For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit, Which they have dug without cause for my life. Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly, And let his net that he has hidden catch himself; Into that very destruction let him fall. Psalm 35:7,8
A Cry for Justice
35:1-3 Plead my cause is the classic protest of innocence. David has been wrongly attacked, so he prays that God will deliver him from these assaults. Stand up for my help: David is not afraid to ask God to take up arms like a soldier and fight for him. He does not shrink from asking the Lord to comfort him by saying the words I am your salvation. All these demands demonstrated David’s complete dependence on the Lord.
1 A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O Lord, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, And stand up for my help. 3 Also draw out the spear, And stop those who pursue me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
35:9, 10 All my bones refers to the inner being, the total person. Who is like you: There is nothing in all the universe to be compared with God.
And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation. 10 All my bones shall say, “Lord, who is like You, Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?”
35:11-16 The psalmist begins his second cycle of petition with reference to treacherous witnesses, like the false witnesses in the story of Jezebel and Naboth in 1 Kin. 21. The actions of these witnesses are even more shameful because they had received the help of the psalmist in their own times of need. They rejoiced: The ferocity of these witnesses is appalling. The psalm finds that they are like animals in the way they treat him, rejoicing that troubles have come upon him.
11 Fierce witnesses rise up; They ask me things that I do not know. 12 They reward me evil for good, To the sorrow of my soul. 13 But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart. 14 I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother. 15 But in my adversity they rejoiced And gathered together; Attackers gathered against me, And I did not know it; They tore at me and did not cease; 16 With ungodly mockers at feasts They gnashed at me with their teeth.
35:19-21 The enemies would rejoice if someone like David fell, who had trusted in the Lord. Hate me without a cause: Again, David asserts his innocence. The fact that he is hated for no cause is baffling and discouraging. The passage also predicts the suffering of the Savior Jesus (John 15:23-25). Peace: Far more than simply an absence of war, the biblical peace has the idea of wholeness, things as they ought to be. Note that the contrasting opposite here is not war, but deceit. Aha, aha: These contemptuous sneers are similar to the assaults in 22:7
Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies; Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause. 20 For they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful matters Against the quiet ones in the land. 21 They also opened their mouth wide against me, And said, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it.”
23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’ John 15:23-25
35:22-25 You have seen: The wicked were not the only ones who have seen David’s grave distress; God has also seen his pain. Stir up Yourself: The people of Israel know that God, unlike the false gods, never sleeps. Yet for David, it seems as though God is napping (44:23).
This You have seen, O Lord; Do not keep silence. O Lord, do not be far from me. 23 Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication, To my cause, my God and my Lord. 24 Vindicate me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness; And let them not rejoice over me. 25 Let them not say in their hearts, “Ah, so we would have it!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”
35:26-28 The phrase be ashamed refers not to simple embarrassment, but to the revelation of the complete emptiness of wickedness before 
the judgement seat of God. Who favor: Only here do we learn that David has defenders: those who are on his side will share his joy when he is saved.
26 Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion Who rejoice at my hurt; Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor Who exalt themselves against me. 27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” 28 And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness And of Your praise all the day long.
** David’s psalms are personal. He speaks to God as though he speaks to another person but with reverence. He ask God to say certain things (“I am your Savior.”). He asks God whether He is “napping.” So it is evident that he has a “personal relationship” with God.
11 Fierce witnesses rise up; They ask me things that I do not know. 12 They reward me evil for good, To the sorrow of my soul. 13 But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart. 14 I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother. 15 But in my adversity they rejoiced And gathered together; Attackers gathered against me, And I did not know it; They tore at me and did not cease; 16 With ungodly mockers at feasts They gnashed at me with their teeth.
17 Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their destructions, My precious life from the lions. 18 I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people. 19 Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies; Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause. 20 For they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful matters Against the quiet ones in the land. 21 They also opened their mouth wide against me, And said, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it.” 22 This You have seen, O Lord; Do not keep silence. O Lord, do not be far from me. 23 Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication, To my cause, my God and my Lord. 24 Vindicate me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness; And let them not rejoice over me. 25 Let them not say in their hearts, “Ah, so we would have it!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.” 26 Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion Who rejoice at my hurt; Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor Who exalt themselves against me. 27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” 28 And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness And of Your praise all the day long.
