Psalm 35 - The Contemplative Bible Meditation Series

Psalm 35,

A timeless passage from the Bible,

Resonates deeply with modern readers.

Its verses encapsulate the human experience of facing adversity,

Seeking solace,

And ultimately finding refuge in a higher power.

As we embark on this meditation,

Let us open our hearts to the wisdom contained within these words,

Allowing them to guide us towards inner peace,

Trust,

And a deeper connection with both ourselves and the divine.

Psalm 35,

Plead my cause,

O Lord,

With those who strive with me.

Fight against those who fight against me.

Take hold of shield and buckler and stand up for my help.

Also draw out the spear and stop those who pursue me.

Say to my soul,

I am your salvation.

Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor who seek after my life.

Let those be turned back and brought to confusion who plot my hurt.

Let them be like shaft 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 pursue them.

For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit,

Which they have dug without cause for my life.

Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly and let his net that he has hidden catch himself.

Into that very destruction let him fall.

And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord.

I shall rejoice in his salvation.

All my bones shall say,

Lord,

Who is like you?

Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him?

Yes,

The poor and the needy from him who plunders him.

Fierce witnesses rise up.

They ask me things that I do not know.

They reward me evil for good to the sorrow of my soul.

But as for me,

When they were sick,

My clothing was sackcloth.

I humbled myself with fasting and my prayer would return to my own heart.

I paced about as though he were my friend or brother.

I bowed down heavily as one who mourns for his mother.

But in my adversity they rejoiced and gathered together.

Attackers gathered against me and I did not know it.

They tore at me and did not cease.

With ungodly mockers at feast,

They gnashed at me with their teeth.

Lord,

How long will you look on?

Rescue me from their destructions,

My precious life from the lions.

I will give you thanks in the great assembly.

I will praise you among many people.

Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies.

Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.

For they do not speak peace,

But they devise deceitful matters against the quiet ones in the land.

They also opened their mouth wide against me and said,

Aha,

Aha,

Our eyes have seen it.

This you have seen,

O Lord.

Do not keep silence.

O Lord,

Do not be far from me.

Stir up yourself and awake to my vindication,

To my cause,

My God and my Lord.

Vindicate me,

O Lord,

My God,

According to your righteousness.

And let them not rejoice over me.

Let them not say in their hearts,

Ah,

So we would have it.

Let them not say,

We have swallowed him up.

Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion who rejoice at my hurt.

Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who exalt themselves against me.

Let them shout for joy and be glad who favor my righteous cause.

And let them say continually,

Let the Lord be magnified,

Who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

And my tongue shall speak of your righteousness and of your praise all day long.

Verse 1 Plead my cause,

O Lord,

With those who strive with me.

Fight against those who fight against me.

In this verse,

We find ourselves in a moment of vulnerability,

Turning to the divine as our advocate.

Imagine laying down your burdens at the feet of a compassionate and understanding higher power.

Feel the weight lift from your shoulders as you surrender your concerns.

With each breath,

Let the words,

Plead my cause,

O Lord,

Resonate within you,

Knowing that you are not alone in your journey.

Verse 2 Take hold of shield and buckler and stand up for my help.

Close your eyes and visualize a radiant shield enveloping you,

Emanating a sense of safety and warmth.

Imagine a sturdy buckler held by a loving presence guarding your heart and spirit.

Feel the strength and security that it provides.

With each breath,

Let this shield and buckler grow stronger,

Cocooning you in a loving embrace.

Know that you are held and protected,

Allowing a sense of calm to wash over you.

Verse 3 Also draw out the spear and stop those who pursue me.

Say to my soul,

I am your salvation.

Consider the challenges you face as symbolic spears.

In your mind's eye,

See the divine gently removing them from your path,

Creating a clear and unobstructed way forward.

As you inhale deeply,

Draw in strength and resilience.

With each exhale,

Release any remnants of doubt or fear.

Trust that you are equipped to face whatever comes your way.

Verse 4 Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor,

Who seek after my life.

Let those be turned back and brought to confusion,

Who plot my hurt.

Release any desire for revenge or vindication.

Instead,

Offer forgiveness and let go of the need to see others suffer.

Visualize a sense of peace descending upon you as you release the burdens of dissentment and anger.

Feel the lightness that comes with forgiveness.

With each breath,

Allow your heart to expand,

Filling with compassion and understanding.

Verse 5 Let them be like shaft before the wind and let the angel of the Lord chase them.

Imagine negativity and discord being carried away.

Carried away like shaft,

Blown away by a gentle breeze.

See the space around you becoming clear and serene.

Feel the weight of burdens lifting,

Leaving you feeling lighter and more at ease.

Verse 6 Let their way be dark and slippery and let the angel of the Lord pursue them.

Envision the challenges they create,

Leading them down a path of confusion and instability.

Trust in the divine plan and allow your heart to be free from the burden of seeking revenge.

For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit,

Which they have dug without cause for my life.

Release the burden of deceit,

Knowing that the divine will expose what is hidden.

Trust that truth will prevail and trust that your path will be illuminated and you will be able to see nets hidden in pits.

Verse 8 Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly and let his net that he has hidden catch himself.

Into that very destruction let them fall.

Let go of the need to orchestrate retribution.

Trust that the divine's plan is just and fair.

And know that you are free from the weight of vengeance.

Verse 9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord,

I shall rejoice in his salvation.

Find joy and solace in the presence of the divine.

And in finding this joy and solace,

Know that you are never alone.

Allow the light of this joy to radiate from your being,

Illuminating the path ahead of you.

Verse 10 All my bones shall say,

Lord,

Who is like you?

Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him.

Yes,

The poor and the needy from him who plunders him.

Connect with the wisdom and strength that resides within you.

Your body is a vessel of resilience and knowledge.

Listen to what it has to teach you.

Allow this wisdom to guide your steps.

Allow the divine to deliver you.

Deliver you from forces that are too strong for you.

From forces that seek to plunder you.

Verse 11 Fierce witnesses rise up.

They ask me things that I do not know.

In moments of challenge,

Know that the divine is your greatest advocate and witness.

You are never alone in your struggles.

Allow this truth to provide you with strength and courage.

Verse 12 They reward me evil for good,

To the sorrow of my soul.

Release expectations of fairness and justice.

Find solace in doing what is right.

Doing what is right regardless of the response,

Regardless of the outcome.

Trust that your actions are guided by love and integrity.

Verse 13 But as for me,

When they were sick,

My clothing was sackcloth.

I humbled myself with fasting and my prayer would return to my own heart.

Practice compassion,

Even and especially in the face of adversity.

Let your actions,

Let your deeds be guided by love and empathy.

Find strength in your ability to offer kindness,

Even to those who may not reciprocate.

Verse 14 I paced about as though he were my friend or brother.

I bowed down heavily as one who mourns for his mother.

Seek solace in the presence of a higher power as you would with a trusted friend.

Imagine sharing your concerns and fears,

Knowing that you are heard and understood.

Feel the comfort of this companionship.

Verse 15 But in my adversity they rejoiced and gathered together.

Attackers gathered against me and I did not know it.

They tore at me and did not cease.

Acknowledge the challenges of dealing with adversities.

Seek the strength to rise above their negativity.

Know that their reactions do not define your worth or the validity of your path.

Verse 16 With ungodly mockers at face,

They gnashed at me with their teeth.

Practice resilience.

Resilience in the face of mockery and hostility.

Find inner peace despite external turmoil.

Allow your inner light to shine,

Undiminished by the opinions of others.

Verse 17 Lord,

How long will you look on?

Rescue me from their destructions,

My precious life from the lions.

In moments of waiting,

Find patience in trusting the divine's timing.

Know that every moment is part of a larger plan.

Embrace the journey,

Even in times of uncertainty.

Verse 18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly.

I will praise you among many people.

Express gratitude for the divine's presence even in the company of others.

Find moments of reverence and thanksgiving in the ordinary and extraordinary aspects of your life.

Verse 19 Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies,

Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.

Release the need for others' validation.

Release the need for others' validation and find joy in your strength.

Find joy in your inner strength and connection to the divine.

Know that your worth is not determined by the opinions of others.

Verse 20 For they do not speak peace,

But they devise deceitful matters against the quiet ones in the land.

Let go of the need for agreement and harmony with those who do not wish you well.

Find peace within yourself and your connection to the divine,

Even in the face of discord.

Verse 21 They also opened their mouth wide against me and said,

Aha!

Aha!

Our eyes have seen it.

Find solace in silence and reflection amidst the noise of detractors.

Allow your inner peace to be a source of strength,

Shielding you from negativity.

Verse 22 This you have seen,

O Lord.

Do not keep silence.

O Lord,

Do not be far from me.

Acknowledge that the divine bears witness to your struggles and your triumphs.

Know that you are seen and valued even in moments of solitude.

Verse 23 Stir up yourself and awake to my vindication,

To my cause,

My God,

And my Lord.

Call upon the divine to guide and protect you as you navigate your challenges.

Trust that you are not alone in seeking justice and clarity.

Verse 24 Vindicate me,

O Lord my God,

According to your righteousness and let them not rejoice over me.

Place trust in the divine's sense of justice and fairness.

Know that you are supported and that truth will prevail.

Verse 25 Let them not say in their hearts,

Ah,

So we would have it.

Let them not say we have sallowed him up.

In releasing the burden of others' opinions and judgments,

Find strength in knowing your worth,

Independent of external validation.

Verse 26 Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion,

Who rejoice at my hurt.

Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor,

Who exalt themselves against me.

Find comfort in the knowledge that the divine's justice will prevail.

Release the need to orchestrate outcomes,

Knowing that truth will ultimately shine.

Verse 27 Let them shout for joy and be glad,

Who favor my righteous cause.

And let them say continually,

Let the Lord be magnified,

Who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

Let go of the desire for others to suffer and find joy in your own inner peace.

Celebrate your own journey and growth,

Finding fulfillment in your connection to the divine.

Verse 28 And my tongue shall speak of your righteousness and of your praise all day long.

Let your words and actions be a testament to the righteousness of the divine's guidance and presence.

Share the wisdom and love that you have received with others,

Knowing that you are a vessel of divine light.

Conclusion and Prayer In the sanctuary of stillness,

We have traversed the terrain of Psalm 35.

May these verses serve as a guiding light,

Illuminating the path of trust,

Peace and comfort.

As we go forth,

Let us carry with us the knowledge that we are not alone.

We are held by a loving and protecting presence.

In moments of doubt,

Return to these words and find solace in the wisdom they offer.

In the name of love and light,

We offer this prayer.

May I find strength in surrender,

Trust in adversity and peace in uncertainty.

May I be a vessel of compassion,

Radiating the love that surrounds me.

As I journey forward,

I carry with me the assurance that I am never alone.

I am held,

I am guided,

I am at peace.

May this meditation be a source of comfort and guidance on your spiritual journey.

Amen.