“Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!” -Psalm 35:1
Psalm 35 seems to be related to Psalm 34. Thirty-four has in view David’s experience in Gath as a result of fleeing there to escape King Saul. Thirty-five has David’s enemies in view. again; perhaps he has King Saul in mind, who contended for his life and devised evil against him in exchange for the good David did to Saul. It is of additional interest that both Psalms use the expression, “the Angel of the Lord,” which is not used anywhere else in the Psalter.
Psalm 35 is divided into three sections, 1-10, 11-18, 19-28, each ending in an expression of hopefulness:
“All my bones shall say, “O Lord, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?”” -Psalm 35:10
“I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.” -Psalm 35:18
“Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.” -Psalm 35:28
David’s prayer, in a sort of trinity of expressions, reminds us that regardless of what evil men devise against the righteous, God will thwart their plans, deliver the righteous, and give God’s people much to praise him for.