Psalm 35
A Psalm of David
Pt. 1

Scholars think that this Psalm, like 34, belongs to the time of David’s renegade status when he had escaped Saul’s intentions to kill him and was living as an outlaw. We note that the issue is more than just the matter of his physical safety but also of his reputation. The second part of this Psalm will begin with “false witnesses did rise up.”

No doubt there were those during this time who took advantage of Saul’s mental illness, caused by an ‘evil spirit,’ and ingratiated themselves to him by bringing false stories concerning David to the king. In his mental state there would have been little way for him to discriminate between true and false and he would have been more inclined to believe the more salacious tales.

One writer describes this Psalm as “the force of his inmost feelings… changed into the most importunate prayer.” It is impossible to miss the agony of spirit from which these profound requests sprung.

1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

Most of the other translations read something like “strive with those who strive with me.” It is obvious from the words which follow that David was asking for far more than simply the Lord to argue for him. He wanted action, violent action, against his attackers.

Never is the contrast between Old Covenant and New seen any more clearly than the attitudes of believers in both times toward physical enemies.

Matt 5:38-39
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

At the same time we in the New Covenant era must remember that our battle is no less violent though spiritual and that we have no such limits on our prayers and attitudes toward our spiritual enemies, “take to you the whole armor of God…. that ye may be able to stand in the evil day and, having done all, stand.”

Let us listen now to the prayer understanding who this man was, God’s ordained king over His people, and the intense agony of soul from which this prayer arises.

2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. 3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

(He obviously needed some assurance from God that he was indeed who he thought he was.)
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 chase them.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

There were obviously forces at work concerning which David had no ability to defend himself. Unless God sent His angel to “chase them” and “persecute them” he was doomed to be hunted down and killed without mercy by a man driven with hatred and demonic forces which urged him on.

It is also good to remember here that though the Lord delivered Saul into David’s hands twice and David’s own men urged him to kill the man, David refused. For all of his wickedness Saul was still “the Lord’s anointed” and he dared not take responsibility for the vengeance which he sought from the
Lord. As often happens that which ultimately came upon Saul was far worse than David could have done and the Lord’s servant earnestly and honestly grieved over him and his beloved son, David’s closest friend, at their defeat.

And yet, at the same time, there was a sense of elation when he was finally delivered from Saul and no doubt part of that was that it was obvious to all, especially to David, that this had been the Hand of the Lord.

9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. 10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

Grieving and rejoicing all at once. Sadness for the lives lost and yet joy for deliverance from danger and the clear message that God had heard and delivered him.

One thing to notice is that David penned these words before the reality occurred. He was expressing here the anticipated joy in advance.

The Lord, his God, is One Who delivers “the poor and the needy” (remember the beatitudes) from those who are “too strong for him.” The history of God’s people is the record of the reality of this principle.

The nature of True Faith is the remembrance of this and the application of it to difficult times.

— May 28, 2020