Sylvia Gunter uses Psalm 35 to show how David asked God to contend, fight, rescue, defend, vindicate
, and save him when he was wronged, and how David focuses on giving God praise, worship and trust. Consider that this can apply to all of our lives--not just when we've been wronged. We come to God with our praise, our worship, our trust:
- when we are contending with our past, our present, or our future.
- when we are contending with people or circumstances which have oppressed or wronged us in the past, present or we fear will do so in the future.
Psalm 35
- I ask God to:
1 Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid.
3 Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame;
May those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.
5 May they be like chaff before the wind with the angel of the Lord driving them away.
6 May their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7 Since they hid their net and dug a pit for me without cause,
8 May ruin overtake them by surprise—
May the net they hid entangle them; may they fall into the pit to their ruin.
- What I will do:
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in His salvation.
10 My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, O Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,
The poor and needy from those who rob them.”
13 I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting.
14 I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.
- I ask God:
17 O Lord, how long will You look on?
Rescue my life from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.
- What I will do:
18 I will give You thanks and praise You among the people.
- I ask God:
19 Don’t let those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause;
Don’t let those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.
22 O Lord, You have seen this; don’t be silent.
Do not be far from me, O Lord.
23 Awake, arise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in Your righteousness, O Lord my God;
Don’t let them gloat over me.
25 Don’t let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”
26 May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion;
May all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.
- God has the last word: The last word is praise!
27 May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness;
May they always say, “The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of His servant.”
28 My tongue will speak of Your righteousness and of Your praises all day long.