Psalms 35:1-28 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

There is agony in this song. The singer is sore beset with enemies. They are striving with him, fighting against him. They are plotting against him, treacherously spreading a net for his feet. He cries out to Jehovah for help, vowing that he will offer praise for deliverance (verses Psa 35:1-10). The singer touches deeper depths. The cruelty and oppression are being shown by those whom in the past he has befriended. In their time of trouble he had mourned with them. In the day of his halting they have taken advantage of weakness, still further to wound.

Again he cried to the Lord for rescue and promised to praise Him publicly (verses Psa 35:11-18). And again the same prayer is offered. The foes are not only cruel and treacherous, they are full of bitterness and taunt and mock the suffering man. In his agony he cried out for help, for the third time promising to praise Him (verses Psa 35:19-28).

Before we criticize the singer for his attitude toward his foes, let us imagine ourselves in his place. In no sense is the level of spiritual realization in this psalm equal to that in many others. One of the greatest values of the collection is its revelation of how, under all circumstances, the soul may turn to God.

Related Commentaries of Psalms 35:1

Psalms 35:1-28

1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.

6 Let their way be darka and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

11 Falseb witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoilingc of my soul.

13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbledd my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

15 But in mine adversitye they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darlingf from the lions.

18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among muchg people.

19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfullyh rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.

22 This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah,i so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.