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Psalms 35:1-10

The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 35:1-10

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Battle and victory.

The psalmist complains of unbelievers, ungodly enemies, prays for deliverance, giving promise of thanksgiving if his prayer is granted. The psalm falls into three divisions, in each of which the three elements of complaint, prayer, and thanksgiving are contained. The divisions are ; ; . Take first division and its suggestions ().

I. EVERY MAN HAS A SPIRITUAL BATTLE TO FIGHT, We have to contend against:

1. Enemies that threaten the destruction of the soul. (.) Our temptations, from within and from without, are our dangerous foes, who will conquer and destroy us if we do not conquer and destroy them. We know what unresisted sin leads to.

2. They are crafty and insidious foes. (, .) They use smiles and sophistries to conceal their real nature and designs. Evil men lay plots to ensnare the young and unwary. Hence the need of watchfulness and circumspection.

3. They are cruel, unrelenting foes. (.) They devise our hurt and follow us continually. There can be no compromise with them.

II. WE MUST SEEK THE HELP OF GOD TO GIVE US THE VICTORY IN THIS BATTLE.

1. We must fight with Divine weapons. The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, and the helmet of salvation, etc.

2. Under the Divine inspiration. Filled with the trust, and love, and courage, and hope of those who catch their inspiration from Christ. Christ is the Captain of our salvation. The true soldier will follow the great General everywhere.

3. God helping us, we are stronger than all our foes, and are sure of victory at last.

III. WHEN THE BATTLE HAS BEEN FINALLY WON WE SHALL BE FILLED WITH GRATITUDE TO GOD. (, .) For all the grace and help we have received in every stage of the conflict. And for the eternal value of the victory we have gained. This cannot be fully known here.—S.

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Matthew Henry on Psalms 35:1-10Psalms 35:1-10 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryIt is no new thing for the most righteous men, and the most righteous cause, to meet with enemies. This is a fruit of the old enmity in the seed of the serpent against the Seed of the woman. David in his afflictions, Ch…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 35:1-28Psalms 35:1-28 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION A PSALM ascribed to David by the title, and with many characteristics of his early style—abrupt, impassioned, full of lively and graphic images, and full of transitions The picture which the writer draws of h…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 35:1Psalms 35:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryPlead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me was a smaller hand-weapon; the buckler (tsinnah)covered the whole body" (Kay). The "shield and buckler" are put forward fir…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 35:1-28Psalms 35:1-28 · The Pulpit CommentaryA hard case-a very hard one-laid before God. This is one of those psalms in which the writers often meet with much scolding and with scant sympathy. It has been said that this psalm is not worthy of David. We are not pr…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 35:1-28Psalms 35:1-28 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe flesh and the Spirit. This psalm has been variously interpreted. Some say David speaks here representatively, not for himself, but for the community of Israel Others say that he speaks prophetically, and with specia…
commentaryMatthew Henry on Psalms 35:1-10It is no new thing for the most righteous men, and the most righteous cause, to meet with enemies. This is a fruit of the old enmity in the seed of the serpent against the Seed of the woman. David in his afflictions, Ch…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 35:1-28EXPOSITION A PSALM ascribed to David by the title, and with many characteristics of his early style—abrupt, impassioned, full of lively and graphic images, and full of transitions The picture which the writer draws of h…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 35:1Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me was a smaller hand-weapon; the buckler (tsinnah)covered the whole body" (Kay). The "shield and buckler" are put forward fir…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 35:1-28A hard case-a very hard one-laid before God. This is one of those psalms in which the writers often meet with much scolding and with scant sympathy. It has been said that this psalm is not worthy of David. We are not pr…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 35:1-28The flesh and the Spirit. This psalm has been variously interpreted. Some say David speaks here representatively, not for himself, but for the community of Israel Others say that he speaks prophetically, and with specia…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 35:3The assurance of salvation. "Say unto my soul," etc. Can the heart frame, the lips utter, a more ambitious request? "Creator and Preserver of all being, Almighty, Eternal, Infinite God, speak to me, even me; tell me tha…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 35:3Draw out also the spear; rather, bring out also the spear, since spears were not, so far as is known, kept in sheaths, like swords (Exodus 15:9), but only laid up in an armoury. And stop the way against them that persec…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 35:4Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul. It appears from this that David's life is being sought, which only happened at two periods in his career: The psalm therefore belongs to one or other of t…Joseph S. Exell and contributors