What is the meaning of Psalm 35:6? May their path David speaks of the wicked who unjustly attack him. By asking that “their path” be obstructed, he calls on God to intervene directly in the daily course of their lives. Scripture consistently shows that God can hinder the progress of evildoers (Psalm 1:6; Proverbs 4:19). The request affirms that every step people take is ultimately under God’s oversight (Proverbs 16:9). be dark Darkness in biblical imagery signals confusion, danger, and God’s judgment. When David prays that the path be “dark,” he is asking that the offenders lose all moral and strategic clarity, stumbling through circumstances they once thought they controlled (Job 12:25; Isaiah 59:9–10). Darkness also conveys separation from God’s favor, as seen when Egypt was plagued with thick darkness (Exodus 10:21–23). and slick A “slick” or slippery way pictures utter instability. Slippery places are where the wicked suddenly fall (Psalm 73:18). David desires that their plans collapse under their own feet, echoing Proverbs 11:5, which states, “The wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.” The metaphor highlights swift, humiliating downfall rather than gradual decline. as the angel of the LORD pursues The decisive factor is not the darkness or slipperiness themselves but the active pursuit by “the angel of the LORD.” Throughout Scripture, this figure executes divine judgment with unerring precision—striking Egypt’s firstborn (Exodus 12:23), routing Israel’s enemies (2 Kings 19:35), and standing as the Lord’s sword-bearer (1 Chronicles 21:15–16). Here, His pursuit guarantees that the wicked cannot evade retribution; they are chased, cornered, and defeated by God Himself (Psalm 34:7; Revelation 19:14–15). summary Psalm 35:6 is a plea for God to halt and overturn the advance of unjust attackers. David asks that their way be plunged into confusion (“dark”), exposed to sudden collapse (“slick”), and sealed by inescapable divine judgment (“as the angel of the LORD pursues”). The verse reassures believers that God actively defends His people, turning the very paths of the wicked into instruments of their downfall while His angelic host ensures justice is carried out. |
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