1.
Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
Plead = Contend, or strive. Note the Figure of speech Exergasia ( App-6 ) in the words "plead", "fight", "take hold", "stand up", "draw out", "stop", "say", &c.; continued in verses: Psalms 35:4 , Psalms 35:5 . Psalm probably written during and concerning the times of 1Sa 21:24 , 1Sa 21:26-27 , but it relates also to David's Son and David's Lord, the Messiah, in view of Psalms 22 . See the Structure on p. 721. Compare especially verses: Psalms 35:15-21 with Matthew 26:67 . Mark 14:65 .Luke 22:63 .
them that strive = my contenders.
Fight = make war.
2.
Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
shield, &c. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
3.
Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
stop = close up. Some render "battle axe" or "barricade".
persecute = pursue.
my soul = me (emph.) Hebrew. nephesh.
4.
Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
5.
Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
wind. Hebrew. ruach.
the angel of the LORD. See note on Psalms 34:7 .
6.
Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
7.
For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
without cause. See note on Psalms 35:19 .
net in a pit: i.e. a pit covered with a net.
8.
Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
9.
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 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?
All my bones = all the members of my body. Interpretation belongs to the speaker. The Application belongs (1) to the O.T. saints (Psalms 139:13-16 ), and (2) to the later members referred to in Ephesians 1:22 , Ephesians 1:23 ; Ephesians 2:21 ; Ephesians 4:4-16 . Note their experiences: Psalms 6:2 (vexed); Psalms 22:14 (out of joint); but "not broken" (Psalms 34:20 John 19:36 . Exodus 12:46 ); His heart broken (Psalms 69:20 ); so our hearts (Psalms 34:18 ); but not ourselves (John 10:27-29 ).
say. They speak: and always of HIM. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia , for emphasis. They all and always confess Christ as LORD (1 Corinthians 12:3 . 1 Peter 3:15 ).
who is like . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ), for greater emphasis. Compare their words (Psalms 71:19 ; Psalms 73:25 ; Psalms 89:6 . 1 Samuel 2:2 .Deuteronomy 33:26 , Deuteronomy 33:27 ).
deliverest = rescuest. Compare 2 Timothy 4:18 . 2 Peter 2:9 .
poor = oppressed. Compare Psalms 34:6 .
too strong. Law too strong (Galatians 1:3 , Galatians 1:10 , Galatians 1:13 ); sin too strong (Romans 5:21 ); the world too strong (John 16:33 ); self too strong (Romans 7:24 ); death too strong (2 Timothy 1:10 ).
11.
False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
False witnesses . "Many of them". Compare Matthew 26:60 , Matthew 26:61 ; Matthew 27:40 . Mark 14:55-59 .
12.
They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
evil. Hebrew. ra'a . App-44 .
spoiling = bereaving.
13.
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
clothing, &c. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , put, by Symbol, for feelings of sorrow.
with fasting = in the Fast: i.e. on the great Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16 )
14.
I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
15.
But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:
adversity = halting or falling. Compare Psalms 38:17 . Jeremiah 20:10 .
abjects = outcasts.
it. Supply Ellipsis ( App-6 ), by reading "[them]".
tear me. Hebrew. kar'u (with Ayin = '). Spelled with Aleph ( kar'u) ; it means "cry out". See note on Isaiah 11:4 .
16.
With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
hypocritical mockers in feasts. Figure of speech Ellipsis (of Repetition) = "hypocrites [at feasts] mocking at the feast". App-6 .
17.
Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
LORD*. The primitive text was Jehovah. App-4 . Altered to "Adonai" by the Sopherim. See App-32 .
My darling = My only one. See note on Psalms 22:20 .
from the lions. Compare Psalms 22:13 , Psalms 22:16 .
18.
I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
congregation = assembly, or convocation.
much = mighty.
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.
that hate me. Quoted in John 15:25 .
without a cause. Note the same Greek word there ( dorean ) as in Romans 3:24 , rendered "freely", but meaning "without a cause". Compare Psalms 35:7 , and Psalms 69:4 ; Psalms 109:3 .
20.
For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
deceitful matters. Hebrew "words of frauds".
21.
Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
opened their mouth. Implying contempt.
Aha, aha. Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for emphasis. See Psalms 40:15 ; Psalms 70:3 . Compare Mark 15:29 .
hath seen. Implying delight in so doing.
22.
This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
Thou hast seen. Another eye has seen.
23.
Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
judgment = vindication.
my God and my Lord. Compare John 20:28 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
Lord. Hebrew Adonai. App-4 .
24.
Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
Judge = Vindicate.
25.
Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
we = our soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 :. we have our great desire at last.
26.
Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.
clothed with shame. Compare Psalms 109:29 ; Psalms 132:18 .
27.
Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
my righteous cause = my justification.
28.
And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
To the chief Musician. See App-64 .