Meditation Upon the PSALMS Series: Psalm 35

"Psalm 35, as to its form, is an individual lament.
Its context of literal and legal warfare is suggesting a scenario of the

theocratic king being accused, and about to be attacked, by a foreign power with whom he had previously entered into a covenant.
David presents his “case” before the Divine Judge, moving from a complaint about the situation, to prayer about the situation, and finally, when the LORD would justly respond to the situation, praise for His righteous intervention.

So, 3 cycles of exasperation and expectation in Psalm 35 convey the psalmist’s prayers about his opponents to God.
I. First Cycle: The Attacks He Was Experiencing (35:1-10).
II. Second Cycle: The Perjury He Was Experiencing (35:11-18).
A. He Prays that God Would Examine the Evidence (35:11-16);
B. He Prays that God Would Act without Delay (35:17);
C. He Pledges Praise (35:18).
III. Third Cycle: The Mockery He Was Anticipating (35:19-28).
A. He Prays for Judgment concerning Them (35:19-21);
B. He Prays for Justice concerning Himself (35:22-26);
C. He Pledges Praise (35:27-28).

Psalm 35:1 Plead [my cause], O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
“Plead … fight”:
The first bold prayer solicits the legal advocacy of God, while the second asks the Divine Warrior to fight his battles for him.

Psalm 35:4 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.
Psalm 35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase [them].
Chaff is the type of whatever is light, vain, futile, and worthless.
Chaff driven before the wind represents the confused rout of a beaten army fleeing without any resistance before an enemy.
"And let the angel of the LORD chase them":
Rather, smite them.

Psalm 35:11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge

[things] that I knew not.
Psalm 35:12 They rewarded me evil for good [to] the spoiling of my soul.
Psalm 35:21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, [and] said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen [it].

Psalm 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.
That is, Let me be delivered.
Let my friends see that God is on my side, and that they have occasion to rejoice in his merciful interposition in my behalf." BooksOfTheBible