If we be at any time charged with what we are innocent of let us not think it strange, as though some new thing happened to us; so persecuted they the prophets, even the great prophet. Among the Hebrews fasting and prayer were much more closely connected than they are with Christians. But as for them - how do they act at the present time, when he finds himself in (Psalm 38:17; Job 18:12), a sideway direction, i.e., likely to fall (from , Arab. He felt that their restoration to health - that the preservation of their lives - depended on God, and he most earnestly and fervently pleaded in their behalf. and willingly to undergo any services or sufferings for him. This is the view of Ewald and Delitzsch, but seems prosaic. 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. We ought to mourn for the sins of those that do not mourn for them themselves. 3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. Of the many interpretations that are given of this passage, that appears to me the most probable which derives it from the posture of the worshipper; who standing with his head inclined downward toward his bosom, turned away his attention from all external objects, and uttered his mournful and earnest requests, as if they were directed to his own bosom. pass sentence upon this appeal, according to the righteousness of thy nature and government," v. 24. 5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord chase them. The verb means to smite; Niph. For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which they without cause have digged for my soul. Psalm 35:14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. ichtalla, to be pierced through equals mad), be understood as those mentally deranged, enraged at nothing or without cause. ], 2. 12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. You can check these in your browser security settings. Koeler in Repertor. My prayer returned into, or was directed to, my bosom. 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. David was looked upon with ill-will for no other reason than because he was caressed by the people. 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!" [Note: On the practice of fasting, see Kent D. Berghuis, "A Biblical Perspective on Fasting," Bibliotheca Sacra 158:629 (January-March 2001):86-103.]. Psalm 35:13 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. If God is our Friend, no matter who is our enemy. He prophesies the destruction of his persecutors, ver 4-6, 8. Psalm 35 1. Psalms 35:13 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible. 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. David vowed that his hand should not be upon him; he would not be judge in his own cause. of Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Solomon wrote one or two (127 and perhaps 72). Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. And the she bears came out and ripped them up. ( Psalms 35:7-10 ). , Job 30:6, to be driven forth with a whip, after which the lxx renders it , Symm. (Comp. 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 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. 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. Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Leviticus 16:29,31 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: , Matthew 9:14,15 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 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." We are apt to justify our uneasiness at the injuries men do us by this, That we never gave them any cause to use us so; whereas this should, more than any thing, make us easy, for then we may the more confidently expect that God will plead our cause. We cannot express how great and good God is, and therefore must praise him by acknowledging him to be a non-such. III. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Psalm 35:13 13 Read more Explain verse Share Copy But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom. (2.) 24 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. Bible > Commentaries > Psalm 35:3 . 14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. Having no word from the Lord, David had to listen to his own reasoning that he regarded as a poor substitute. (Comp. It is a vexation of spirit which attends even a right work that for this a man is envied of his neighbour,Ecclesiastes 4:4. Asaph wrote 12 (Psalms 50, 73-83). 1. Note, A righteous cause may, with the greatest satisfaction imaginable, he laid before a righteous God, and referred to him to give judgment upon it; for he perfectly knows the merits of it, holds the balance exactly even, and with him there is no respect of persons. they gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me together, and I knew it not; they tore me and ceased not: With hypocritical mockers in the feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. "Judge me, O Lord my God! All rights reserved. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Compassion to the sick. John 15 25, They hated me without cause. (last clause). But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. This You have seen, O LORD: Thou hast seen is a perfect foil to the enemys cry, our eyes have seen it! (Kidner). And of Your praise all the day long. Exodus 2:24-25 ). For him. If he did not count our Lord to be divine, neither does David here ascribe Deity to Jehovah, for there is no difference except in the order of the words and the tongue in which they were spoken; the meaning is identical. (Spurgeon). This he complains of here as the highest piece of injustice imaginable: False witnesses did rise up, who would swear anything; they laid to my charge things that I knew not, nor ever thought of. dl, to incline towards the side)? The enemys fall is the occasion of glad praise, not because his intended victim yields to the temptation to take malicious delight in his calamity (Schadenfreude). Fight those who fight against me. Psalm 35:14. 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. 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. He subjected himself to the pains of hunger, that he might be better prepared to offer fervent and acceptable prayer. and humbled myself with fasting. The great God has pleasure in this prosperity of good people, not only of his family, the church in general, but of every particular servant in his family. So this is one of those psalms where David is praying God's judgment and all against his enemies. A great deal of good service he had done to his king, witness his harp, witness Goliath's sword, witness the foreskins of the Philistines; and yet his king vowed his death, and his country was made too hot for him. When they were sick, David prayed for their recovery and mourned over their condition. Call a man ungrateful and you can call him no worse. Lord, keep not silence, as if thou didst consent to what is done against me! God had apparently forgotten His servant or was hiding from him (cf. He will do it in the great congregation, and among much people, that God might be honoured and many edified. And my prayer returned into mine own bosom. He prays earnestly to God to appear graciously for him and his friends, against his and their enemies, that by his providence the struggle might issue to the honour and comfort of David and to the conviction and confusion of his persecutors. Rescue my soul from the destructions they are plotting against it; rescue my darling, my only one, from the lions. They persecuted him with an unwearied enmity, sought after his soul (v. 4), that is, his life, no less would satisfy their bloody minds; they aimed to disquiet his spirit and put that into disorder. King James Version. Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion And my prayer returned into mine own bosom. aha! Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. 3 Brandish spear and javelin[ a] against those who pursue me. Therefore means: mockers for a cake, i.e., those who for a delicate morsel, for the sake of dainty fare, make scornful jokes, viz., about me, the persecuted one, vile parasites; German Tellerlecker, Bratenriecher, Greek , , Mediaeval Latin buccellarii. He appeals to God against them, the God to whom vengeance belongs, appeals to his knowledge (v. 22): This thou hast seen. Among the Hebrews fasting and prayer were much more closely connected than they are with Christians. 2. If our dove find no rest for the sole of her foot among our enemies, it shall fly into our bosoms and bring an olive branch of peace in its mouth. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. This is the view of Ewald and Delitzsch, but seems prosaic. The adjective signifies elsewhere with , one who is smitten in the feet, i.e., one who limps or halts, and with , but also without any addition, in Isaiah 16:7, one smitten in spirit, i.e., one deeply troubled or sorrowful. We ought to mourn for the sins of those that do not mourn for them themselves. Prayer is never lost: if it bless not those for whom intercession is made, it shall bless the intercessors. Lord, who is like unto thee? The idea of the psalmist is that of a warrior prepared alike for attack or defense. 3. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. (2.) 25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. with the for warding off the hostile blow and (vid., Psalm 5:13) which covers the body like a . Nay, he had deserved well not only of the public in general, but of those particular persons that were now most bitter against him. This is quoted, with application to Christ, and is said to be fulfilled in him. When they were sick - Compare the notes at Job 30:25. What Does Colossians 2:6-7 Teach Us about Our Faith Walk? Or, as Dr. Hammond reads it, They shall be confounded, they shall be turned back. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. But David is poor and needy, has nothing to make friends with, and therefore has none to take his part but men (as we say) of broken fortunes (1 Sam 22 2); and therefore no marvel that Saul spoiled him of what little he had got and the interest he had made. In the former case, it would be equivalent to: the profane, viz., the cake-jesters; in the latter, which is the more natural, and quite suitable: the profane ( equals the profanest, vid., Psalm 45:13; Isaiah 29:19; Ezekiel 7:24) among cake-jesters. Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). With , used of the solemn slowness of gait, which corresponds to the sacredness of pain, alternates used of the being bowed down very low, in which the heavy weight of pain finds expression. They were like alms given to the miserable for God's sake, who takes care to return to the merciful man tenfold into his bosom. He prays that God would stop their way (v. 3), that they might not overtake him when he fled from them. If we be at any time charged with what we are innocent of let us not think it strange, as though some new thing happened to us; so persecuted they the prophets, even the great prophet. And these predictions look further, and read the doom of the enemies of Christ and his kingdom, as appears by comparing Rom 11 9, 10. rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. To him: "Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation; let me have inward comfort under all these outward troubles, to support my soul which they strike at. He prays that they might be turned back, scattered and brought to ruin (4-6), for they have persecuted him without cause (7-8). 2. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. My soul is my only one, and therefore the greater is the shame if I neglect it and the greater the loss if I lose it: it is my only one, and therefore ought to be my darling, ought to be carefully protected and provided for. Psalm 35:13 in all English translations. II. Publicly, as one that took a pleasure in owning his obligations to his God, so far was he from being ashamed of them. They were very rude; they could not find in their hearts to show him common civility: They speak not peace; if they met him, they had not the good manners to give him the time of day; like Joseph's brethren, that could not speak peaceably to him, Gen 37 4. Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. How basely and insolently and with what a brutish enmity, and worse than brutish, they had behaved towards him (Psalms 35:15; Psalms 35:16); In my adversity they rejoiced. 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? Psalms 35:13-14 13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. It would harden the hearts of his enemies in their wickedness and confirm them in their enmity to him, and would be a great discouragement to all the pious Jews that were friends to his righteous cause. David prays for his own safety, and his enemies' confusion 11. His heart went into mourning for his sick master. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. It was also with reference to prayer in their behalf; and to fasting, that he put on these marks of grief. I am for peace, Ps 120 7. The Psalmist goes on to say in Psalm 35:14, I went about as for a friend, for a brother to me, i.e., as if the sufferer had been such to me. This showed a noble spirit in David, and greatly aggravated the baseness of those who now so cruelly persecuted him. Let me hear you say, "I will give you victory!" , not: like the mourning (from , like from ) of a mother (Hitzig), but, since a personal is more natural, and next to the mourning for an only child the loss of a mother (cf. 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. 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. Herein he was a type of Christ, to whom this wicked world was very ungrateful. My prayer returned into mine own bosom. It seems that this psalm also was written during the time of Davids flight from Saul. Call a man ungrateful and you can call him no worse. Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me.