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Psalm 35 | King James Audio Bible
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Psalm 35 is a plea for divine intervention and justice. This psalm, attributed to King David, encapsulates turmoil of a soul unjustly persecuted, seeking vindication and deliverance from those who harm him.
A Plea for Help: Psalm 35 begins with a cry: ‘Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me’ (Psalm 35:1 KJV). David implores the Lord to take up his cause in the face of adversaries who seek his harm, setting the tone for a heartfelt plea for divine intervention.
Imagery of Warfare: Throughout the psalm, vivid imagery of warfare and conflict depicts the spiritual battle the psalmist faces. Phrases such as ‘Take hold of shield and buckler’ and ‘Draw out also the spear’ (Psalm 35:2-3 KJV) evoke a fierce struggle. The psalmist looks to the Lord as the ultimate source of protection and salvation in this spiritual warfare.
Prayer for Confounding Adversaries: David beseeches the Lord to confound and put to shame those who seek his soul’s destruction (Psalm 35:4 KJV). He implores that those who devise harm and deception against him should face their own downfall, emphasizing divine justice.
Appeal for Deliverance from Enemies: The psalmist pleads for deliverance from the snares and traps set by adversaries. He desires that their schemes backfire and result in their own misfortune (Psalm 35:7-8 KJV). This plea for divine intervention is a recurring motif.
Rejoicing in the Lord’s Salvation: Amidst the anguish and conflict, Psalm 35 also contains expressions of hope and trust in the Lord’s salvation. The psalmist looks forward to rejoicing in the Lord and experiencing His deliverance (Psalm 35:9-10 KJV).
Bearing False Witness: The psalmist laments the false witnesses who have risen against him, falsely accusing him of wrongdoing (Psalm 35:11 KJV). This theme highlights the unjust persecution he faces.
Praise and Thanksgiving: As the psalm unfolds, the psalmist expresses gratitude and praise to the Lord for His deliverance (Psalm 35:18 KJV). It is a testament to enduring faith and trust in God’s righteousness, even in the midst of adversity.
Psalm 35 | King James Audio Bible KJV | Love Revealed By Jesus Christ
Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
Draw out also 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 devise my hurt.
Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord chase them.
Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them.
For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:
With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
This thou hast seen, O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.
Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
Key Themes Of The Psalm For Reflection | Love Revealed By Jesus Christ
- Divine Intervention: The psalmist earnestly seeks divine intervention and justice from the Lord in the face of adversaries.
- Spiritual Warfare: Vivid imagery of warfare and conflict portrays the spiritual battle the psalmist faces, emphasizing reliance on the Lord for protection.
- Justice and Vindication: The psalmist appeals to the Lord for justice, praying that those who harm him will face their own downfall.
- Deliverance from Enemies: The psalmist pleads for deliverance from the snares and schemes of adversaries, trusting that the Lord will thwart their plans.
- Hope and Rejoicing: Amidst adversity, there is a thread of hope and trust in the Lord’s salvation, leading to expressions of rejoicing in His deliverance.
- False Witness and Unjust Persecution: The psalmist laments the bearing of false witness and unjust persecution, highlighting the need for God’s intervention.
- Gratitude and Praise: The psalmist expresses gratitude and praise to the Lord for His righteousness and deliverance, showcasing enduring faith.
Christian Art | Parousia | Second Coming | Lamb Of God, You Take Away The Sins Of The World Luke 17: 26-37 (Audio Bible KJV, Spoken Word) Early Christian thought about the Parousia – the second coming – was largely influenced by the teachings of Jesus and the writings of Saint Paul. In the early Christian community, expectation of Christ’s return was strong, and many Christians believed that it would happen in their lifetime. This belief is evident in the New Testament, where the authors express a sense of urgency in their writings and encourage their readers to be prepared for Christ’s imminent return. As Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, the idea of the Parousia became more complex and nuanced. Theological debates arose around the nature of Christ’s return and the events that would precede it. Some theologians, such as Origen and Augustine, saw the Parousia as a spiritual event that was already happening in the Church. Others, such as the Montanists and the millenarians, believed in a literal, physical return of Christ and the establishment of a new, earthly Kingdom. In the Middle Ages, the Parousia was often associated with apocalypticism and the idea of a final, cataclysmic battle between good and evil – the last battle. The idea of the Antichrist, who would precede Christ’s return, became a popular theme in Christian literature, and the book of Revelation (Apocalypse – meaning to reveal, to uncover) was interpreted as a prophetic guide to the end of the world. Biblical Basis For The Parousia | The Second Coming The concept of the Parousia, or the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, is central to Christian eschatology and is supported by numerous biblical passages in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, there are numerous passages that refer to the coming of a Messiah who will restore Israel and bring about the final judgment. For example, in Daniel 7:13-14, it is written: ‘I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.’ This passage describes a divine figure who comes in the clouds and is given dominion over all nations. In the New Testament, the Parousia is described in greater detail, particularly in the teachings of Jesus and the writings of Saint Paul. Jesus speaks of his return in many passages, including Matthew 24:30-31, where Jesus says: ‘And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.’ Here, Jesus describes his return in power and glory, accompanied by angels who gather Jesus’ elect from all over the world. In Saint Paul’s letters, the Parousia is also described in detail. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Saint Paul writes: ‘For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.’ This passage describes a resurrection of the dead and the gathering of believers to meet the Lord Jesus in the air. The language and imagery used to describe the Parousia are often dramatic and apocalyptic in nature. The Parousia is often described as a time of judgment, when the righteous will be separated from the wicked, and God’s justice will be fully revealed. The imagery of clouds, trumpets, and angels is used to depict the power and glory of Christ’s return. Theological Interpretations Of The Parousia | Jesus’ Second Coming The concept of the Parousia has been interpreted in a variety of ways throughout Christian history. Dispensationalism Dispensationalism is a theological framework that emerged in the 19th Century and has since become popular among some evangelical and fundamentalist Christians. Dispensationalists believe that history is divided into distinct periods or ‘dispensations’, each of which is marked by a particular mode of divine revelation and a specific plan of salvation. According to dispensationalist theology, the Parousia will be preceded by a period of tribulation, during which the Antichrist will establish a one-world government and the Jews will be restored to their homeland. The Parousia itself will involve a physical, visible return of Christ, who will establish a thousand-year reign on earth before the final judgment. Preterism Preterism is a theological interpretation of the Parousia that holds that many of the prophecies in the New Testament, particularly those in the book of Revelation, were fulfilled in the first century AD. According to this view, the Parousia occurred in a spiritual sense when Christ ascended to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to empower the Church. Preterists argue that the tribulation and other end-time events predicted in the New Testament were fulfilled in the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in AD 70. Postmillennialism Postmillennialism is a theological view that holds that the Parousia will occur after a period of history in which the Church will gradually bring about the kingdom of God on earth. According to this view, the Church will spread the gospel throughout the world, and social, political, and economic conditions will gradually improve. Eventually, Christ will return to a world that has been largely transformed by the Gospel. Amillennialism […]
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