Psalms 35:1

_PLEAD MY CAUSE, O LORD, WITH THEM THAT STRIVE WITH ME: FIGHT AGAINST THEM THAT FIGHT AGAINST ME._ The starting-point of the psalm appears in 1 Samuel 24:15: David, after sparing Saul in Engedi, says, "The Lord be judge between me and thee ... and plead my cause" (cf. Psalms 35:1). The antitypical David, in John 13:25, appropriates Psalms 35:19. He alone could plead perfect righteousness, love, meekness, and prayerfulness in His distress through the monstrous ingratitude of His foes. For a striking coincidence between Psalms 34:1 and...

1._Plead my cause, O Jehovah! _As the enemies of David not only avowedly sought to take away his life, but also troubled him by calumny and misrepresentation, he pleads for the redress of both these grievances. In the first place, by appealing to God for his aid in defense of his cause, he intimates, that he has to do with wicked and maligning men. In the second place, by urging him to take up arms, he shows that he was grievously oppressed. It was a very dishonorable thing, that this holy man, alike eminent for his beneficence and inoffensiveness towards all men, and who by his courtesy and meekness had merited, both in public and private, the esteem and favor of all, was not permitted to escape the reproach and calumny of wicked men; but it is important for us to know this, and it sets before us a very profitable example. If even David did not escape the malice of wicked men, it ought...

1-10 It is no new thing for the most righteous men, and the most righteous cause, to meet with enemies. This is a fruit of the old enmity in the seed of the serpent against the Seed of the woman. David in his afflictions, Christ in his sufferings, the church under persecution, and the Christian in the hour temptation, all beseech the Almighty to appear in their behalf, and to vindicate their cause. We are apt to justify uneasiness at the injuries men do us, by our never having given them cause to use us so ill; but this should make us easy, for then we may the more expect that God will plead our cause. David prayed to God to manifest himself in his trial. Let me have inward comfort under all outward troubles, to support my soul. If God, by his Spirit, witness to our spirits that he is our salvation, we need desire no more to make us happy. If God is our Friend, no matter who is our enem...

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 wa

PLEAD MY CAUSE, O LORD - The word “plead” means, properly, to argue in support of a claim, or against the claim of another; to urge reasons for or against; to attempt to persuade one by argument or supplication; as, to plead for the life of a criminal, that is, to urge reasons why he should be acquitted or pardoned; and then, to supplicate with earnestness in any way. The original word used here - רוב _rûb_ - means to contend, strive, quarrel; and then, to contend before a judge, to manage or plead a cause. The idea here is, that the psalmist desires that God would undertake his cause against those who had risen up against him, as if it were managed before a tribunal, or before a judge, and God should be the advocate. The same word is used, in another form, in the other member of the sentence - “with them that strive - יריבי _yârı̂ybāy_ - against me.” The idea is, that they we

EXPOSITION A PSALM ascribed to David by the title, and with many characteristics of his early style—abrupt, impassioned, full of lively and graphic images, and full of transitions The picture which the writer draws of his own circumstances and position (Psalms 35:11, Psalms 35:19) accords well with what we know of David's life when he was a fugitive from Saul, and there is a special agreement between the first verse of the psalm and words historically ascribed to David at this period of his career (1 Samuel 24:15). The psalm naturally divides itself into three portions, nearly of equal length (Psalms

PLEAD [MY CAUSE], O LORD, WITH THEM THAT STRIVE WITH ME,.... Meaning Saul and his courtiers; concerning whom he elsewhere desires that the Lord would judge between them, plead his cause, and deliver him; as he accordingly did, and maintained it, and the righteousness of it, 1 Samuel 24:12. So Christ pleaded not his own cause as man, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously; and his people leave their cause with him, who is their advocate, and is able to plead it thoroughly; and does plead it against wicked and ungodly men, who unrighteously charge them; against. Satan the accuser of the brethren, who stands at their right hand to resist them; and against their own hearts, and the sins of them, which lust and war against them, and condemn them; FIGHT AGAINST THEM THAT FIGHT AGAINST ME: so the Lord is sometimes represented as a man of war, and Christ as a wa

Psalms 35 The Cry for Justice and Divine Help _ 1. The cry of distress (Psalms 35:1)_ 2. The contrast? (Psalms 35:11) 3. Prayer for vindication and victory (Psalms 35:19) This Psalm introduces us again to the suffering of the righteous, giving another prophetic picture of the distress of the remnant. When David composed this Psalm we do not know. But He casts himself completely on the Lord and calls to Him for help and vindication. Thus the godly have always done when surrounded by the enemies who persecuted them. The condition of the godly when violence is in the earth during the time of Jacob's trouble

XXXV. PRAYER AGAINST TREACHEROUS FOES BY ONE WHO IS QUIET IN THE LAND. Psalms 35:6_ b_ should replace Psalms 35:5_ b_. Chaff driven before the wind may well suggest the image of the angel pursuing the foe but not that of pushing or thrusting. Psalms 35:7. Read, Without a cause have they hid for me their net: without a cause have they dug a pit for my life. Psalms 35:9 f. Soul and bones stand for the whole person. Psalms 35:12_ b_. The text cannot be right. Laying snares for my soul is a possible conj

PLEAD. Contend, or strive. Note the Figure of speech _Exergasia_ (App-6) in the words "plead", "fight", "take hold", "stand up", "draw out", "stop", "say", &c.; continued in verses: Psalms 35:4; Psalms 35:5. Psalm probably written during and concerning the times of 1Sa 21:24, 1Sa 21:26-27, but it relates also to David's Son and David's Lord, the Messiah, in view of Psalms 22. See the Structure on p. 721. Compare especially verses: Psalms 35:15 with Matthew 26:67; Mark 14:65.