Psalm 35 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Psalm 35 Short Summary:

Psalm 35 is an imprecatory psalm, one in which David prays for the downfall of his enemies. David asked God to contend for him against his wicked people. Men were slandering him and trying to ruin him unjustly. Rather than taking vengeance himself, he entrusted God with handing out justice.

Psalm 35 Summary

AUTHOR:

• David wrote Psalm 35.

NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES:

• No Known New Testament References.

THEMES:

• Evil men try to snare the righteous without justification.

• God will fight for His people and vindicate them.

DEFINITIONS:

• Buckler (35:2) – A shield carried by a warrior.  

• Bereft (35:12) – Grief-stricken or sorrowful.

• Imprecation – A curse spoken over a person or a group of people. Psalm 35 is an imprecatory psalm, one in which David prays for the downfall of his enemies. Imprecatory psalms were discussed in greater detail in the application section of Psalm 5.

OUTLINE:

• CLOTH MY ENEMIES WITH SHAME AND DISHONOR (35:1-28):

  • In Psalm 35, David called on the Lord to thwart and humiliate his enemies. These were malicious men who had no credible case against David but were doing everything they could to ruin him.

  • These men were constantly setting traps for David, trying to snare him in some wrongdoing or ill-spoken word (sounds like modern politics).

  • Many of these men David didn’t even know personally.

  • David wrote, “But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing” (35:15).

  • Worse still, David had shown kindness to some of these men in the past, but they had forgotten his kindness and now they were at his throat.

  • David was exhausted with dealing with these people and he called out to God, saying, “Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me” (35:1).

  • He asked God to shame them, dishonor them, and trap them in their own snares.

  • David trusted that God was going to vindicate him, and he worshiped God for caring about the welfare of His servants.
    

APPLICATION:

• It’s interesting to me that David asked the Lord to avenge him.

• He was the king, he could have rallied his army or used the legal system to get his revenge, but he gave that over to the Lord.

• Resisting the urge to take vengeance, especially when its within your ability, is extremely hard, but God instructs His followers to practice that discipline.

• Rom 12:18-19 - If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 

• If you find yourself eaten up with a desire for revenge, give those feelings over to God and let Him deal with it.

• He will ensure that justice is done in the end.