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Psalm 35:15
But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together:yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knewit not; they did tearme, and ceased not:

Isaiah 38:13
I reckoned till morning,that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from dayeven to night wilt thou make an end of me.

like

Psalm 10:9
He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

Psalm 17:12
Like as a lionthat is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

Psalm 22:13
They gaped upon mewith their mouths,as a ravening and a roaring lion.

rending

Psalm 50:22
Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tearyou in pieces, andthere be none to deliver.

Hosea 13:7,8
Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observethem: …

while

Judges 18:28
Andthere was no deliverer, because itwas far from Zidon, and they had no business withany man; and it was in the valley thatlieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.

2 Samuel 14:6
And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, andthere was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.

Job 10:7
Thou knowest that I am not wicked; andthere is none that can deliver out of thine hand.

not to deliver.

and tear me to pieces
The phrase "tear me to pieces" continues the metaphor of a lion's attack, emphasizing the potential for complete destruction. This reflects the psalmist's vulnerability and the severity of the threat faced. In the cultural context, such vivid language would resonate with an audience familiar with the dangers of wild animals. The tearing apart can also symbolize the disintegration of one's life or reputation, a theme seen in other psalms where the righteous seek protection from slander or false accusations (Psalm 35:15-17).

with no one to rescue me
This phrase highlights the psalmist's isolation and the absence of human help. It underscores the reliance on God as the sole deliverer, a common theme in the Psalms where God is depicted as the ultimate refuge and savior (Psalm 18:2). The sense of abandonment can also be seen as a type of Christ, who experienced ultimate isolation and abandonment on the cross (Matthew 27:46). The plea for rescue reflects a deep trust in God's power to save, even when human support is lacking.

“Or they will shred my soul…” (Psalm 7:2). David sees his very life on the line.

• “Soul” speaks of the whole person (Psalm 3:2;Matthew 10:28).

• He is not exaggerating; his enemies seek literal death, just as Doeg’s report later costs the priests their lives (1 Samuel 22:18-19).

• Similar heart-cries: “My heart is in anguish… the terrors of death have fallen upon me” (Psalm 55:4-5), and “They have prepared a net for my steps” (Psalm 57:6).

• The believer today faces spiritual assault no less real (Ephesians 6:12), and the psalm models running first to God rather than collapsing in fear.

“…like a lion…”

• Scripture pictures both vicious men (Psalm 10:9; 17:12) and Satan himself (1 Peter 5:8) as lions—predators that stalk, pounce, and devour.

• David, once a shepherd who struck down real lions (1 Samuel 17:34-35), knows the danger firsthand; his imagery is grounded in hard reality.

• When enemies roar, the Lord alone muzzles them: “Save me from the mouth of the lion!” (Psalm 22:21).

“…and tear me to pieces…”

• The threat is total destruction, not a scratch. CompareHosea 13:7-8, where God warns apostate Israel He will “tear to pieces,” showing what judgment looks like when there is no restraint.

• David’s foes want a public, humiliating finish (2 Samuel 17:1-4). Jesus endured the same intent from those who “gnashed their teeth at Him” (Acts 7:54) yet turned apparent defeat into victory.

• For us, affliction can feel this final, yet God promises, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).

“…with no one to rescue me.”

• Humanly speaking, David is cornered; friends cannot help. Similar despair rises inPsalm 142:4, “No one cares for my soul.”

• But God delights to step in when all other saviors fail: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you” (Psalm 50:15). Paul echoes the same confidence: “The Lord stood with me and strengthened me… and I was delivered from the lion’s mouth” (2 Timothy 4:17).

• The verse therefore drives us to the only sure Deliverer—“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer” (Psalm 18:2).

Psalm 7:2 paints the stark picture of enemies poised to rip David apart like a lion with no rescuer in sight. Each phrase intensifies the peril: an assault on his very soul, executed with predatory ferocity, aiming for utter ruin, and leaving him seemingly abandoned. Yet the psalm’s purpose is not hopelessness; it is to magnify the God who hears such cries and intervenes. For every believer, the verse reminds us that threats—physical or spiritual—are real, but the Lord’s deliverance is more real still.

Rending it in pieces.--The LXX., followed by the Vulg. (so too the Syriac), take the verb in its primitive sense of "snatch away," and translate, "there being none to redeem or deliver." So Milton: "Tearing, and no rescue nigh." Notice the comparison of human enemies to beasts of prey--a reminiscence of the lion and the bear of his youth, so constantly present to David. (Comp.Psalm 3:7;1Samuel 17:37.)