SylviaSylvia 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

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. I ask God:

17 O Lord, how long will You look on?

Rescue my life from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.

  1. What I will do:

18 I will give You thanks and praise You among the people.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

From What We Do When You've Been Wronged by Sylvia Gunter

Reflections to Consider

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Publications

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Music

  • Jesus be the centre

    Center is a song that speaks of the essence of our life in Christ, and echoes the words the Christ Read More
  • I Lift My Hands

    A powerful hymn of adoration and praise Arkansas Gospel Mass Choir. This succinctly captures the joy of knowing our savior. Read More
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Audio & Video

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Favorites

  • Transforming this World: The Hope of Glory by NT Wright +

    Wright confronts the perspective that this world doesn’t matter, and that we live only to be in heaven. He shows Read More
  • What is Good in a World that Defies Hope: a talk by NT Wright +

    This is the second part of three talks by NT Wright at Harvard University in November, 2008 on the topic Read More
  • The Stream, the Lake and the River: NT Wright +

      Acts 2.1-21; John 7.37-39; a sermon at the Eucharist on the Feast of Pentecost, 11 May 2008, by the Read More
  • Jesus in the Perfect Storm by NT Wright +

    Zechariah 9.9-17; Luke 19.28-48; A sermon for Palm Sunday, April 17, 2011, In the University Chapel of St Salvator, St Read More
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Hidden Blessings

  • Christ is a Great Savior: a review of the movie Amazing Grace +

    Amazing Grace is a historical drama about William Wilberforce who was elected to British Parliament at the age of 21 Read More
  • Wilberforce, Hollywood's Amazing Grace, Charlotte Allen +

    William Wilberforce's relentless campaign eventually led the British Parliament to ban the slave trade, in 1807, and to pass a Read More
  • Making Beauty out of Ugly Things: Grace by U2 +

    Grace, she takes the blame She covers the shame Removes the stain It could be her name Grace, she carries Read More
  • The True Nature of Grace and Love: a movie review of the Soloist +

    The 2009 movie The Soloist is based on a book by the same name, written by Los Angeles Times columnist Read More
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