Day 46 When God Fights for You Reflection on Psalm 35

When God Fights for You

by Torrie Slaughter

The Reality of Spiritual Battles

Have you ever felt wrongfully attacked? Betrayed by someone you trusted? Falsely accused or misunderstood?

David knew exactly what that felt like. In Psalm 35:1-16, he pours out his heart to God, pleading for divine justice. This psalm is raw, emotional, and deeply personal—yet it also teaches us a powerful truth: God fights for His people.

🚨 If you've ever faced injustice, opposition, or false accusations, Psalm 35 is for you.

Psalm 35:1-3 — The Cry for God’s Intervention

📖 "Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid. Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to me, 'I am your salvation.'"

David doesn’t just ask for help—he asks God to step into the battle.

• He calls on God to fight for him like a warrior.

• He asks for divine protection—a shield, a spear, and armor.

• Most importantly, he longs for reassurance: “Say to me, ‘I am your salvation.’”

💡 Lesson: When we feel overwhelmed by opposition, our first response should be to call on God. He is not distant—He is our defender.

Psalm 35:4-8 — The Downfall of the Wicked

📖 "May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay."

David isn’t asking for personal revenge—he’s asking for God’s justice.

• He prays that those who deceive and oppress will be exposed.

• He asks that those who set traps for him will fall into their own traps.

🚨 This may sound harsh, but it’s important to remember:
David is not lashing out in anger—he is trusting God to handle the battle.

📖 Romans 12:19 — "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord."

💡 Lesson: Instead of taking matters into our own hands, we should trust God to bring justice in His perfect timing.

Psalm 35:9-10 — Rejoicing in God’s Deliverance

📖 "Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation. My whole being will exclaim, 'Who is like you, Lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.'"

This shift is powerful! David moves from pleading for help to praising God for His deliverance.

🔥 Faith sees the victory before it happens. 🔥

• David is still under attack, but he is already rejoicing in God’s salvation.

• He declares that God rescues the helpless and defends those who cannot fight for themselves.

💡 Lesson: True faith doesn’t wait for the battle to end before praising God. It worships in the middle of the storm.

Psalm 35:11-16 — The Pain of Betrayal

📖 "Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about. They repay me evil for good and leave me like one bereaved."

David now shifts to personal betrayal:

• False accusations are being made against him.

• He had helped these people in the past, yet they are repaying him with evil.

• He describes his grief as if he is mourning a lost loved one.

💔 Have you ever been betrayed by someone you once cared for?
David had—and so did Jesus.

📖 Matthew 26:14-16 — "Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, 'What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?' So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver."

🚨 Betrayal is painful, but it does not escape God’s justice.

💡 Lesson: Even when people turn against us, we can trust that God sees, God knows, and God will bring truth to light.

Key Takeaways from Psalm 35:1-16

✅ God fights for us.

• We don’t have to take revenge—we can trust Him to handle our battles.

✅ Faith rejoices before the battle is over.

• Worship is our weapon! Praise shifts our perspective from fear to faith.

✅ Betrayal hurts, but it’s not the end of the story.

• Even when people turn against us, God is still faithful.