Bible Commentaries
Psalms 35

Verse 1

PSALM XXXV

The psalmist, in great straits, prays for his personal safety,

1-3;

and for the confusion of his enemies, 4-8;

expresses has confidence in God, 9, 10;

mentions his kindness to those who had rewarded him evil for

his good, 11-16;

appeals to God against them, 17-26;

prays for those who befriended him; and praises God for his

goodness, 27, 28.

NOTES ON PSALM XXXV

There is nothing in the title worthy of remark. The Psalm is simply attributed to David, and was most probably of his composing; and refers to the time of his persecution by Saul and his courtiers. The Syriac says it was composed when the Idumeans attacked David. The Arabic says it is a prophecy concerning the incarnation, and concerning the things practised against Jeremiah by the people. Some think that our Lord's sufferings are particularly pointed out here; and Bishop Horsley thinks that verses Psalms 35:11-16 apply more literally and exactly to Christ than to any other whomsoever.

Verse Psalms 35:1. Plead my cause, O Lord — Literally, Contend, Lord, with then that contend with me. The word is often used in a forensic or law sense.

Verse 2

Verse Psalms 35:2. Take hold of shield and buckler — Let them be discomfited in battle who are striving to destroy my life. It is by the shield and buckler of others, not any of his own, that God overthrows the enemies of his people. This is spoken merely after the manner of men.

Verse 3

Verse Psalms 35:3. Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. — Give me an assurance that thou wilt defend both body and soul against my adversaries.

Verse 4

Verse Psalms 35:4. Let then be confounded — Let none of their projects or devices against me succeed. Blast all their designs.

The imprecations in these verses against enemies are all legitimate. They are not against the souls or eternal welfare of those sinners, but against their schemes and plans for destroying the life of an innocent man; and the holiest Christian may offer up such prayers against his adversaries. If a man aim a blow at another with a design to take away his life, and the blow would infallibly be mortal if it took place, and the person about to be slain see that by breaking the arm of his adversary he may prevent his own death, and thus save his enemy from actual murder; it is his duty to prevent this double evil by breaking the arm of the blood-thirsty man. It is on this principle that David prays against his adversaries in the first eight verses of this Psalm.

Verse 5

Verse Psalms 35:5. Let the angel of the Lord chase them.] By angel we may either understand one of those spirits, whether good or bad, commonly thus denominated, or any thing used by God himself as the instrument of their confusion.

Verse 6

Verse Psalms 35:6. Let their way be dark — Let them lose their way, be entangled in morasses and thickets, and be confounded in all their attempts to injure me. All these phrases are military; and relate to ambushes, hidden snares, forced marches in order to surprise, and stratagems of different kinds.

Verse 7

Verse Psalms 35:7. For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit — The word שחת shachath, a pit, belongs to the second member of this verse, and the whole should be read thus: For without a cause they have hidden for me their net, without a cause they have digged a pit for my life. They have used every degree and species of cunning and deceit to ruin me.

Verse 8

Verse Psalms 35:8. Let his net that he hath hid — See the notes on Psalms 7:15; Psalms 7:16.

Verse 9

Verse Psalms 35:9. My soul — My life, thus saved -

Shall be joyful in the Lord — I am so circumstanced at present as to be in the utmost danger of being destroyed by my foes; if I escape, it must be by the strong arm of the Lord; and to him shall the glory be given.

Verse 10

Verse Psalms 35:10. All my bones shall say — My life being preserved, all the members of my body shall magnify thy saving mercy.

Deliverest the poor — This is a general maxim: God is peculiarly mindful of the poor. Where secular advantages are withheld, there is the more need for spiritual help. God considers this, and his kind providence works accordingly.

Verse 11

Verse Psalms 35:11. False witnesses did rise up — There is no doubt that several of this kind were found to depose against the life of David; and we know that the wicked Jews employed such against the life of Christ. See Matthew 26:59-60.

They laid to my charge things that I knew not. — They produced the most unfounded charges; things of which I had never before heard.

Verse 12

Verse Psalms 35:12. To the spoiling of my soul — To destroy my life; so נפש nephesh should be translated in a multitude of places, where our translators have used the word soul.

Verse 13

Verse Psalms 35:13. When they were sick — This might refer to the case of Absalom, who was much beloved of his father, and for whose life and prosperity he no doubt often prayed, wept, and fasted.

My prayer returned into mine own bosom. — Though from the wayward and profligate life they led, they did not profit by my prayers, yet God did not permit me to pray in vain. They were like alms given to the miserable for God's sake, who takes care to return to the merciful man tenfold into his bosom. The bosom is not only the place where the Asiatics carry their purses, but also where they carry any thing that is given to them.

Verse 14

Verse Psalms 35:14. Mourneth for his mother. — כאבל אם caabel em, as a mourning mother. How expressive is this word!

Verse 15

Verse Psalms 35:15. But in mine adversity they rejoiced — How David was mocked and insulted in the case of Absalom's rebellion by Shimei and others, is well known.

The abjects — נכים nechim, the smiters, probably hired assassins. They were everywhere lying in wait, to take away my life.

Verse 16

Verse Psalms 35:16. With hypocritical mockers in feasts — These verses seem to be prophetic of the treatment of Christ. They did tear me, and I knew it not. They blindfolded and buffeted him; they placed him in such circumstances as not to be able to discern who insulted him, except by a supernatural knowledge. With hypocritical mockers in feasts may also relate prophetically to our Lord's sufferings. Herod clothed him in a purple robe, put a reed in his hand for a sceptre, bowed the knee before him, and set him at naught. Here their hypocritical conduct (pretending one thing while they meant another) was manifest, and possibly; this occurred at one of Herod's feasts.

Verse 17

Verse Psalms 35:17. My darling — יחידתי yechidathi, my only one, Psalms 22:20. My united one, or He that is alone. Perhaps this may relate to Christ. Psalms 22:20.

Verse 18

Verse Psalms 35:18. I will give thee thanks in the great congregation — I hope to be able to attend at the tabernacle with thy followers, and there publicly express my gratitude for the deliverance thou hast given me.

Verse 19

Verse Psalms 35:19. That are mine enemies — Saul and his courtiers.

Verse 21

Verse Psalms 35:21. They opened their mouth wide — Gaped upon me to express their contempt.

And said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.] They said, האח האח heach, heach, the last syllable in each word being a protracted strongly guttural sound, marking insult and triumph at the same time. It is the word which we translate Ah, Psalms 35:25.

Verse 22

Verse Psalms 35:22. This thou hast seen — I have no need to adduce evidences of these wrongs; thou, to whom I appeal, hast seen them. Therefore,

Verse 23

Verse Psalms 35:23. Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment — I have delivered my cause into thy hand, and appeal to thee as my Judge; and by thy decision I am most willing to abide.

Verse 24

Verse Psalms 35:24. Judge me, O Lord my God — The manner of his appeal shows the strong confidence he had in his own innocence.

Verse 25

Verse Psalms 35:25. Swallowed him up. — בלענוהו billaanuhu, we have gulped him down.

Verse 26

Verse Psalms 35:26. Let them be ashamed — This may be a prophetic declaration against Saul and his courtiers. They were ashamed, confounded, clothed with shame, and dishonoured. All these took place in Saul's last battle with the Philistines, where he lost his crown and his life, and came to a most dishonourable end.

Verse 27

Verse Psalms 35:27. Let them shout for joy and be glad — While my enemies are confounded, let my friends exult in the Lord; and let them all praise him for his marvellous kindness to me.

Verse 28

Verse Psalms 35:28. And my tongue shall speak — I, who am chiefly concerned, and who have received most, am under the greatest obligation; and it will require the constant gratitude and obedience of my whole life to discharge the mighty debt I owe.

ANALYSIS OF THE THIRTY-FIFTH PSALM

This Psalm may be divided into three parts: - I. A prayer for defence against his enemies. In which he prays, 1. For protection, Psalms 35:1-3; Psalms 35:17; Psalms 35:19; Psalms 35:22-25. And, 2. Imprecates evil to fall on their counsels and designs.

II. A bitter complaint against the malice of his enemies, which he pours out into the ears of God as motives to plead his cause, Psalms 35:7; Psalms 35:11-16; Psalms 35:19-21.

III. An expression of his trust and confidence in God for help and deliverance; his joy in it, Psalms 35:9; Psalms 35:10; his thanks for it, Psalms 35:18; Psalms 35:28; and a motive to others to do the like, Psalms 35:27.

1. In the courts of men and princes, innocent persons are often oppressed by false accusations and calumnies, persecuted and overborne by power.

He then, first, prays to God to be his Advocate, his Patron, and his Protector: 1. "Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive against me." 2. "Fight against them that fight against me," c. 3. "Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation." Assure me of thy favour.

He secondly, begins an imprecation against his enemies: 1. "Let them be confounded and put to shame," Psalms 35:4. 2. "Let them be as chaff before the wind," Psalms 35:5. 3. "Let their way be dark and slippery," Psalms 35:6. 4. "Let destruction come upon him unawares," Psalms 35:8.

And here he inserts some reasons for his petition and imprecation: -

1. From the justice of his cause, and their injustice: "Without cause they hid for me their net," Psalms 35:7.

2. From his gratitude that, being delivered, he would be thankful: "And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord," c., Psalms 35:9; Psalms 35:10.

3. From his enemies' dealings with him, Psalms 35:11-17.

II. He then enters upon his complaint and lays to their charge,

1. Perfidiousness, extreme malice, and perjury: "False witnesses did rise," c.

2. Ingratitude. They rewarded me evil for good. Good he did to them for, when they were afflicted, he fasted and prayed for them.

3. They were cruel to him: "In my adversity they rejoiced."

4. They mocked him and made him their cruel sport: "The abjects gathered themselves together against me," c.

5. And a conspiracy in all, Psalms 35:20-21.

Then he returns again to his petition and expostulates with God, wondering that he should be so patient with them: "Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from destruction," c.

And, to move God the sooner to do it, he repeats his former reason, Psalms 35:9, engaging himself to be thankful: "I will give thee thanks in the great congregation I will praise thee among much people."

He continues his suit to the end of the Psalm; sometimes praying, at others imprecating.

1. He deprecates: "Let not my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me, neither let them wink with the eye," c. And that God may be the readier to hear him, and stay their joy and triumph, he subjoins these reasons: 1. "For they speak not peace." 2. "They devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land." 3. They are impudent, lying people: "Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me," c. This is a truth this is not hidden from thee: "This thou hast seen," and from them to thee I turn my eyes and thus renew my prayer: -

1. "Keep not silence." Do not appear to neglect my cause; nor to let them pass on with impunity.

2. "Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment," c. Defend me, and confound them: -

3. "Judge me according to thy righteousness," which suffers not the just to be always oppressed.

4. "Let them not rejoice over me," and, in me, over the truth, and over a just cause.

5. "Let them not say in their hearts, So would we have it," c.

6. But rather let that befall them which I have prayed for: "Let them be ashamed, - brought to confusion, - and clothed with shame and dishonour, that magnify themselves against me."

III. In the conclusion he expresses his trust and confidence in God and intimates that if he be heard, then he, and the whole Church, and all good men, will rejoice together.

1. To them he first directs his speech: "Let them shout for joy that favour my righteous cause yea, let them say continually; Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."

2. He then declares what effect this will have upon him in particular: "My tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long."