Psalm 35: Theological Analysis

Psalm 35 is fundamentally a plea for justice[1]—specifically, divine 
intervention against those who have wronged the psalmist. The enemies 
are not foreign powers, but those close to home[2], making the betrayal 
particularly acute. The psalm’s overarching theological message centers 
on God’s role as both warrior and judge who vindicates the innocent and 
defeats the wicked through poetic justice.

The psalm exhibits a chiastic structure[1], with each major division 
addressing distinct theological concerns:

*Plea and Prayer (35:1–3, 27–28):* David calls upon the Lord as Divine 
Warrior to do battle on his behalf, entreating Him to come in full armor 
with shields, spear, and javelin[3]. This opening establishes complete 
dependence on God’s military intervention.

*Justice Against the Wicked (35:4–8, 19–26):* The theme of poetic 
justice appears here, where David prays for his enemies to be caught in 
the very traps they have set for him and to fall into the very pit they 
have dug for him[3]. God’s justice operates through the reversal of the 
wicked’s own schemes.

*Praise for Deliverance (35:9–10, 17–18):* David anticipates the joy of 
victory and vows to rejoice and be glad in the Lord, for it is the Lord 
who will rescue him and praise the Lord as the incomparable defender of 
the defenseless[3].

*Treachery from the Wicked (35:11–12, 15–16):* Like other psalms of 
false accusation, this section expresses the bitterness of being wrongly 
accused, exacerbated by deep betrayal: “They repay me evil for good”[3].

*David’s Genuine Concern (35:13–14):* The good David had done was to 
enter into the suffering of others—he had grieved for them, fasted and 
prayed for them, and agonized over unanswered prayer, grieving like a 
mother grieving over a dead child[3]. This section establishes the 
psalmist’s moral integrity, justifying his appeal for divine vindication.

[1] James M. Hamilton Jr., Psalms, ed. T. Desmond Alexander, Thomas R. 
Schreiner, and Andreas J. Köstenberger, Evangelical Biblical Theology 
Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Academic, 2021), 1:384.
[2] Rolf A. Jacobson and Beth Tanner, “Book One of the Psalter: Psalms 
1–41,” in The Book of Psalms, ed. E. J. Young, R. K. Harrison, and 
Robert L. Hubbard Jr., The New International Commentary on the Old 
Testament (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans 
Publishing Company, 2014), 331.
[3] Mark D. Futato, “The Book of Psalms,” in Cornerstone Biblical 
Commentary, Vol 7: The Book of Psalms, The Book of Proverbs (Carol 
Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2009), 137–138.



-- 
Good News †

By dying on the cross, Christ canceled the legal debt of our sins 
against God (Colossians 2:14), and God validated this victory by raising 
Him from the grave (Romans 1:4). God is now able to justly declare 
sinners righteous (Romans 3:26) and spare them from His future wrath (1 
Thessalonians 1:10). This grace is freely given to all who place their 
trust in Him (Romans 6:23). Put your faith in the Lord and call on His 
name to be saved (Romans 10:9-13):

How to be saved: christrose.news/salvation