“Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up to help me! Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers; say to my soul, “I am your salvation.” Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life. Let them be turned back and confounded who devise evil against me. Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them on. Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them. For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life. Let ruin come on them unawares. And let the net that they hid ensnare them; let them fall in it—to their ruin. Then my soul shall rejoice in the Lord, exulting in his deliverance. All my bones shall say, “O Lord, who is like you? You deliver the weak from those too strong for them, the weak and needy from those who despoil them.” Psalm 35:1-10

The word “plead” means to argue in support of a claim, or against the claim of another; to urge for or against; to attempt to persuade one by argument or supplication. The original Hebrew word used here is “rûb” which means to contend, strive, quarrel — but more than that, to contend before a judge, to manage or plead a cause. The psalmist thus desires that G-d would fight his case against those who had risen up against him — G-d should be the advocate. We all have had something like these words on our lips from time to time — pleading that G-d would take action on those who persecute us — or those who persecute Christians around the world.

The psalmist, and often you and me, feels as if he cannot manage his own cause against those who persecute him; and he, therefore, pleads with G-d that He would interpose, and stand up for him. He also asks that the net his enemies have set against him will ensnare those who set it. In other words, he hopes there will be payback for those who seek his ruin.

We have to be careful about dwelling on such thoughts — and the Psalmist turns his pleading to thanksgiving — he says “Let those who favor my cause sing out with joy and be glad, let them say always “Great is the Lord”. It does us good to dwell on the righteousness of G-d rather than on G-d’s vengeance.

PRAYER

Lord God, you rose to the aid of your beloved Son against those who unjustly sought his life. Look on your Church as we journey to you, and rescue the poor from their oppressors, that they may tell of your righteousness and your praise; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him. O fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have no want. The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” Psalm 34:1-10

“The 34th psalm is a psalm of thanks, much like the preceding psalm. It offers us the history of David as an example for all the righteous so we might learn from him that God never despises the cries of His saints. Moreover, it teaches us to fear God and no one else; further, to be on our guard against false teachers, against curses, grumblings, and slander. We should have patience, bless enemies rather than curse them, wish them all good, do good to them rather than evil, and so (as much as in us lies) to live at peace with all people, whether they are evil or godly. For it is certain (the psalmist says) that the righteous will suffer many things. It cannot be otherwise. If you will be righteous, you must take up your cross and suffer. This is how it must be. On the other hand, it is certain that the Lord will truly help us out of all these afflictions, that none of the least of your bones will be taken away or missing. Yes, even the hairs of the head are numbered. Although the bones of the saints in their martyrdom were often broken, some of them burnt to ashes, and many more decaying in their graces, they will yet return and not remain eternally broken or be called broken. Rather, for a time they will be broken, but afterward they will all again be more whole and healthy than they formerly were. This is the first psalm that speaks about angels, that they attend to the righteous and wait on us. They are not simply with us or around us. The angels are like an army—armed soldiers encamped around us, pitching their tents, keeping watch, and fighting for us against the devil and all his minions. This is a great and excellent comfort for all who believe, as the prophet Elisha, following this verse, made clear with his clear and correct example (2 Kings 6:17). But this verse is taken from Genesis 32:1–2, where the angels encounter the patriarch Jacob, because of which he called that city “army” or “camp.” For they were his troops and camped around him as a protection, as the psalm here states.” (Martin Luther, Reading the Psalms with Luther)

“And let us exalt his name together”: the Psalmist begins by stating that his praise of G-d is continually in his mouth. Have you found yourself singing a hymn in your head — or being reminded of a piece of scripture as you go about your day — and soon realize you have been repeating it most of the day? By doing this you have had a mind of proclamation similar to what the Psalmist is suggesting — for by doing this, even if it has not been completely central in your mind, by making mention of G-d’s works or words, you have been exalting the Lord. And by praising G-d through song or words you have had the Lord on your lips and in your mouth all day.

There is no better work for the Christian than to share or the wonderful things G-d has done for them. And by singing a hymn quietly to yourself, or by repeating a passage to yourself or even to someone you know well, you have joined in the sharing of the wonderful things that God has done, and may even bring someone else closer to G-d.

PRAYER

O God, Spirit of truth, who spoke of old by kings and prophets, enlighten the eyes of our understanding, that we may read aright the psalms of Your servant David, learning from them that Jesus of Nazareth is He of whom the Scriptures spoke. Cause us ever more clearly to see that He, and He alone, is the Savior of our souls, that our heart may cling to Him alone. Amen.