Prayer for Rescue from Enemies – A Psalm of David
This Psalm is “of David,” and it can be understood in a couple of ways. One possibility is that it’s about when David spared Saul’s life in the cave, as mentioned in 2 Samuel 24. Saul had been misled by lies about David and became suspicious of him. David, though being treated unfairly, chose to show mercy. Another view is that this Psalm reflects David’s later years when he feels betrayed by others, especially after a broken treaty, and calls on God to defend him.
Verse 1: Here, God is shown as a powerful force in battle, like a “wrecking ball” in war. Salvation isn’t just about being saved but also about being proven right. As Christians, we are taught to pray for our enemies and feel pity for them, but we must remember that Jesus is the final judge, and there are consequences for going against Him. Leaders are held responsible for this (as shown in Revelation 19).
Paul reminds us that those who do not believe in Jesus will face consequences, but those who do will be protected. The Bible is consistent—those who follow Jesus are blessed, and those who oppose Him will face consequences. God’s angel protects His people and punishes those who do harm. Going against Jesus or His people is dangerous.
Verse 9: This verse starts with praise for God’s power. In verse 11, the Psalm shifts to David’s personal lament. Despite being faithful to others, he feels betrayed by those around him. Some people make up stories to turn others against him.
Verse 10: Here, David expresses awe at the greatness of God, recognizing that there’s no one like Him.
Verse 15: The “stumbling” here doesn’t just refer to sin but to a great trial or disaster. This has given David’s enemies a chance to attack him. Jesus went through similar challenges, and as His followers, we will also face hard times. People won’t always treat us the way we treat them. Some will jump at any weakness in our lives. But we can’t let that bring us down. David compares his enemies to lions, but we know that Jesus will protect His people in the end.
Verse 19: Jesus is the perfect example of how to follow God’s law. Everything in the Old Testament points to Him, and His kingdom is forever.
The Psalm ends with praise. Those who stay faithful to God will rejoice in His deliverance.
“Meekness only makes sense if we preach the full doctrine of salvation.” – Paul Carter
As Christians, we are called to bless those who hurt us, turn the other cheek, and pray that God shows mercy to those who harm us. We leave the burden of revenge to God. We trust that He will restore us and make things right in His timing. We must wait for the Lord to act, knowing that He is always there to help us with our foes.
When we pray, we can leave the weight of our burdens in His hands, knowing He will take care of it.
Check out Paul Carter’s commentary on Psalm 35 here. https://intotheword.ca/audio-bible-commentary-with-paul-carter/listen/psalm-35
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