PSALM 109. For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

Theme: Righteous indignation against liars and slanderers. We can tell God our true feelings and desires.

Author: David

https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/109.html

1 My God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, 2 for people who are wicked and deceitful have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues. 3 With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause. 4 In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. 5 They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship. 6 Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy; let an accuser stand at his right hand. 7 When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayers condemn him. 8 May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. 9 May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. 10 May his children be wandering beggars; may they be driven from their ruined homes. 11 May a creditor seize all he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. 12 May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on his fatherless children. 13 May his descendants be cut off, their names blotted out from the next generation. 14 May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD; may the sin of his mother never be blotted out. 15 May their sins always remain before the LORD, that he may blot out their name from the earth. 16 For he never thought of doing a kindness, but hounded to death the poor and the needy and the brokenhearted. 17 He loved to pronounce a curse— may it come back on him. He found no pleasure in blessing— may it be far from him. 18 He wore cursing as his garment; it entered into his body like water, into his bones like oil. 19 May it be like a cloak wrapped about him, like a belt tied forever around him. 20 May this be the LORD’s payment to my accusers, to those who speak evil of me. 21 But you, Sovereign LORD, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me. 22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. 23 I fade away like an evening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust. 24 My knees give way from fasting; my body is thin and gaunt. 25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads. 26 Help me, LORD my God; save me according to your unfailing love. 27 Let them know that it is your hand, that you, LORD, have done it. 28 While they curse, may you bless; may those who attack me be put to shame, but may your servant rejoice. 29 May my accusers be clothed with disgrace and wrapped in shame as in a cloak. 30 With my mouth I will greatly extol the LORD; in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him. 31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save their lives from those who would condemn them.

Study Notes:

109:1ff David endured many false accusations (1 Samuel 22:7-13; 2 Samuel 15:3, 4), as did Christ centuries later (Matthew 26:59-61; 27:39-44). Verse 8 quoted in Acts 1:20 as being fulfilled in Judas's death.

109:4 David was angry at being attacked by evil people who slandered him and lied. Yet David remained a friend and a man of prayer. While we must hate evil and work to overcome it, we must love everyone, including those who do evil, because God loves them. We are called to hate the sin, but love the person. Only through God's strength will we be able to follow David's example.

109:6-20 This is another of the imprecatory psalms, a call for God to judge the wicked. (For an explanation of imprecatory psalms, see the note on 35:1ff.). David was not taking vengeance into his own hands, but was asking that God be swift in his promised judgment of evil people. David's words depict the eventual doom of all God's enemies.

109:21 A name is more than a label; it is a representation of character and reputation. David is pleading for God to live up to his name--to his character of love and mercy. "For your name's sake," then, means "in accordance with your character."

Last night I was searching for a comment I posted long ago, during the Kyle Rittenhouse incident (I think). It was about truth being a mighty weapon to be used with care. Every day I awaken a bit more to the truth of things. Without my time with God (which I know now is always), the truth would have driven me insane. But God sustains me. In my search of comments, I found another, "Righteous indignation is not a spur of the moment thing." This psalm reminds me of that.

Oh my Lord and Savior, fill me with your compassion and righteousness. Let us lean on you in our angry times. Help us in our anguish to call upon you. Guide our words always, Lord, and our tone of voice, so that the message we convey is heard in greatest understanding of the true depth of intent. Help us remember that you are the ultimate judge. We can rely on you. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

A Song: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TdqenA8k_GU

Have a blessed day.