Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2508 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.
In today’s Wisdom Nugget, we’ll be exploring Psalm 35:1-10 from the New Living Translation. This passage is a powerful prayer from David, asking God to intervene in the face of injustice and persecution. It’s a raw, heartfelt plea for divine protection and deliverance, yet it also reflects deep trust in God’s justice and sovereignty.
As we go through these verses, we’ll see David’s honest emotions, his reliance on God, and his commitment to praise God for deliverance. Let’s read Psalm 35:1-10 together:
Psalm 35:1-10 (NLT)
1 O Lord, oppose those who oppose me.
Fight those who fight against me.
2 Put on your armor, and take up your shield.
Prepare for battle, and come to my aid.
3 Lift up your spear and javelin
against those who pursue me.
Let me hear you say,
“I will give you victory!”
4 Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me;
turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me.
5 Blow them away like chaff in the wind—
a wind sent by the angel of the Lord.
6 Make their path dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7 I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me.
I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me.
8 So let sudden ruin come upon them!
Let them be caught in the trap they set for me;
let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me.
9 Then I will rejoice in the Lord.
I will be glad because he rescues me.
10 With every bone in my body I will praise him:
“Lord, who can compare with you?
Who else rescues the helpless from the strong?
Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?”
A Call for Divine Intervention (Verses 1-3):
David begins this psalm in Verse 1 with a direct and urgent appeal: “O Lord, oppose those who oppose me. Fight those who fight against me.” This is not just a plea for help; it’s a call for God to act as a defender and warrior on David’s behalf. David is facing enemies who seek to harm him, and instead of taking matters into his own hands, he turns to God for deliverance.
In verses 2 and 3, David uses imagery of battle: “Put on your armor, and take up your shield. Prepare for battle, and come to my aid. Lift up your spear and javelin against those who pursue me.” This vivid language paints God as a divine warrior, fully equipped and ready to fight for His people. David’s words reflect his deep faith and recognition that ultimate victory comes from God alone.
The plea, “Let me hear you say, ‘I will give you victory!’” reveals David’s desire for assurance. He’s asking for God’s action and the comfort of hearing God’s promise of deliverance. This request reflects a deeply personal relationship with God—David wants to know...
