God Defends the Innocent

35:1 O Lord, fight those who fight with me! Attack those who attack me! 35:2 Grab your small shield and large shield, and rise up to help me! 35:3 Use your spear and lance against those who chase me! Assure me with these words: “I am your deliverer!” 35:4 May those who seek my life be embarrassed and humiliated! May those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed! 35:5 May they be like wind-driven chaff, as the Lord’s angel attacks them! 35:6 May their path be dark and slippery, as the Lord’s angel chases them! 35:7 I did not harm them, but they hid a net to catch me and dug a pit to trap me. 35:8 Let destruction take them by surprise! Let the net they hid catch them! Let them fall into destruction! 35:9 Then I will rejoice in the Lord and be happy because of his deliverance. 35:10 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.” 35:11 Violent men perjure themselves, and falsely accuse me. 35:12 They repay me evil for the good I have done; I am overwhelmed with sorrow. 35:13 When they were sick, I wore sackcloth, and refrained from eating food. (If I am lying, may my prayers go unanswered!) 35:14 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. 35:15 But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together; they gathered together to ambush me. They tore at me without stopping to rest. 35:16 When I tripped, they taunted me relentlessly, and tried to bite me. 35:17 O Lord, how long are you going to just stand there and watch this? Rescue me from their destructive attacks; guard my life from the young lions! 35:18 Then I will give you thanks in the great assembly; I will praise you before a large crowd of people! 35:19 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! 35:20 For they do not try to make peace with others, but plan ways to deceive those who are unsuspecting. 35:21 They are ready to devour me; they say, “Aha! Aha! We’ve got you!” 35:22 But you take notice, Lord! O Lord, do not remain far away from me! 35:23 Rouse yourself, wake up and vindicate me! My God and Lord, defend my just cause! 35:24 Vindicate me by your justice, O Lord my God! Do not let them gloat over me! 35:25 Do not let them say to themselves, “Aha! We have what we wanted!” Do not let them say, “We have devoured him!” 35:26 May those who want to harm me be totally embarrassed and ashamed! May those who arrogantly taunt me be covered with shame and humiliation! 35:27 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.” 35:28 Then I will tell others about your justice, and praise you all day long. Psalm 36 For the music director; written by the Lord’s servant, David; an oracle.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Psalm 35 is a prayer for God to defend the psalmist against unjust enemies who lie, ambush, and repay good with evil. The psalm asks the Lord to act as judge and rescuer, then promises public thanks when deliverance comes.

The psalmist cries out to the Lord to fight for him. He asks God to use his power to protect him, stop his enemies, and bring shame on those who seek his harm. The language is vivid and strong, but the point is prayer to God, not private revenge.

The psalmist says he did no harm to these people, yet they still set traps for him, accused him falsely, and repaid kindness with evil. He remembers that he had even grieved for them and prayed for them when they were in trouble. Their cruelty makes the injustice sharper.

He then asks the Lord not to stand far away, but to rise up and vindicate him. He trusts God to defend his just cause and to keep his enemies from triumphing over him. If God rescues him, he will thank the Lord openly and tell others about God’s justice.

• God sees unjust hostility, false accusation, and betrayal.
• The psalmist asks God to act as defender and judge.
• The requests for shame and defeat are prayers for divine justice, not permission for personal vengeance.
• The psalmist had shown kindness and sorrow toward those who later harmed him.
• Deliverance should lead to public thanksgiving and praise.
• The psalm teaches believers to bring real grievance to God honestly.
• The psalm should be read in its covenant setting and not flattened into a general curse formula.

• Warning: do not repay evil with evil.
• Warning: do not use this psalm as a personal curse against rivals.
• Promise: the Lord rescues the oppressed from those who try to overpower them.
• Command: ask God to defend the innocent and vindicate the just cause.
• Command: give thanks publicly when God delivers.
• Warning: the martial and animal images are poetic and should not be read woodenly.

Psalm 35 shows the Lord as the defender of the oppressed and the judge of the wicked. It fits the biblical pattern of righteous suffering followed by divine vindication, with the psalm ending in praise when God rescues his servant.

Bring your real pain and injustice to God in prayer. Ask him to judge rightly and to protect the innocent. Do not take revenge into your own hands. When God helps you, thank him openly and tell others what he has done.

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