Passage: 1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!2 Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help!3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers!Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!”4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life!Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me!5 Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away!6 Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!7 For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life.8 Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it!And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it—to his destruction!(Psalm Song:Psalm 35 (Awake, O Lord) by Shane HeilmanLyrics:Plead my cause LORD with those opposing meFight against those who who fight against mePick up Your shield and armor stand up and help meDraw out Your spear stop those pursuing meAnd say to my soul I am your salvationLet those who hunt me down be put to disgraceAnd those who plot against meBe turned back in shameMay they be like the chaff blown away by the windThe angel of the LORD driving them awayMay their way be dark slippery empty and vainWith Your angel pursuing them all the wayFor they set traps to catch meThough I've done nothing wrongLet them fall in their traps before they even knowThen my soul will joy in YahwehAnd I'll exalt in His salvationAll my bones will sayWho is like YouSaving the powerless from those oppressing themViolent witnesses rise up from everywhereWith accusations I've never heard beforeAnd they repay me evil for doing good to themLike one who's lost a loved oneMy soul is overwhelmedThough I when they were sickI prayed and fasted for themI put on mourning clothesPrayed with my head to my chestI grieved as if they were my brother or my friendAs one who grieves his motherI bowed myself downBut at my stumbling they gathered and rejoicedO wretched men that I've never seen beforeTheir torture is relentlessTheir mockings never ceaseThey tear at me with wordsThey gnash at me with their teethHow long O Lord will you watch thisDeliver me from their endless violenceSave my precious life from these lionsThen I will praise You in the great assemblyI will give You praise in front of everyoneDon't let those wrongfully my foes rejoice over meNor those who hate me without causeWink with maliceThey speak not peaceBut lies against the faithful in the landThey open wide their mouths against meThey say Aha our eyes have seen itYou have seen it LORDDon't be silent to me O LordDo not be far from meDo not be far from meAwake O LordAwake O Lord and arise for my right and my causeLord my GodO vindicate me according to Your righteousnessDon't let my foes rejoiceDon't let them say in their heartsWe've achieved our desireWe've devoured his very soulLet them be disgraced who rejoice at my painLet them be clothed with shameWho exalt themselves against meLet those who joyIn my victoryShout for joy and be gladMay they ever say Great is the LORDWho delights in my prosperityThen my tongue shall declare Your righteousnessAnd Your praise all day longThen my tongue shall declare Your righteousnessAnd Your praise all day longPrayer: Divine Spirit, illumine to me the words of the Lord.Show me the wealth of glory that lies beneath the old familiar stories.Teach me the depths of meaning hidden in the songs of Zion.Raise me to the heights of aspiration that is reached by the wings of the prophet.Lift me to the summit of faith that is trod by the feet of the apostle.Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Amen.—George Matheson