Psalm 35

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 35:26

Verse 26 26.Let those who rejoice at thy hurt be ashamed and confounded together. This imprecation has already been expounded; and it is only necessary to remark, that there is peculiar force in the expression, together, or at once. It shows that it was not only one or two, but a great multitude, who waged war against him, and that he yielded not to the influence of fear, but believed that as soon as God should lift up his hand, he could at one stroke easily overthrow them all. When it is said... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 35:27

Verse 27 27.Let those who favor my righteous cause rejoice and be glad. These two expressions, which are rendered in the optative mood, might have been translated with equal propriety in the future tense; but as this is a matter of little consequence, I leave it undecided. David here extols the deliverance which he asks of God, and exults in the results which should flow from it; namely, that it would be an occasion of general rejoicing and good hope to all the godly, while at the same time it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 35:1

Plead 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 first, because it is primarily defence and protection that David needs. His adversaries are the aggressors; he is on the defensive; Saul is hunting him upon the mountains. And stand up for mine help (comp. Psalms 7:6 ). Standing is the natural posture of one who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 35:1-10

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 Psalms 35:1-10 ; Psalms 35:11-18 ; Psalms 35:19-28 . Take first division and its suggestions ( Psalms 35:1-10 ). I. EVERY MAN HAS A SPIRITUAL BATTLE TO FIGHT , We... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 35:1-28

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 35:1-28

A 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 prepared to say so: but we are prepared to contend that many of the criticisms passed on it are utterly unworthy of those who thus criticize. £ If we will but study the whole psalm in all its bearings while we may not feel called on to justify every expression therein, we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 35:1-28

The 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 special reference to the days of Messiah. Others again hold that he speaks as a holy man, moved by the Holy Spirit to record the feelings that had passed through his own heart in time of trial. This last seems the more reasonable interpretation. I. First it agrees best with ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 35:3

Draw 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 persecute me. So Jarchi, Rosenmuller, Hitzig, Kay, Professor Alexander, Hengstenberg, and our Revisers; but a large number of critics regard סְגר —the word translated "stop the way"—as really the name of a weapon, the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek σάγαρις , which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 35:3

The 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 that thou art mine; that I am thine!" Yet this prayer is as reasonable as ambitious. For human nature has in it a capacity which can be satisfied with nothing less. What God says must needs be true. Therefore this is a double petition: I. GOD IS THE SOUL 'S ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 35:4

Let 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 those periods, most probably to the former (see the introductory paragraph, and note the resemblance between this passage and 1 Samuel 20:1 ; 1 Samuel 22:23 ). Let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Imprecations closely resembling these... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 35:26

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 35:27

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 35:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 35:1-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 35:1-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 35:1-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 35:1-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 35:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 35:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 35:4

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