Psalm 35:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation.

NIV: Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.

NASB: So my soul shall rejoice in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation.

CSB: Then I will rejoice in the Lord; I will delight in his deliverance.

NLT: Then I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be glad because he rescues me.

KJV: And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

NKJV: And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation.

David concludes his request for the destruction of his enemies (Psalm 35:1–8) by celebrating his relationship with God. He plans, in advance, to acclaim God and thank Him for being rescued. This shows that David fully believed the Lord would answer his prayer. In David's mind, what he asks for was as good as done.

In part, David was relying on the Lord's promise. God vowed that David would be king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:12–13). This psalm was probably written in response to David's persecution by the former king of Israel, Saul (1 Samuel 19:1–2). Because he rejected God's will and tried to overturn His predictions, Saul's plot to destroy David was doomed from the start.

Faith which rests on God's promises is never disappointed. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:20: "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory." Paul also writes in Titus 1:2 that God never lies. Prayer that is based on selfish motives or sinful desires does not honor God; we cannot expect Him to listen to it (James 4:3; John 9:31; Isaiah 59:2; Psalm 66:18). But prayers based on God's promises honor Him; He hears our prayers and grants our requests when they are in accordance with His will (1 John 5:14; Luke 22:42). Notice, too, that prayer builds relationship. Even as David trusts that God will grant his request, he speaks of rejoicing in God. David does not ask for things of God as a type of cosmic vending machine, but out of relationship. He entrusts his heart to God. Often times, prayer changes our hearts and conforms our minds to God's truth.

Psalm 35:1–10 is the first of three echoes in this psalm, each using the same basic themes. David asks the Lord for defense against enemies. He asks God to stand as his champion, fully armed and in opposition to David's foes. He asks the Lord to vindicate him and destroy the enemy. Each request is accompanied by praise. This segment compares to other "imprecatory psalms" written by David (Psalm 69:22–25; Psalm 109:8–15).

This is one of the "imprecatory psalms," which call on God to immediately judge or destroy His enemies. David echoes the same ideas in three phases. Each segment includes a plea for rescue, a request for God to conquer David's foes, and a promise to praise the Lord. David makes a point of noting that his enemies have no good reason for their hatred, since he was kind to them. With faith, David looks ahead, trusting he will have the opportunity to worship the Lord for His rescue and vindication.

David pleads with the Lord to destroy his enemies and vindicate him. As such, Psalm 35 is labeled an "imprecatory psalm." Other examples include psalms 5, 69, 109, and 140. This song might have been written when King Saul was seeking David's life (1 Samuel 19:1–2), or when Absalom was spreading rebellion in Israel (2 Samuel 15:13–14). David' notes three basic ideas in this psalm: vindication, defeat of enemies, and praise of God. Each is repeated in a series of three variations.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.