Sometimes our prayer life does not line up with our reality. Audio avaialbe at http://edthepastor.podbean.com/e/looking-for-enemies-psalm-35/?token=45100eebdc1e7049c3034d6c40d82aaf

2. 1 Samuel 24:1–22
1 After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he
was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” 2 So Saul
took three thousand able young men from all Israel and
set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of
the Wild Goats. 3 He came to the sheep pens along the
way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve
himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4
The men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when
he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands

3. for you to deal with as you wish.’ ” Then David crept up
unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 5
Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut
off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, “The LORD
forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the
LORD’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the
anointed of the LORD.” 7 With these words David sharply
rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul.
And Saul left the cave and went his way. 8 Then David
went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord
the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed
down and prostrated himself with

4. his face to the ground. 9 He said to Saul, “Why do you
listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? 10
This day you have seen with your own eyes how the
LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some
urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not
lay my hand on my lord, because he is the LORD’s
anointed.’ 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your
robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but
did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to
indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I
have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down
to take my life.

5. 12 May the LORD judge between you and me. And may
the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but
my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes,
‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not
touch you. 14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come
out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 15
May the LORD be our judge and decide between us.
May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he
vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.” 16
When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that
your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You
are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated

6. me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just
now told me about the good you did to me; the LORD
delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19
When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away
unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way
you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be
king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established
in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the LORD that you
will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name
from my father’s family.” 22 So David gave his oath to
Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men
went up to the stronghold.

8. A Psalm of David.
1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;
Fight against those who fight against me. 2 Take hold of
buckler and shield And rise up for my help. 3 Draw also
the spear and the battle-axe to meet those who pursue
me; Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.” 4 Let those be
ashamed and dishonored who seek my life; Let those
be turned back and humiliated who devise evil against
me. 5 Let them be like chaff before the wind, With the
angel of the LORD driving them on. 6 Let their way be
dark and slippery, With the angel of the LORD

9. pursuing them. 7 For without cause they hid their net
for me; Without cause they dug a pit for my soul. 8 Let
destruction come upon him unawares, And let the net
which he hid catch himself; Into that very destruction
let him fall. 9 And my soul shall rejoice in the LORD; It
shall exult in His salvation. 10 All my bones will say,
“LORD, who is like You, Who delivers the afflicted from
him who is too strong for him, And the afflicted and the
needy from him who robs him?” 11 Malicious witnesses
rise up; They ask me of things that I do not know. 12
They repay me evil for good, To the bereavement of my
soul. 13 But as for me, when they were sick,

10. my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with
fasting, And my prayer kept returning to my bosom. 14 I
went about as though it were my friend or brother; I
bowed down mourning, as one who sorrows for a
mother. 15 But at my stumbling they rejoiced and
gathered themselves together; The smiters whom I did
not know gathered together against me, They
slandered me without ceasing. 16 Like godless jesters at
a feast, They gnashed at me with their teeth. 17 Lord,
how long will You look on? Rescue my soul from their
ravages, My only life from the lions. 18 I will give You
thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You

11. among a mighty throng. 19 Do not let those who are
wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me; Nor let those
who hate me without cause wink maliciously. 20 For
they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful
words against those who are quiet in the land. 21 They
opened their mouth wide against me; They said, “Aha,
aha, our eyes have seen it!” 22 You have seen it, O LORD,
do not keep silent; O Lord, do not be far from me. 23
Stir up Yourself, and awake to my right And to my
cause, my God and my Lord. 24 Judge me, O LORD my
God, according to Your righteousness, And do not let
them rejoice over me. 25 Do not let them say in their

12. heart, “Aha, our desire!” Do not let them say, “We have
swallowed him up!” 26 Let those be ashamed and
humiliated altogether who rejoice at my distress; Let
those be clothed with shame and dishonor who
magnify themselves over me. 27 Let them shout for joy
and rejoice, who favor my vindication; And let them say
continually, “The LORD be magnified, Who delights in
the prosperity of His servant.” 28 And my tongue shall
declare Your righteousness And Your praise all day long.
Psalm 35

14. Psalm 35 for our note takers
1-8……………….Fight for me Lord
9-10 …………….I will praise you
11-12; 15-16…My adversaries behavior
13-14 …………..My behavior
17-18 …………..Deliver now!
22-28 …………..Plead with the Lord

15. Fight for me Lord
1-8

16. Good summation
Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;
Fight against those who fight against me.
Psalm 35:1
King Saul
3,000 soldiers
Bounty hunters
Informants

17. Leave it ALL to
the Lord
Never take your
own revenge,
beloved, but leave
room for the wrath
of God, for it is
written, “VENGEANCE
IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,”
says the Lord.
Romans 12:19

18. A couple of suggestion “O Lord”
Shield and buckler
Spear
Battle-axe
Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.” Psalm 35:3b

19. Why so upset?
For without cause they hid their net for me; Without
cause they dug a pit for my soul. Let destruction come
upon him unawares, And let the net which he hid catch
himself; Into that very destruction let him fall.
Psalm 35:7–8

20. What is our response?
But I say to you, love your
enemies and pray for
those who persecute you,
so that you may be sons of
your Father who is in
heaven;
Matthew 5:44-45a
1. Bless them
2. Your understanding
3. Revelation of God
4. Salvation

21. I will praise you
9-10

22. For what He will do
And my soul shall rejoice in the LORD; It shall exult in His
salvation.
Psalm 35:9

23. It changes your focus
Through Him then, let us
continually offer up a sacrifice of
praise to God, that is, the fruit of
lips that give thanks to His name.
Hebrews 13:15

24. My adversaries behavior
11-12; 15-16

25. The rogues gallery
Malicious witnesses
They repay me evil for good
I stumbling, they rejoiced
The smiters are strangers
They slandered
Godless jesters

26. A person is known by their enemies
Almost anyone can become our enemy
Friends
Family
Co-workers
Acquaintances
People we don’t even know
Politics
LGBQ
Race
Differing opinions

27. Here’s some
advise
If possible, so far as
it depends on you,
be at peace with all
men.
Romans 12:18

28. My behavior
13-14

29. Past behavior needs to continue
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was
sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting, And my
prayer kept returning to my bosom. I went about as
though it were my friend or brother; I bowed down
mourning, as one who sorrows for a mother.
• Served Saul
• Fought
• Comforted

30. Strategy for victory
“BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS
THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP
BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:20–21

31. Deliver now!
17-18

32. A little impatient
Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue my soul [and] I
will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will
praise You among a mighty throng.
Ok to be honest
Heart of a prayer vs the form

33. Heart of a prayer vs the form
“But the tax collector, standing some distance away,
was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but
was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me,
the sinner!’
Luke 18:13

34. God moves in His time
Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run
and not get tired, They will walk and not become
weary.
Isaiah 40:31

35. Plead with the Lord
22-28

36. Judge between us
You have seen it, O LORD, do not keep silent; O Lord, do
not be far from me. Stir up Yourself, and awake to my
right And to my cause, my God and my Lord. Judge me,
O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness, And
do not let them rejoice over me…let those be ashamed
and humiliated altogether who rejoice at my distress;
Let those be clothed with shame and dishonor who
magnify themselves over me.
Psalm 35:22-24;26

37. Copy Jesus’ style
In the days of His flesh, He
offered up both prayers and
supplications with loud
crying and tears to the One
able to save Him from death,
and He was heard because
of His piety.
Hebrews 5:7

38. Our side wins
Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my
vindication; And let them say continually, “The LORD be
magnified, Who delights in the prosperity of His
servant.” And my tongue shall declare Your
righteousness And Your praise all day long.
Psalm 35:27–28

39. Conclusion
God is magnified
Prayers are answered
Praise is given