Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me...

Contend for me Lord.

There is nothing new under the sun. The longer one lives the more one sees that life repeats itself. David's experience as relayed in Psalm 35 reflects on a situation which of course also happens to people today.

We see this in international relations between countries, business relations between competitors, scorned friendships, work situations. 

Even apparent fellow believers can be guilty of digging pits and laying traps to trip up people they perceive may be in their way for whatever and various reasons. It could even be when a new pastor or ministry leader comes into a position, or It may be a Christian ministry or a secular work situation, where the team, or middle management are not happy with their new boss, maybe because she/he doesn't possess some special knowledge or skill they have, or perceive is needed, or it may be due to  something which occurred in that person's life decades earlier, and so they work and conspire against their employer to poison relationships, sabotage, undermine, trap, slander and remove that person. 

​So, what should be done in these situations?

Sadly, when people get caught up in these sorts of things, the situation can develop a life of its own. Those in the middle of it cease being rational or biblical in their behaviour. Gossip and hearsay and slander take the place of reality and it spreads like a virus.

Most people feeding, and being fed by, these frenzies are most significantly leaving God out of the situation. They are forgetting who is actually in control. In thinking they need to go to such lengths to bring about their desired results they forget that it is better to leave it with God and seek His ways and His will in every situation.

​So, David rightly gives us the answer to what we should do, when he asks God to contend for him. Likewise, call on God to help you, leave vengeance to God and the results.

Psalm 35 (an abbreviated version):

Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me;
    fight against those who fight against me.
Take up shield and armor;
    arise and come to my aid.

May those who seek my life
    be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin
    be turned back in dismay.

Since they hid their net for me without cause
    and without cause dug a pit for me,
may ruin overtake them by surprise--
    may the net they hid entangle them,
    may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.

    “Who is like you, Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,
    the poor and needy from those who rob them.”
Ruthless witnesses come forward;
    they question me on things I know nothing about.
They repay me evil for good
    and leave me like one bereaved.

But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
    assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
    They slandered me without ceasing.
Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;
    they gnashed their teeth at me.
Do not let those gloat over me
    who are my enemies without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason
    maliciously wink the eye.
They do not speak peaceably,
    but devise false accusations
    against those who live quietly in the land.
They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha!
    With our own eyes we have seen it.”
Lord, you have seen this; do not be silent.
    Do not be far from me, Lord.
Awake, and rise to my defense!
    Contend for me, my God and Lord.
Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
    do not let them gloat over me.
Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”
    or say, “We have swallowed him up.”
May all who gloat over my distress
    be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me
    be clothed with shame and disgrace.
May those who delight in my vindication
    shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
    who delights in the well-being of his servant.”
My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,
    your praises all day long.