ANALYSIS OF THE THIRTY-FIFTH PSALM

This Psalm may be divided into three parts:i. A prayer for defense against his enemies. In which he prays, 1. For protection, ver. 1-3, 17, 19, 22-25.

And, 2. Imprecates evil to fall on their counsels and designs.

II. A bitter complaint against the malice of his enemies, which he pours out into the ears of God as motives to plead his cause, ver. 7, 11-16, 19-21.

III. An expression of his trust and confidence in God for help and deliverance; his joy in it, ver. 9, 10; his thanks for it, ver. 18, 28; and a motive to others to do the like, ver. 27.

1. In the courts of men and princes, innocent persons are often oppressed by false accusations and calumnies, persecuted and overborne by power.

He then, first, prays to God to be his Advocate, his Patron, and his Protector: 1. "Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive against me." 2. "Fight against them that fight against me," &c. 3. "Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation." Assure me of thy favour.

He secondly, begins an imprecation against his enemies: 1. "Let them be confounded and put to shame," ver. 4. 2. "Let them be as chaff before the wind," ver. 5. 3. "Let their way be dark and slippery," ver. 6. 4. "Let destruction come upon him unawares," ver. 8.

And here he inserts some reasons for his petition and imprecation:- 1. From the justice of his cause, and their injustice: "Without cause they hid for me their net," ver. 7.

2. From his gratitude; that, being delivered, he would be thankful: "And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord," &c., ver. 9, 10.

3. From his enemies' dealings with him, ver. 11-17.

II. He then enters upon his complaint; and lays to their charge, 1. Perfidiousness, extreme malice, and perjury: "False witnesses did rise," &c.

2. Ingratitude. They rewarded me evil for good. Good he did to them; for, when they were afflicted, he fasted and prayed for them.

3. They were cruel to him: "In my adversity they rejoiced." 4. They mocked him and made him their cruel sport: "The abjects gathered themselves together against me," &c.

5. And a conspiracy in all, ver. 20, 21.

Then he returns again to his petition; and expostulates with God, wondering that he should be so patient with them: "Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from destruction," &c.

And, to move God the sooner to do it, he repeats his former reason, ver. 9, engaging himself to be thankful: "I will give thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise thee among much people." He continues his suit to the end of the Psalm; sometimes praying, at others imprecatiny.

1. He deprecates: "Let not my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me, neither let them wink with the eye," &c. And that God may be the readier to hear him, and stay their joy and triumph, he subjoins these reasons: 1. "For they speak not peace." 2. "They devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land." 3. They are impudent, lying people: "Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me," &c. This is a truth; this is not hidden from thee: "This thou hast seen," and from them to thee I turn my eyes; and thus renew my prayer: - 1. "Keep not silence." Do not appear to neglect my cause; nor to let them pass on with impunity.

2. "Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment," &c. Defend me, and confound them: - 3. "Judge me according to thy righteousness," which suffers not the just to be always oppressed.

4. "Let them not rejoice over me," and, in me, over the truth, and over a just cause.

5. "Let them not say in their hearts, So would we have it," &c.

6. But rather let that befall them which I have prayed for: "Let them be ashamed, - brought to confusion, - and clothed with shame and dishonour, that magnify themselves against me." III. In the conclusion he expresses his trust and confidence in God; and intimates that if he be heard, then he, and the whole Church, and all good men, will rejoice together.