. What provoked the attack of David’s enemies? (35:7-8)
* 9. How did David demonstrate his confidence in the Lord’s deliverance? (35:9-10)
10. How does God treat the poor and needy? (35:10)
11. How did David reinforce his claim that he is innocent? (35:11, 13-14, 19-20)
12. How did David describe his predicament? (35:11-16)
* 13. What accusations did David make against his enemies? (35:11-16, 19-21)
14. How did David demonstrate his compassion and willingness to befriend the people who later turned on him? (35:12-16)
15. How did David’s adversaries respond to his kindness? (35:15-16)
16. How did David promise to respond to God’s deliverance? (35:18)
17. How was David being treated by his enemies? (35:19-21)
18. What final sign of victory did David want the Lord to take away from his enemies? (35:23-25)
19. How did David want his friends to respond to God’s deliverance? (35:27)
20. What final words of confidence conclude this psalm? (35:28)
Get It
21. How does it feel to be falsely accused or treated maliciously by others?
22. What should we do when we see others being slandered or mistreated?
23. What’s our most natural reaction when people try to hurt us?
* 24. What can we learn from David’s example about handling injustice?
25. What difficult person do you need to handle better?
* 26. In light of this passage, how can you trust God more with the injustices in your life?
27. How can we demonstrate our confidence in the Lord when we are being slandered or hurt by others?
28. What can we do to rejoice with Christian friends when they experience God’s protection or guidance?
Apply It
29. What act of encouragement or help can you offer to a friend who has been falsely accused or “attacked”?
* 30. Concerning what accuser, “enemy,” or other difficult person do you need to pray this week?
AFFIRMATIONS
TODAY I AM:
Exulting in His salvation.
Giving thanks in the great congregation.
Praising God among a mighty throng.
Saying continually, “The Lord be magnified.”
Declaring His righeousness and praise all day long.
