“But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:”
My Notes
What Does Psalms 35:15 Mean?
Psalm 35:15 describes one of the most painful human experiences: people who celebrate your suffering. "In mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not."
The Hebrew tsala — "adversity" — literally means limping, stumbling. When David stumbled, his enemies threw a party. They didn't just observe his pain — they gathered, organized, and coordinated against him. The "abjects" — nĕkhim — are base, despicable people, the kind who kick someone when they're down.
The phrase "and I knew it not" adds a layer of betrayal. These attacks were happening behind David's back. While he was stumbling, they were assembling. While he was vulnerable, they were tearing — qara, the word for ripping cloth or flesh. And they "ceased not" — lo dammu, they didn't stop. The tearing was relentless, continuous, unremitting. David's pain wasn't just the original adversity. It was discovering that people he thought were at least neutral were actively celebrating his collapse.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Have you discovered that people celebrated your pain or failure behind your back? How did that discovery affect you?
- 2.David says 'I knew it not' — the betrayal was hidden. Is there a situation where you might be unaware of how people are responding to your struggles?
- 3.When you're hurt by others' cruelty, is your instinct to confront, withdraw, or pray? What would it look like to bring the raw truth to God first?
- 4.David describes adversity as 'limping.' What does it feel like to be attacked while you're already stumbling? How does God's response to David's prayer encourage you?
Devotional
There's a particular kind of pain that comes from discovering that people enjoyed your worst moment. Not just observed it. Enjoyed it. Gathered together to discuss it. Tore into you while you were already limping.
David describes it with raw precision: they rejoiced in my adversity. They gathered against me when I was down. They tore me apart and didn't stop. And the detail that breaks your heart: "I knew it not." He didn't even know it was happening. While he was dealing with his own pain, they were holding a meeting about it.
If you've discovered that people you trusted — or at least people you assumed were safe — were talking about your failure, celebrating your stumble, taking pleasure in your lowest moment, this psalm tells you David knew that exact feeling. And he brought it to God, not to the people.
That's the model. When you discover that your adversity was someone else's entertainment, the temptation is to confront, retaliate, or spiral into shame. David's response is to turn the pain into prayer. He tells God what happened. He names the behavior. He doesn't sanitize it or spiritualize it. He says: they tore me, and they enjoyed it.
God can handle that level of honesty. In fact, He prefers it. Bring Him the ugliest details of what people did to you when you were down. He's not shocked. And He's not indifferent.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
But in mine adversity they rejoiced,.... Or "at my halting" (u), either by means of falling into sin; good men are…
But in mine adversity they rejoiced - Margin, as in Hebrew, “halting.” That is, when reverses and troubles came upon me;…
Two very wicked things David here lays to the charge of his enemies, to make good his appeal to God against them -…
But at my halting they rejoice, and gather themselves together. Limping, like stumbling, is a figure for misfortune. Cp.…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture