When Enemies Surround: A Cry of Faith in Psalm 35
In the face of unjust accusation, David teaches that genuine faith does not deny suffering but commits justice to the God who sees.
Of David.O ETERNAL One, strive with my adversaries,give battle to my foes, take up shield and buckler,and come to my defense; ready the spear and javelinagainst my pursuers;tell me, “I am your deliverance.” Let those who seek my lifebe frustrated and put to shame;let those who plan to harm mefall back in disgrace. Let them be as chaff in the wind, GOD’s angel driving them on. Let their path be dark and slippery,with GOD’s angel in pursuit. For without cause they hid a net to trap me;without cause they dug a pit for me. Let disaster overtake them unawares;let the net they hid catch them;let them fall into it when disaster [strikes]. Then shall I exult in GOD,rejoice in having been delivered. All my bones shall say,“ETERNAL One, who is like You?You save a pauper from someone stronger,a needy pauper from a despoiler.” Malicious witnesses appearwho question me about things I do not know. They repay me evil for good,[seeking] my bereavement. Yet, when they were ill,my dress was sackcloth,I kept a fast—may what I prayed for happen to me! I walked about as though it were my friend or my kin;I was bowed with gloom, like one mourning for a mother. But when I stumble, they gleefully gather;wretches gather against me,I know not why;they tear at me without end. With impious, mocking grimace they gnash their teeth at me. O my Sovereign, how long will You look on?Rescue me from their attacks, my precious life, from the lions, that I may praise You in a great congregation,acclaim You in a mighty throng. Let not my treacherous enemies rejoice over me,or those who hate me without reason wink their eyes. For they do not offer amity,but devise fraudulent schemes against harmless folk. They open wide their mouths at me,saying, “Aha, aha, we have seen it!” You have seen it, O ETERNAL One;do not hold aloof!O my Sovereign, be not far from me! Wake, rouse Yourself for my cause,for my claim, O my God and my Sovereign! Take up my cause, O my ETERNAL God, as You are beneficent,and let them not rejoice over me. Let them not think,“Aha, just what we wished!”Let them not say,“We have destroyed him!” May those who rejoice at my misfortunebe frustrated and utterly disgraced;may those who vaunt themselves over mebe clad in frustration and shame. May those who desire my vindicationsing forth joyously;may they always say,“Extolled be GOD who desires the well-being of one who renders service,” while my tongue shall recite Your beneficent acts,Your praises all day long.
Psalm 35 is a prayer of David, pleading for divine intervention when enemies accuse him without cause and seek his harm.