Psalms 35 · The Lantern

Plead thou my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: and fight thou against them that fight against me.

Lay hand upon the shield and buckler: and stand up to help me.

Armor and shield are the very will of the Lord by which he protects someone in danger and fights back against his enemy.

Since Scripture conceals a manifold understanding beneath a single letter, the expositor ought to bring hidden things forth into the light and make manifest what has been drawn forth through another, more open passage of Scripture, as if I were to expound that verse of the Psalm: Take hold of arms and shield, and rise up to help me, and wished to explain what the divine arms ar…

Consequently, when he says, "Take hold of arms," he explains his petition. For he asked for two things: namely the condemnation of those who harm, and the routing of those who attack. And therefore he explains these two in particular. First, he explains the second.

Bring forth the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

Let them be confounded and put to shame, that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion, that imagine mischief for me.

Let them be as the dust before the wind: and the angel of the Lord scattering them.

What of others? For all are not so conquered as to be converted and believe: many continue in obstinacy, many preserve in heart the spirit of going before, and if they exert it not, yet they labour with it, and finding opportunity bring it forth. Of such, what followeth? "Let them be as dust before the wind" (ver. 5).

Dust is indeed an earthy yet very dry and thin substance, which cannot remain in its place when the wind blows, but is lifted into the flowing breezes. So also the desires of sinners, when they have been admonished by the inspiration of the truth, are lifted by the Lord's help from their earthly vices and brought to the heavenly virtues.

Then, when he says, "let them be," he adduces a comparison. And first, regarding the first. Second, regarding the second, at "let their ways be." He says therefore, "let them be as dust." For he first asks for judgment against those who sought to destroy him totally; and therefore he adduces a comparison of something that is totally destroyed, namely dust.

Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them.

"Let their way be darkness and slipping." A horrible way! Darkness alone who fears not? A slippery way alone who avoids not? In a dark and slippery way how shall you go? Where set foot? These two ills are the great punishments of men: darkness, ignorance; a slippery way, luxury. "And let the Angel of the Lord persecute them;" that they be not able to stand.

Put them to flight, entrusting the pursuit to the unseen angels. This is the way we also find the Assyrians exterminated by an angel and the way the exterminator destroyed the firstborn of the Egyptians.

Then, when he says, "let their ways be," a comparison is set forth regarding the second impediment, that is, regarding the course of the way; and he sets forth three impediments on the way. The first is darkness, because then one easily stumbles. "Let their ways," that is, their progress, "become darkness." The second is that the way be slippery and prone to falling: Lam.

For they have privily laid their net to destroy me without a cause: yea, even without a cause have they made a pit for my soul.

Let a sudden destruction come upon him unawares, and his net, that he hath laid privily, catch himself: that he may fall into his own mischief.

And, my soul, be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him: yea, the poor, and him that is in misery, from him that spoileth him?

I shall say no one is like you, he means, and shall confess you to be more powerful than everyone, even those considered strong and powerful; you are capable of rescuing the poor and insignificant and delivering them from their scheming against the odds.… You see, both the insignificance by comparison with him of the one who suffers and is rescued and also the might of the sche…

Bones must be understood as strength of spirit and steadfastness of mind. Such things are rightly compared with bones, for just as the body contains bones, so also these qualities strengthen holy desires. So only the bones, which mean firmness, could communicate this mystery, not flesh, which stands for slackness, for only strength of mind can speak such a song of praise.

Consequently, when he says, "all my bones," the second fruit is set forth, which is divine reverence; and regarding this he does two things. First, he sets forth reverence toward God.

False witnesses did rise up: they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

Let then our Head say, "False witnesses did rise up, they laid to My charge things that I knew not" [Psalm 35:11]. But let us say to our Head, Lord, what knew Thou not? Did Thou indeed know not anything? Did You not know the hearts of them that charged You? Did You not foresee their deceits? Did You not give Yourself into their hands knowingly?

When Saul under the influence of envy, remember, suspected him of plotting a coup and for that reason maintained a state of war, the slanderers (whom he calls false "witnesses") took occasion not to desist from spreading calumny against him. Some of these were Doeg, the Ziphites, and many others in addition to them.

"Witnesses rising up." This is the second principal part. Above, the Psalmist asked for the repulse of the wicked; here he assigns the cause. And first, he pursues their malice; second, he asks for divine assistance, at "Lord, when will you look?" Regarding the first, he does two things.

They rewarded me evil for good: to the great discomfort of my soul.

Nevertheless, when they were sick, I put on sackcloth, and humbled my soul with fasting: and my prayer shall turn into mine own bosom.

Even if my prayer proved unacceptable to God and was sent back to me on account of the unworthiness of what I prayed for, I nevertheless did everything on my part with the purpose of obeying God.

"But I, when they troubled me, clothed myself with sackcloth, and humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer shall return into my own bosom" [Psalm 35:13]...Brethren, if for some little space with pious curiosity we lift the veil, and search with the intent eye of the heart the inner part of this Scripture, we find that even this the Lord did.

"But I." Above, the Psalmist set forth the wickedness of the Jews; here he shows their pertinacity, by which they persist in evil. And the pertinacity of some is reproved from the fact that they are brought back to good by no remedy. Now there is a twofold remedy by which some are usually recalled to good.

I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother: I went heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the very abjects came together against me unawares, making mouths at me, and ceased not.

With the flatterers were busy mockers: who gnashed upon me with their teeth.

"They tempted Me, and mocked Me with mocking" [Psalm 35:16]. That is, they derided Me, they insulted Me; this of the Head, this of the Body.

This is what happens to savages when they are conquered by reason. When words fail them because of the truth, then they gnash their teeth and so communicate their desires by a silent threat. All of this is in the interest of a great act of building up the human race, so that its members may not count it a burden to suffer what they recognize that their own Head has endured.

"They were scattered and were not repentant." He shows that they were not recalled or changed to good by the second remedy, which is the divine scourge; and regarding this he does three things. First, he shows the evil they suffered; second, the lack of compunction in them, at "nor repentant"; third, the effect of their hardening, at "they tempted me," etc.

Lord, how long wilt thou look upon this: O deliver my soul from the calamities which they bring on me, and my darling from the lions.

"Lord, when will You look on? Rescue My Soul from their deceits, My Darling from the lions" [Psalm 35:17]. For to us the time is slow; and in our person is this said, "When will You look on?" that is, when shall we see vengeance upon those who insult us? When shall the Judge, overcome by weariness, hear the widow?

So you will apply this to the suffering of the Lord so that then you may draw out the logic of the explanation having begun, because the passion of the Lord happens so that we may be built up. The more you cling to God, the more the demons beset you with floggings. They tempt you, mock you and gnash their teeth.

"Lord, when will you look?" Above, the Psalmist, in the person of Christ or of a just man, showed the wickedness and pertinacity of persecutors; here he invokes God against both. And first, he asks for divine assistance; second, he shows the fruit of divine assistance, at "I will confess." Regarding the first, he does two things.

So will I give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

O let not them that are mine enemies triumph over me ungodly: neither let them wink with their eyes that hate me without a cause.

And why? their communing is not for peace: but they imagine deceitful words against them that are quiet in the land.

They make a pretense by uttering words under the guise of peace, but in reality their words are completely full of anger and evil.

Daily the demons speak peacefully to us. This peace is the fruit of lust, but through anger they devise deceits, just like sweet food on a hook in our sight—it is deadly to eat. They open wide their mouths against me, and lovers of this age daily commit unspeakable crimes, and nothing is thoroughly denounced by anyone.

On the part of the mouth, in two ways. First, as to fraudulent words. Second, as to mocking words. As to the first, he says that in their mouth -- second, that in their heart -- in their mouth are words of peace; hence he says, "because they spoke to me peacefully." Mk. 12: "We know that you are truthful." Ps.

They gaped upon me with their mouths, and said: Fie on thee, fie on thee, we saw it with our eyes.

This thou hast seen, O Lord: hold not thy tongue then, go not far from me, O Lord.

"This Thou hast seen, O Lord; keep not silence" [Psalm 35:22]. What is, "keep not silence"? Judge Thou. For of judgment is it said in a certain place, "I have kept silence; shall I keep silence for ever?" And of the delaying of judgment it is said to the sinner, "These things hast thou done, and I kept silence;" "Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself." Ho…

What a wonderful patience there was in him who was the greatest Majesty! Was he unable to descend alive from … the cross to put his enemies to shame, if after dying he rose from the tomb on the third day?

"You have seen." Above, the Psalmist set forth the root of insult, which was their malice; here he removes that root, or cause, by imploring God's judgment. Regarding which he sets forth three things. First, that the knowledge necessary for judgment has preceded.

Awake, and stand up to judge my quarrel: avenge thou my cause, my God, and my Lord.

Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness: and let them not triumph over me.

"Judge me, O Lord, according to My righteousness" [Psalm 35:24]; that is, attend to My cause. Not according to My punishment, but "according to My righteousness, O Lord, My God," that is, according to this judge Thou Me. "And let them not rejoice over Me;" that is, Mine enemies.

Although he had the best case, since he had committed no sins, he still asks that he be judged in mercy to show us, who would not be able to carry out this activity as those without sin, an example of prayer.

As to the third, he says, "Judge me." One text has, "according to your justice"; another text has, "Judge me according to my justice." The first amounts to the same thing, as if he were saying: judge me according to your law and justice; for the justice of God is to render to each according to his merits, and it cannot be deceived or deflected from the truth, Rom.

Let them not say in their hearts, There, there, so would we have it: neither let them say, We have devoured him.

Let them be put to confusion and shame together, that rejoice at my trouble: let them be clothed with rebuke and dishonour, that boast themselves against me.

Let them be glad and rejoice, that favour my righteous dealing: yea, let them say alway, Blessed be the Lord, who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

What sayest thou now, the Head with the Members? "Let them shout for joy and be glad that favour My righteous cause:" who cleave to My Body. Yea, let them say "continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."

Persecutors are accustomed to say "well done, well done, for our soul," because theirs is a joy for this life and a pleasure that does not last. But the blessed say "May the Lord always be exalted," which is eternal and enduring.

"Let them exult." Here is the third fruit, which arises on the part of divine assistance; and this fruit is the joy of the saints. And first, he sets forth the fruit of exultation, saying, "let them exult and be glad." He sets forth as the fruit for the saints their delight, because joy signifies breadth of heart, hence it signifies interior gladness. Ps.

And as for my tongue, it shall be talking of thy righteousness: and of thy praise all the day long.

"And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness, and of Your praise all the day long." And whose tongue endures to speak the praise of God all the day long? See now I have made a discourse something longer; you are wearied. Who endures to praise God all the day long? I will suggest a remedy, whereby you may praise God all the day long if you will.

While the psalm had this ending, therefore, I beseech those reading it not to incur even the slightest harm from the prayer of the righteous person or make it the occasion for curses against one's enemies. Instead, realize that the inspired author was adopting the way of life sanctioned by the Law, not by the Gospels.

"But my tongue also." Here he shows that he himself is also a partaker of this joy; as if to say: not only do those who have joy, but I too am a partaker of the joy of the saints. And of this he sets forth two things. First, he sets forth interior meditation. Second, he sets forth interior praise.

Psalms35