Passage:
1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of shield and buckler
and rise for my help!
3 Draw the spear and javelin
against my pursuers!
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation!”
4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor
who seek after my life!
Let them be turned back and disappointed
who devise evil against me!
5 Let them be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the LORD driving them away!
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!
7 For without cause they hid their net for me;
without cause they dug a pit for my life.
8 Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it!
And let the net that he hid ensnare him;
let him fall into it—to his destruction!
(Psalm 35:1–8)
Song:
Psalm 35 (Awake, O Lord) by Shane Heilman
Lyrics:
Plead my cause LORD with those opposing me
Fight against those who who fight against me
Pick up Your shield and armor stand up and help me
Draw out Your spear stop those pursuing me
And say to my soul I am your salvation
Let those who hunt me down be put to disgrace
And those who plot against me
Be turned back in shame
May they be like the chaff blown away by the wind
The angel of the LORD driving them away
May their way be dark slippery empty and vain
With Your angel pursuing them all the way
For they set traps to catch me
Though I've done nothing wrong
Let them fall in their traps before they even know
Then my soul will joy in Yahweh
And I'll exalt in His salvation
All my bones will say
Who is like You
Saving the powerless from those oppressing them
Violent witnesses rise up from everywhere
With accusations I've never heard before
And they repay me evil for doing good to them
Like one who's lost a loved one
My soul is overwhelmed
Though I when they were sick
I prayed and fasted for them
I put on mourning clothes
Prayed with my head to my chest
I grieved as if they were my brother or my friend
As one who grieves his mother
I bowed myself down
But at my stumbling they gathered and rejoiced
O wretched men that I've never seen before
Their torture is relentless
Their mockings never cease
They tear at me with words
They gnash at me with their teeth
How long O Lord will you watch this
Deliver me from their endless violence
Save my precious life from these lions
Then I will praise You in the great assembly
I will give You praise in front of everyone
Don't let those wrongfully my foes rejoice over me
Nor those who hate me without cause
Wink with malice
They speak not peace
But lies against the faithful in the land
They open wide their mouths against me
They say Aha our eyes have seen it
You have seen it LORD
Don't be silent to me O Lord
Do not be far from me
Do not be far from me
Awake O Lord
Awake O Lord and arise for my right and my cause
Lord my God
O vindicate me according to Your righteousness
Don't let my foes rejoice
Don't let them say in their hearts
We've achieved our desire
We've devoured his very soul
Let them be disgraced who rejoice at my pain
Let them be clothed with shame
Who exalt themselves against me
Let those who joy
In my victory
Shout for joy and be glad
May they ever say Great is the LORD
Who delights in my prosperity
Then my tongue shall declare Your righteousness
And Your praise all day long
Then my tongue shall declare Your righteousness
And Your praise all day long
Prayer:
Divine Spirit, illumine to me the words of the Lord.
Show me the wealth of glory that lies beneath the old familiar stories.
Teach me the depths of meaning hidden in the songs of Zion.
Raise me to the heights of aspiration that is reached by the wings of the prophet.
Lift me to the summit of faith that is trod by the feet of the apostle.
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Amen.
—George Matheson
