We ought to mourn for the sins of those who do not . But as for me, when they were sick Or under any disorder or distress of body or mind, when any misfortune or infirmity attended them; meaning Saul and his courtiers, before David was persecuted by them; my clothing [was] sackcloth; that is, he was grieved, and mourned for them, it being usual to put on sackcloth in time of mourning; see ( Genesis 37:34 ) ; I humbled my soul with fasting; on the account of them, giving up himself to prayer for them, as follows: and my prayer returned into mine own bosom; that is, he prayed privately and heartily for them, as for himself; he was constant in it, his heart was in it, and he took delight in it, and he was heard and answered; unless the sense should be, that his prayer was slighted by them, and so returned back to himself, as a present despised is returned; but however it was not without its effect, the good for which he prayed for them was returned by the Lord unto him. Verse 13. When he fell under the frowns of Saul, was banished the court, and persecuted as a criminal, they were pleased, were glad at his calamities, and got together in their drunken clubs to make themselves and one another merry with the disgrace of this great favourite. 18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. He prays that they might be turned back, scattered and brought to ruin (4-6), for they have persecuted him without cause (7-8). and whose comedies, it is likely, were acted at feasts and balls, chose David for their subject, bantered and abused him, while the auditory, in token of their agreement with the plot, hummed, and gnashed upon him with their teeth. Verse Psalms 35:13. Sometimes adonai has the sense of Sir and sometimes it has the sense of God. I humbled my soul with fasting; on the account of them, giving up himself to prayer for them, as follows: and my prayer returned into mine own bosom; that is, he prayed privately and heartily for them, as for himself; he was constant in it, his heart was in it, and he took delight in it, and he was heard and answered; unless the sense should be, that his prayer was slighted by them, and so returned back to himself, as a present despised is returned; but however it was not without its effect, the good for which he prayed for them was returned by the Lord unto him. Those that hated David thought scorn, like Haman, to lay hands on him alone, but contrived to involve all the religious people of the land in the same ruin with him. my prayer came back again and again to my bosom, i.e., for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth, And my prayer returned into mine own bosom, Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular, Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural, Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular, A mesh, coarse loose cloth, sacking, a bag, Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular, Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular, A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular, Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular, David prays for his own safety, and his enemies' confusion, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, OT Poetry: Psalm 35:13 But as for me when they were (Psalm Ps Psa. 10 All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him? Say to my soul, "I am your salvation." a. Let their way be dark and slippery: let the angel of the LORD persecute them ( Psalms 35:5-6 ). We shall not lose by the good offices we have done to any, how ungrateful soever they are; for our rejoicing will be this, the testimony of our conscience. Probably it was then well known whom he meant; it may be Saul himself for one, whom he was sent for to attend upon when he was melancholy and ill, and to whom he was serviceable to drive away the evil spirit, not with his harp, but with his prayers; to others of the courtiers, it is likely, he had shown this respect, while he lived at court, who now were, of all others, most abusive to him. The language alternates between legal and military terminology. 1Kings 18:42, where, however, there is no express mention of prayer.) Asaph wrote 12 (Psalms 50, 73-83). Among the Hebrews fasting and prayer were much more closely connected than they are with Christians. If they urge their suit in the law-court, Lord, meet them there, and beat them at their own weapons. aha! How basely and insolently and with what a brutish enmity, and worse than brutish, they had behaved towards him (v. 15, 16); In my adversity they rejoiced. Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. David mourned for them and sympathized with them in their grief. David mourned for them and sympathized with them in their grief. See this explained by Solomon, 1 Kings 7 31, 32. The idea of the psalmist is that of a warrior prepared alike for attack or defense. He was concerned for their precious souls, and, since he helped them with his prayers to God for mercy and grace; and the prayers of one who had so great an interest in heaven were of more value than perhaps they knew or considered. And let them say continually, His desire is that evil will be conquered and that righteousness will triumph (26-28). All rights reserved. If a fellow-subject had wronged him, he might have appealed to his prince, as St. Paul did to Csar; but, when his prince wronged him, he appealed to his God, who is prince and Judge of the kings of the earth: Plead my cause, O Lord! 2. David prayed to God to manifest himself in his trial. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. 2. (2.) ". I. David's representation of his case to God, setting forth the restless rage and malice of his persecutors. How tenderly, and with what a cordial affection, he had behaved towards them in their afflictions (Psalms 35:13; Psalms 35:14): They were sick. He refers to the recollections of his past life, and to the acts of kindness which he had shown to them in thees of trouble, as more deeply marking the evils of their own conduct now. They set themselves against all the sober good people that adhered to David (v. 20): They devised deceitful matters, to trepan and ruin those that were quiet in the land. He complains of their wrongful dealing 22. 7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. [Note: Ibid., p. Who exalt themselves against me. Let me have that salvation not only which he is the author of, but which consists in his favour; and let me know my interest in it; let me have the comfortable assurance of it in my own breast." Say to my soul, "I am your salvation!" 4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Verse 13. Herein he was a type of Christ, to whom this wicked world was very ungrateful. Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. His own deliverance, not the others destruction, makes the singer joyful in Jehovah. (Maclaren). They had carried on their plots against him with a great degree of secresy (v. 15): "I knew it not, till long after, when they themselves gloried in it; but thy eye was upon them in their close cabals and thou art a witness of all they have said and done against me and thy people." 6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them. Note, (1.) He even fasted, which shows the extent to which he sacrificed so they would recover. His enemy, especially Saul, was too strong for him (v. 10), for he had the army at his command, and assumed to himself the sole power of making laws and giving judgment, attainted and condemned whom he pleased, carried not a sceptre, but a javelin, in his hand, to cast at any man that stood in his way; such was the manner of the king, and all about him were compelled to do as he bade them, right or wrong. 2. It is really a combination of three laments. and whose comedies, it is likely, were acted at feasts and balls, chose David for their subject, bantered and abused him, while the auditory, in token of their agreement with the plot, hummed, and gnashed upon him with their teeth. That they might rejoice with him in his joys. Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 35:13 Commentary on Psalm 35:11-16 (Read Psalm 35:11-16) Call a man ungrateful, and you can call him no worse: this was the character of David's enemies. 131, 4, b, carries its subject in itself. Herein he was a type of Christ, to whom this wicked world was very ungrateful. They were not related to him; he was under no obligations to them; he would lose nothing by their death, but perhaps be a gainer by it; and yet he behaved himself as though they had been his nearest relations, purely from a principle of compassion and humanity. They gnashed upon him with their teeth; they never spoke of him but with the greatest indignation imaginable, as those that would have eaten him up if they could. Now when these people were sick, (1.) My clothing was sackcloth - Compare the notes at Psalm 30:11. of This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O LORD, be not far from me. Among the Hebrews fasting and prayer were much more closely connected than they are with Christians. Lord, who is like unto thee? Note, [1.] Observe, He mourned as for a brother or mother, which intimates that it is our duty, and well becomes us, to lay to heart the sickness, and sorrow, and death of our near relations. Thus, when the Son of David was run upon by the rulers, the people cried, Crucify him, crucify him. This is what he prayed for Christians: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. David shows how tenderly he had behaved towards them in afflictions. He promised that then God should have the glory of it (v. 10): All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee? I. Perjury, Psalms 35:11; Psalms 35:11. The Hebrew verb has this frequentative sense in one of its conjugations. Nay, he had deserved well not only of the public in general, but of those particular persons that were now most bitter against him. (2.) Well, might he call them abjects, for nothing could be more vile and sordid than to triumph in the fall of a man of such unstained honour and consummate virtue. Bible > Commentaries > Psalm 35:3 . This You have seen, O LORD: Thou hast seen is a perfect foil to the enemys cry, our eyes have seen it! (Kidner). They tore him, rent his good name without mercy, said all the ill they could of him and fastened upon him all the reproach their cursed wit and malice could reach to. Ingratitude. Note, It is no new thing for the most righteous men, and the most righteous cause, to meet with many mighty and malicious enemies: Christ himself is striven with and fought against, and war is made upon the holy seed; and we are not to marvel at the matter: it is a fruit of the old enmity in the seed of the serpent against the seed of the woman. If God is our Friend, no matter who is our enemy. Though the people of God are, and study to be, a quiet people, yet it has been the common practice of their enemies to devise deceitful matters against them. Let me have inward comfort under all outward troubles, to support my soul. Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication, He discovered not only the tender affection of a man, but the pious affection of a saint. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother. Do We See Any Gospel Connections in the Book of Numbers? We find how patiently he bore Shimei's curses (so let him curse, for the Lord has bidden him); and we cannot suppose that he who was so meek in his conversation would give vent to any intemperate heat or passion in his devotion; but, by the spirit of prophecy, he foretels the just judgments of God that would come upon them for their great wickedness, their malice, cruelty, and perfidiousness, and especially the enmity to the counsels of God, the interests of religion, and that reformation which they knew David, if ever he had power in his hand, would be an instrument of. I. Perjury, v. 11. All rights reserved. 14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. Yet he ended with a strong focus on God and His praise. Job 19:18; Job 30:1). Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word | . 1Kings 18:42, where, however, there is no express mention of prayer.) He knows that only God can keep him going and preserve him from their attacks (15-18). Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor: He will shame them for shaming his people, bring them to confusion for making confusion, pull off their fine apparel and give them a beggarly suit of dishonour, and turn all their rejoicing into weeping and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. 14 I went about mourning . Yet in many of the disputes with his enemies, he had no problem seeing that he was on Gods side and they were not. Orient. ], 2. Mine enemies great design is to magnify themselves, verse 26, but my chief desire is that God may be magnified. (Poole), (c) 2020 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik ewm@enduringword.com. Who favor my righteous cause; My prayer returned into, or was directed to, my bosom. Or, if they were not brought to repentance, David prays that they might be defeated and disappointed in their designs against him and so put to shame. Call a man ungrateful and you can call him no worse. 2 Put on your armor, and take up your shield. ). But this was not all. They really would get upset.Now when Elisha was going up the hill, little kids came up from Bethel saying, "aha, aha, ye old bald man!" Exodus 2:24-25 ). Verse 13. 1. Though from the wayward and profligate life they led, they did not profit by my prayers, yet God did not permit me to pray in vain. A posture somewhat similar to this is referred to in the case of Elijah, 1 Kings 18:42 : "And he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees." i. They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. There remains (1) the literal, and my prayer turned upon my bosom, referring to the posture described in Psalm 35:14. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. A posture somewhat similar to this is referred to in the case of Elijah, 1 Kings 18:42 : And he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees. The posture of prayer with the head reclining toward the bosom is common among the Muslims, Reland de Religione Mohammetica, p. 87. It is supposed that Saul and his party are the persons he means, for with them he had the greatest struggles. Proud member This is the plural for the generic word for God. Psalm 35:13 in all English translations. But to suppose that this was the "motive" in the case is to suppose that the psalmist was wholly selfish, and would take away the very point of his observation about his prayer - that it was dictated by the sincerest love for them and true sympathy for their sufferings. a. Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication: David was confident that he was on Gods side in his contention with his enemies, yet he longed for God to actively vindicate him. We must be earnest to keep the line of demarcation broad and clear. The bosom is not only the place where the Asiatics carry their purses, but also where they carry any thing that is given to them. 19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. This prayer we may put up against our persecutors, that God would restrain them and stop their way. David had been a man of sympathy; he had mourned when Saul was in ill health, putting on the weeds of sorrow for him as though he were a near and dear friend. Those that do not are justly stigmatized as without natural affection. The Timeless Psalms: Psalm 13, Joan Stott, prayers and meditations based on lectionary Psalms, 2014. Psalm 35 David, in this psalm, appeals to the righteous Judge of heaven and earth against his enemies that hated and persecuted him. He complains to God of the injuries they did him; they strove with him, fought against him (ver 1), persecuted him (ver 3), sought his ruin (ver 4, 7), accused him falsely (ver 11), abused him basely (ver 15, 16), and all his friends (ver 20), and triumphed over him,, ver 21, 25, 26. 5. So, "aha, aha" was a bad thing to say, and as I say, I don't know what the whole connotation of the "aha, aha" might be, but the hypocritical mockers speaking against David.
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psalm 35:13 commentary