Contend, O Lord
The victory David celebrates in Psalm 34 is a hot conflict in Psalm 35. His enemies want him dead, so he calls on God to fight for him. Over a tenth of the psalm are imprecatory, invoking God’s judgment upon His enemies. Similar prayers occur elsewhere in the Old Testament and in the New, including by Jesus and the apostles. We’re uncomfortable with these not because we are too kind, but too callous and complacent with evil.