Psalm 35 - Contend O Lord
“Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;
Fight against those who fight against me” NASB
At first reading, I was sort of put off by the militaristic language of this Psalm. I mean asking the Lord to use your spear and lance doesn’t exactly sound like Jesus saying “turn the other cheek”. But then I considered more closely. The Hebrew word translated fight or contend could also be translated “plead my case”. That got me to thinking about the lawyer adds that you see on late night TV. “Have you been injured by big truck? Call ABC and we can get you the big settlement that you deserve!” Now most days you don’t need a lawyer, but if you do get hit by a big truck, just minding your own business, sitting at a red light while taking the kids to school, you would want one of these aggressive lawyers pleading your case! Especially if you had a family member hurt in the wreck, you would want the trucking company to pay and pay big!
Sometimes it’s the same in your spiritual walk. You’re just going to church, minding your own business, when this demonic semi truck broadsides you with something like cancer or loss of your job. That is the time you need an advocate, and you want the biggest, baddest, meanest one that you can find! That’s exactly how the psalmist was feeling when he wrote this psalm. I don’t know exactly what kind of trouble he found himself in, but he needed a powerful lawyer to plead his case. And what more powerful advocate could we have than the Lord God himself? This is exactly what is promise to us in John 2:1
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;… NASB
So take heart, if you find yourself struggling with serious trouble in your life, you have an advocate in heaven that will fight for you, will plead your case, and will get a righteous judgement for you that you may triumph over your enemies!
This psalm may not struck you as the most likely one to inspire a song, but the Sons of Korah have come up with a very beautiful and haunting melody which is a very appropriate setting for this psalm. Listen then to them sing Psalm 35 and see if you don’t come away with a deeper appreciation of the advocate that you have in heaven.
Sons of Korah - Psalm 35 Contend
Psalm 35
1 O Lord, fight those who fight with me!
Attack those who attack me!
2 Grab your small shield and large shield,
and rise up to help me!
3 Use your spear and lance against those who chase me!
Assure me with these words: “I am your deliverer!”
4 May those who seek my life be embarrassed and humiliated!
May those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed!
5 May they be like wind- driven chaff,
as the Lord ʼs angel attacks them!
6 May their path be a dark and slippery,
as the Lord ʼs angel chases them!
7 I did not harm them, but they hid a net to catch me
and dug a pit to trap me.
8 Let destruction take them by surprise!
Let the net they hid catch them!
Let them fall into destruction!
9 Then I will rejoice in the Lord
and be happy because of his deliverance.
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.”
11 Violent men perjure themselves,
and falsely accuse me.
12 They repay me evil for the good I have done;
I am overwhelmed with sorrow.
13 When they were sick, I wore sackcloth,
and refrained from eating food.
(If I am lying, may my prayers go unanswered!)
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.
15 But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together;
they gathered together to ambush me.
They tore at me without stopping to rest.
16 When I tripped, they taunted me relentlessly,
and tried to bite me.
17 O Lord, how long are you going to just stand there and watch this?
Rescue me from their destructive attacks;
guard my life d from the young lions!
18 Then I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
I will praise you before a large crowd of people!
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!
20 For they do not try to make peace with others,
but plan ways to deceive those who are unsuspecting.
21 They are ready to devour me;
they say, “Aha! Aha! Weʼve got you!”
22 But you take notice, a Lord!
O Lord, do not remain far away from me!
23 Rouse yourself, wake up and vindicate me!
My God and Lord, defend my just cause!
24 Vindicate me by your justice, O Lord my God!
Do not let them gloat over me!
25 Do not let them say to themselves, “Aha! We have what we wanted!”
Do not let them say, “We have devoured him!”
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!
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.”
28 Then I will tell others about your justice,
and praise you all day long.
The NET Bible
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