# Psalm 35 đź“–: Contend With My Opponents
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[[-Psalm Overview]] | [[Psalm 34]] | [[Psalm 36]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
## By David.
[[#Verse 01.]] O Lord, fight those who fight with me.
Attack those who attack me.
[[#Verse 02.]]Â Grab your small shield and large shield,
and rise up to help me.
[[#Verse 03.]] Use your spear and lance against those who chase me.
Assure me with these words: “I am your deliverer.”
[[#Verse 04.]]Â May those who seek my life be embarrassed and humiliated.
May those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed.
[[#Verse 05.]] May they be like wind-driven chaff,
as the angel of the Lord attacks them.
[[#Verse 06.]] May their path be dark and slippery,
as the angel of the Lord chases them.
[[#Verse 07.]]Â I did not harm them, but they hid a net to catch me
and dug a pit to trap me.
[[#Verse 08.]]Â Let destruction take them by surprise.
Let the net they hid catch them.
Let them fall into destruction.
[[#Verse 09.]] Then I will rejoice in the Lord
and be happy because of his deliverance.
[[#Verse 10.]]Â With all my strength I will say,
“O Lord, who can compare to you?
You rescue the oppressed from those who try to overpower them,
the oppressed and needy from those who try to rob them.”
[[#Verse 11.]]Â Violent men perjure themselves,
and falsely accuse me.
[[#Verse 12.]]Â They repay me evil for the good I have done;
I am overwhelmed with sorrow.
[[#Verse 13.]]Â When they were sick, I wore sackcloth,
and refrained from eating food.
(If I am lying, may my prayers go unanswered.)
[[#Verse 14.]]Â I mourned for them as I would for a friend or my brother.
I bowed down in sorrow as if I were mourning for my mother.
[[#Verse 15.]]Â But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together;
they gathered together to ambush me.
They tore at me without stopping to rest.
[[#Verse 16.]]Â When I tripped, they taunted me relentlessly,
and tried to bite me.
[[#Verse 17.]]Â O Lord, how long are you going to watch this?
Rescue me from their destructive attacks;
guard my life from the young lions.
[[#Verse 18.]]Â Then I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
I will praise you before a large crowd of people.
[[#Verse 19.]] Do not let those who are my enemies for no reason gloat over me.
Do not let those who hate me without cause carry out their wicked schemes.
[[#Verse 20.]]Â For they do not try to make peace with others,
but plan ways to deceive those who live peacefully in the land.
[[#Verse 21.]]Â They are ready to devour me;
they say, “Aha! Aha! We’ve got you!”
[[#Verse 22.]] But you take notice, Lord; do not be silent!
O Lord, do not remain far away from me.
[[#Verse 23.]] Rouse yourself, wake up and vindicate me.
My God and Lord, defend my just cause.
[[#Verse 24.]] Vindicate me by your justice, O Lord my God.
Do not let them gloat over me.
[[#Verse 25.]] Do not let them say to themselves, “Aha! We have what we wanted!”
Do not let them say, “We have devoured him.”
[[#Verse 26.]]Â May those who rejoice in my troubles be totally embarrassed and ashamed.
May those who arrogantly taunt me be covered with shame and humiliation.
[[#Verse 27.]]Â May those who desire my vindication shout for joy and rejoice.
May they continually say, “May the Lord be praised, for he wants his servant to be secure.”
[[#Verse 28.]]Â Then I will tell others about your justice,
and praise you all day long.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Psalm 35 is one of the imprecatory psalms, which ask God to bring judgment on enemies.
2. The word "contend" (35:1) is legal language for bringing a case to court. David asks God to be both his lawyer and his warrior.
3. Two kinds of shields are named in 35:2: a small round shield and a large body shield.
4. Jesus quoted the phrase "they hated me without cause" in John 15:25, from 35:19 or 69:4.
5. The angel of the Lord appears in Psalms only here (35:5-6) and in 34:7.
6. Wearing sackcloth and fasting (35:13) were signs of mourning and earnest prayer.
7. Winking the eye (35:19) was a gesture of malice and scheming (Proverbs 6:13; 10:10).
8. The enemies' taunt "Aha! Aha!" (35:21) is a mocking cry of triumph.
9. David boldly calls God to "wake up" (35:23), honest language of prayer, not a belief that God sleeps (121:4).
10. The psalm has three sections, each closing with a promise of praise (35:9-10, 18, 27-28).
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the innocent One who was hated without cause (35:19; John 15:25). He was repaid evil for good and false witnesses rose against Him (Mark 14:56), yet He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. David asks the Lord to fight for him (35:1-3). What does it look like to let God defend you instead of defending yourself?
2. David grieved and fasted when his enemies were sick (35:13-14), but they rejoiced at his trouble. How do you respond when people repay good with evil?
3. Each section ends with a vow to praise (35:9-10, 18, 28). How can praise become part of how we walk through conflict?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 3: Assure me with the words, I am your deliverer.
- đź“– verse 19: Do not let those who hate me without cause gloat over me.
- đź“– verse 28: My tongue will tell of Your justice and praise You all day long.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[John 15#Verse 25.|John 15:25]] - They hated Me without cause.
- đź”— [[1 Peter 02#Verse 23.|1 Peter 2:23]] - Jesus entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly.
- đź”— [[Romans 12#Verse 19.|Romans 12:19]] - Leave room for God's wrath.
- đź”— [[Mark 14#Verse 55.|Mark 14:55-59]] - False witnesses testify against Jesus.
- đź”— [[Psalm 69#Verse 04.|Psalm 69:4]] - Those who hate me without cause.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
📝 SOAP: [[Psalm 35- SOAP|Don’t Rejoice Over the Troubles of Others]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes