Give myself unto prayer, not revenge.
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Introduction
Introduction
Imprecatory prayers are difficult. Glad I do not address them often. [Chart]
Major imprecatory Psalms include Psalm 69 and Psalm 109, while Psalms 5, 6, 11, 12, 35, 37, 40, 52, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 79, 83, 94, 137, 139 and 143 are also considered imprecatory.
To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. 1 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. 2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. 3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: Mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. 4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: They that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: Then I restored that which I took not away. 5 O God, thou knowest my foolishness; And my sins are not hid from thee. 6 Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: Let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel. 7 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; Shame hath covered my face. 8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, And an alien unto my mother’s children. 9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; And the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. 10 When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, That was to my reproach. 11 I made sackcloth also my garment; And I became a proverb to them. 12 They that sit in the gate speak against me; And I was the song of the drunkards. 13 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. 14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: Let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. 15 Let not the waterflood overflow me, Neither let the deep swallow me up, And let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. 16 Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: Turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. 17 And hide not thy face from thy servant; For I am in trouble: hear me speedily. 18 Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: Deliver me because of mine enemies. 19 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: Mine adversaries are all before thee. 20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none. 21 They gave me also gall for my meat; And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. 22 Let their table become a snare before them: And that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. 23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; And make their loins continually to shake. 24 Pour out thine indignation upon them, And let thy wrathful anger take hold of them. 25 Let their habitation be desolate; And let none dwell in their tents. 26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; And they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded. 27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: And let them not come into thy righteousness. 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous. 29 But I am poor and sorrowful: Let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. 30 I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify him with thanksgiving. 31 This also shall please the Lord better than an ox Or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. 32 The humble shall see this, and be glad: And your heart shall live that seek God. 33 For the Lord heareth the poor, And despiseth not his prisoners. 34 Let the heaven and earth praise him, The seas, and every thing that moveth therein. 35 For God will save Zion, And will build the cities of Judah: That they may dwell there, and have it in possession. 36 The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: And they that love his name shall dwell therein.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. 1 Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise; 2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: They have spoken against me with a lying tongue. 3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; And fought against me without a cause. 4 For my love they are my adversaries: But I give myself unto prayer. 5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, And hatred for my love. 6 Set thou a wicked man over him: And let Satan stand at his right hand. 7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: And let his prayer become sin. 8 Let his days be few; And let another take his office. 9 Let his children be fatherless, And his wife a widow. 10 Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: Let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places. 11 Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; And let the strangers spoil his labour. 12 Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: Neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children. 13 Let his posterity be cut off; And in the generation following let their name be blotted out. 14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the Lord; And let not the sin of his mother be blotted out. 15 Let them be before the Lord continually, That he may cut off the memory of them from the earth. 16 Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, But persecuted the poor and needy man, That he might even slay the broken in heart. 17 As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: As he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him. 18 As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, So let it come into his bowels like water, And like oil into his bones. 19 Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, And for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually. 20 Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the Lord, And of them that speak evil against my soul. 21 But do thou for me, O God the Lord, for thy name’s sake: Because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me. 22 For I am poor and needy, And my heart is wounded within me. 23 I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust. 24 My knees are weak through fasting; And my flesh faileth of fatness. 25 I became also a reproach unto them: When they looked upon me they shaked their heads. 26 Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to thy mercy: 27 That they may know that this is thy hand; That thou, Lord, hast done it. 28 Let them curse, but bless thou: When they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice. 29 Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, And let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle. 30 I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; Yea, I will praise him among the multitude. 31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, To save him from those that condemn his soul.
To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. 1 Give ear to my words, O Lord, Consider my meditation. 2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: For unto thee will I pray. 3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: Neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: The Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: And in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; Make thy way straight before my face. 9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is very wickedness; Their throat is an open sepulchre; They flatter with their tongue. 10 Destroy thou them, O God; Let them fall by their own counsels; Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; For they have rebelled against thee. 11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12 For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; With favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. 1 O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 3 My soul is also sore vexed: But thou, O Lord, how long? 4 Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: Oh save me for thy mercies’ sake. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: In the grave who shall give thee thanks? 6 I am weary with my groaning; All the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. 7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; It waxeth old because of all mine enemies. 8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; For the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9 The Lord hath heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer. 10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: Let them return and be ashamed suddenly.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. 1 In the Lord put I my trust: How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? 2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string, That they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. 3 If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do? 4 The Lord is in his holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men. 5 The Lord trieth the righteous: But the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. 6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, And an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; His countenance doth behold the upright.
To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. 1 Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; For the faithful fail from among the children of men. 2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: With flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. 3 The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, And the tongue that speaketh proud things: 4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; Our lips are our own: who is lord over us? 5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. 6 The words of the Lord are pure words: As silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, Thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. 8 The wicked walk on every side, When the vilest men are exalted.
A Psalm of David. 1 Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: Fight against them that fight against me. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, And stand up for mine help. 3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. 4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: Let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. 5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: And let the angel of the Lord chase them. 6 Let their way be dark and slippery: And let the angel of the Lord persecute them. 7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, Which without cause they have digged for my soul. 8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; And let his net that he hath hid catch himself: Into that very destruction let him fall. 9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: It shall rejoice in his salvation. 10 All my bones shall say, Lord, Who is like unto thee, Which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, Yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him? 11 False witnesses did rise up; They laid to my charge things that I knew not. 12 They rewarded me evil for good To the spoiling of my soul. 13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; And my prayer returned into mine own bosom. 14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. 15 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: 16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, They gnashed upon me with their teeth. 17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, My darling from the lions. 18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. 19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: Neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. 20 For they speak not peace: But they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land. 21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, And said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it. 22 This thou hast seen, O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me. 23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, Even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. 24 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; And let them not rejoice over me. 25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: Let them not say, We have swallowed him up. 26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: Let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me. 27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: Yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, Which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. 28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness And of thy praise all the day long.
A Psalm of David. 1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, Neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, And thy judgment as the noonday. 7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off: But those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: Yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12 The wicked plotteth against the just, And gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13 The Lord shall laugh at him: For he seeth that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, And to slay such as be of upright conversation. 15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, And their bows shall be broken. 16 A little that a righteous man hath Is better than the riches of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: But the Lord upholdeth the righteous. 18 The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: And their inheritance shall be for ever. 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20 But the wicked shall perish, And the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: They shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. 21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: But the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. 22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; And they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: And he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: For the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread. 26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; And his seed is blessed. 27 Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell for evermore. 28 For the Lord loveth judgment, And forsaketh not his saints; They are preserved for ever: But the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell therein for ever. 30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, And his tongue talketh of judgment. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide. 32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, And seeketh to slay him. 33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged. 34 Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, And he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. 35 I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a green bay tree. 36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. 37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: For the end of that man is peace. 38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: The end of the wicked shall be cut off. 39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, because they trust in him.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. 4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, And respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, And thy thoughts which are to us-ward: They cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered. 6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; Mine ears hast thou opened: Burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: In the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: Yea, thy law is within my heart. 9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: Lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. 10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. 11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. 12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. 13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me. 14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; Let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. 15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame That say unto me, Aha, aha. 16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: Let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified. 17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; Make no tarrying, O my God.
To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. 1 Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The goodness of God endureth continually. 2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; Like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully. 3 Thou lovest evil more than good; And lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. 4 Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. 5 God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, He shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, And root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. 6 The righteous also shall see, and fear, And shall laugh at him: 7 Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness. 8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. 9 I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: And I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? 1 Save me, O God, by thy name, And judge me by thy strength. 2 Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. 3 For strangers are risen up against me, And oppressors seek after my soul: They have not set God before them. Selah. 4 Behold, God is mine helper: The Lord is with them that uphold my soul. 5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: Cut them off in thy truth. 6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good. 7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: And mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.
To the chief Musician upon Jonath-elem-recho-kim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. 1 Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; He fighting daily oppresseth me. 2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: For they be many that fight against me, O thou most High. 3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. 4 In God I will praise his word, In God I have put my trust; I will not fear What flesh can do unto me. 5 Every day they wrest my words: All their thoughts are against me for evil. 6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, They mark my steps, When they wait for my soul. 7 Shall they escape by iniquity? In thine anger cast down the people, O God. 8 Thou tellest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle: Are they not in thy book? 9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: This I know; for God is for me. 10 In God will I praise his word: In the Lord will I praise his word. 11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid What man can do unto me. 12 Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. 13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, That I may walk before God in the light of the living?
To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. 1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: For my soul trusteth in thee: Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, Until these calamities be overpast. 2 I will cry unto God most high; Unto God that performeth all things for me. 3 He shall send from heaven, and save me From the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. 4 My soul is among lions: And I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword. 5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let thy glory be above all the earth. 6 They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down: They have digged a pit before me, Into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah. 7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. 8 Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. 9 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. 10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, And thy truth unto the clouds. 11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: Let thy glory be above all the earth.
To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David. 1 Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? 2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; Ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth. 3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: They go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. 4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: They are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; 5 Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, Charming never so wisely. 6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: Break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Lord. 7 Let them melt away as waters which run continually: When he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces. 8 As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: Like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun. 9 Before your pots can feel the thorns, He shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath. 10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. 11 So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: Verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. 1 Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: Defend me from them that rise up against me. 2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, And save me from bloody men. 3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: The mighty are gathered against me; Not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord. 4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: Awake to help me, and behold. 5 Thou therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, Awake to visit all the heathen: Be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah. 6 They return at evening: They make a noise like a dog, And go round about the city. 7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: Swords are in their lips: For who, say they, doth hear? 8 But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them; Thou shalt have all the heathen in derision. 9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: For God is my defence. 10 The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies. 11 Slay them not, lest my people forget: Scatter them by thy power; And bring them down, O Lord our shield. 12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips Let them even be taken in their pride: And for cursing and lying which they speak. 13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: And let them know that God ruleth in Jacob Unto the ends of the earth. Selah. 14 And at evening let them return; And let them make a noise like a dog, And go round about the city. 15 Let them wander up and down for meat, And grudge if they be not satisfied. 16 But I will sing of thy power; Yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: For thou hast been my defence And refuge in the day of my trouble. 17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: For God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
A Psalm of Asaph. 1 O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; Thy holy temple have they defiled; They have laid Jerusalem on heaps. 2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given To be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, The flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. 3 Their blood have they shed like water Round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them. 4 We are become a reproach to our neighbours, A scorn and derision to them that are round about us. 5 How long, Lord? wilt thou be angry for ever? Shall thy jealousy burn like fire? 6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, And upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. 7 For they have devoured Jacob, And laid waste his dwelling place. 8 O remember not against us former iniquities: Let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: For we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: And deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake. 10 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? Let him be known among the heathen in our sight By the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed. 11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; According to the greatness of thy power Preserve thou those that are appointed to die; 12 And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom Their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord. 13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture Will give thee thanks for ever: We will shew forth thy praise to all generations.
A Song or Psalm of Asaph. 1 Keep not thou silence, O God: Hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. 2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: And they that hate thee have lifted up the head. 3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, And consulted against thy hidden ones. 4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. 5 For they have consulted together with one consent: They are confederate against thee: 6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; Of Moab, and the Hagarenes; 7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; The Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assur also is joined with them: They have holpen the children of Lot. Selah. 9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; As to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: 10 Which perished at En-dor: They became as dung for the earth. 11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: Yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: 12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves The houses of God in possession. 13 O my God, make them like a wheel; As the stubble before the wind. 14 As the fire burneth a wood, And as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; 15 So persecute them with thy tempest, And make them afraid with thy storm. 16 Fill their faces with shame; That they may seek thy name, O Lord. 17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; Yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: 18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, Art the most high over all the earth.
1 O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. 2 Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: Render a reward to the proud. 3 Lord, How long shall the wicked, How long shall the wicked triumph? 4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? And all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? 5 They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, And afflict thine heritage. 6 They slay the widow and the stranger, And murder the fatherless. 7 Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, Neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. 8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: And ye fools, when will ye be wise? 9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see? 10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? He that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? 11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, That they are vanity. 12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, And teachest him out of thy law; 13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, Until the pit be digged for the wicked. 14 For the Lord will not cast off his people, Neither will he forsake his inheritance. 15 But judgment shall return unto righteousness: And all the upright in heart shall follow it. 16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? 17 Unless the Lord had been my help, My soul had almost dwelt in silence. 18 When I said, My foot slippeth; Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. 19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul. 20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, Which frameth mischief by a law? 21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, And condemn the innocent blood. 22 But the Lord is my defence; And my God is the rock of my refuge. 23 And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, And shall cut them off in their own wickedness; Yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off.
1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, When we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps Upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; And they that wasted us required of us mirth, Saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 4 How shall we sing the Lord’s song In a strange land? 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget her cunning. 6 If I do not remember thee, Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. 7 Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; Who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. 8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee As thou hast served us. 9 Happy shall he be, that taketh And dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. 1 O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thine hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; Even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike to thee. 13 For thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Marvellous are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, When I was made in secret, And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; And in thy book all my members were written, Which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee. 19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: Depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. 20 For they speak against thee wickedly, And thine enemies take thy name in vain. 21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
One explanation says the curses are actually the words of the enemy. This would help in one area but is problematic in others. We will see an example of how Peter does not quote these verses in that way.
Important to remember. This prayer ceases to be personal vengeance as he turns all his wishes over to the LORD in a prayer, thereby leaving it to the LORD to deal in justice with his adversary.
The difference in an imprecatory prayer is similar to the difference of murder and the killing that is part of a just war between nations.
David was well known, even praised, for being a non-vindictive, long-suffering, and merciful man.
We have only to think of the two occasions when David could have killed his archenemy King Saul if he had wanted to (1 Sam. 24, 26).
1 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon? 2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. 4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed. 5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him. 6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee. 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him. 8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. 9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless? 10 David said furthermore, As the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. 11 The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord’s anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go. 12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them. 13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them: 14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king? 15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord. 16 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster. 17 And Saul knew David’s voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. 18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand? 19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the Lord have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the Lord; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go, serve other gods. 20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains. 21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly. 22 And David answered and said, Behold the king’s spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it. 23 The Lord render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the Lord delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the Lord’s anointed. 24 And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation. 25 Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
David did not even think of killing Saul. 1 Sam 24:10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed.
10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed.
All the imprecatory psalms have the intent of Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Psalm 109 (KJV 1900)
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. 1 Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise; 2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: They have spoken against me with a lying tongue. 3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; And fought against me without a cause. 4 For my love they are my adversaries: But I give myself unto prayer. 5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, And hatred for my love. 6 Set thou a wicked man over him: And let Satan stand at his right hand. 7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: And let his prayer become sin. 8 Let his days be few; And let another take his office. 9 Let his children be fatherless, And his wife a widow. 10 Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: Let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places. 11 Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; And let the strangers spoil his labour. 12 Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: Neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children. 13 Let his posterity be cut off; And in the generation following let their name be blotted out. 14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the Lord; And let not the sin of his mother be blotted out. 15 Let them be before the Lord continually, That he may cut off the memory of them from the earth. 16 Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, But persecuted the poor and needy man, That he might even slay the broken in heart. 17 As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: As he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him. 18 As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, So let it come into his bowels like water, And like oil into his bones. 19 Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, And for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually. 20 Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the Lord, And of them that speak evil against my soul. 21 But do thou for me, O God the Lord, for thy name’s sake: Because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me. 22 For I am poor and needy, And my heart is wounded within me. 23 I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust. 24 My knees are weak through fasting; And my flesh faileth of fatness. 25 I became also a reproach unto them: When they looked upon me they shaked their heads. 26 Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to thy mercy: 27 That they may know that this is thy hand; That thou, Lord, hast done it. 28 Let them curse, but bless thou: When they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice. 29 Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, And let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle. 30 I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; Yea, I will praise him among the multitude. 31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, To save him from those that condemn his soul.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1 Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;
2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; And fought against me without a cause.
4 For my love they are my adversaries: But I give myself unto prayer.
5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, And hatred for my love.
6 Set thou a wicked man over him:
And let Satan stand at his right hand.
7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned:
And let his prayer become sin.
8 Let his days be few;
And let another take his office.
9 Let his children be fatherless,
And his wife a widow.
10 Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: Let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.
11 Let the extortioner catch all that he hath;
And let the strangers spoil his labour.
12 Let there be none to extend mercy unto him:
Neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.
13 Let his posterity be cut off; And in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the Lord;
And let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15 Let them be before the Lord continually,
That he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
16 Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, But persecuted the poor and needy man, That he might even slay the broken in heart.
17 As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him:
As he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
18 As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, So let it come into his bowels like water, And like oil into his bones.
19 Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, And for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.
20 Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the Lord, And of them that speak evil against my soul.
21 But do thou for me, O God the Lord, for thy name’s sake: Because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.
22 For I am poor and needy, And my heart is wounded within me.
23 I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.
24 My knees are weak through fasting; And my flesh faileth of fatness.
25 I became also a reproach unto them: When they looked upon me they shaked their heads.
26 Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to thy mercy:
27 That they may know that this is thy hand; That thou, Lord, hast done it.
28 Let them curse, but bless thou: When they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
29 Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, And let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.
30 I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; Yea, I will praise him among the multitude.
31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, To save him from those that condemn his soul.
Exegetical Outline: A Commentary on the Psalms
Exegetical Outline: A Commentary on the Psalms
An exegetical outline traces the thought-flow of the passage.
A teaching/preaching outline should not deviate from the content but would be develop in a manner to help the listener better understand and apply the text.
I. David calls for help from the LORD against his malicious enemies who surround him with evil (1–5).
I. David calls for help from the LORD against his malicious enemies who surround him with evil (1–5).
A. Call: He calls for help against the deceitful enemies who opened against him (1–2).
B. Complaint: He complains about the evil enemies (3–5):
1. They have surrounded him with words of hatred (3).
2. They are his adversaries who repayed friendship with malice (4).
3. They have rewarded his kindness with evil hatred (5).
II. David pours out his imprecations upon the enemy, appealing to God to make the wicked desolate and dispossessed because of their love for destruction and cursing (6–20).
II. David pours out his imprecations upon the enemy, appealing to God to make the wicked desolate and dispossessed because of their love for destruction and cursing (6–20).
A. Curse: He details his desire for the enemy to be cursed (6–15):
1. Let an adversary be against him and let him be judged as guilty (6–7).
2. Let his days be few so that his wife is a widow and his children fatherless beggars (8–10).
3. Let him be ruined by the creditor (11).
4. Let no one pity him (12).
5. Let his posterity be cut off by the next generation (13).
6. Let the ancestral sins be remembered on him (14–15).
B. Cause: He explains the reason for the curses (16–19):
1. He hounded to death the broken-hearted and the needy (16).
2. He loved heaping curses on other people (17–19).
C. Conclusion: This is the punishment from the LORD on the wicked (20).
III. David prays to the LORD for help in defending against his enemies because he is in great need (21–31).
III. David prays to the LORD for help in defending against his enemies because he is in great need (21–31).
A. He prays for help since he is in great need (21–25).
1. The LORD should deal with him according to love (21).
2. He is in need since he is weak and perishing (22–25).
B. He prays for help so that they will know the truth (26–27).
C. He anticipates the outcome (28–31).
1. They will be cursed and shamed (28–29).
2. He will rejoice because the LORD will save the needy (30–31).
Turning to God is the only safe option when we have been offended
Turning to God is the only safe option when we have been offended
David has been feeling the weight of this attack.
David has been feeling the weight of this attack.
David is under an all out, malicious attack on his character, which, as the psalm will show, has taken a great toll on him.
Their deception came from the hate in their hearts. But their attack is completely unwarranted.
Psalm 109:3-5 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; And fought against me without a cause. 4 For my love they are my adversaries: But I give myself unto prayer. 5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, And hatred for my love.
3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; And fought against me without a cause. 4 For my love they are my adversaries: But I give myself unto prayer. 5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, And hatred for my love.
Even though he hath acted loving toward them they have rewarded him with.
Accusers is the same basic Hebrew word that we also translate Satan – the accuser.
God appears to be “silent” when he does not answer; he “speaks” when he intervenes to save and to judge.
Turning inward brings a self-destructing bitters.
Turning inward brings a self-destructing bitters.
This is seen vividly in the life of Ahithopel.
He had a violation of his personal justice system. He didn’t turned to God but turned inward.
Turn to the God of our praise
Turn to the God of our praise
Psalm 109:1 “1 Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;”
1 Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;
What a wonderful descriptor for our God.
The prayer is bold. “Hold not thy peace”
David turned to God in Prayer
David turned to God in Prayer
Psalm 109:4 For my love they are my adversaries: But I give myself unto prayer.
4 For my love they are my adversaries: But I give myself unto prayer.
A quick study on the this expression will show you how intense it is.
Giving yourself to prayer means not giving yourself to vindicating yourself.
While my enemies are uttering false words about me to other people, trying to do me harm, I am speaking to God. I am praying to God always
We should only want God would provide for them for their ultimate good and His glory
We should only want God would provide for them for their ultimate good and His glory
Ungodly leadership is a form of God’s judgment upon a people.
Ungodly leadership is a form of God’s judgment upon a people.
Psalm 109:6 Set thou a wicked man over him: And let Satan stand at his right hand.
6 Set thou a wicked man over him: And let Satan stand at his right hand.
Peter, in Acts 1:20, quoted Psalm 109:8 Let his days be few; And let another take his office. Applying the verse to an evil man rightly condemned (Judas) and not to an innocent man wrongly condemned.
8 Let his days be few; And let another take his office.
Ungodly advice is a form of God’s judgement upon a man.
Ungodly advice is a form of God’s judgement upon a man.
Psalm 109:6 Set thou a wicked man over him: And let Satan stand at his right hand.
6 Set thou a wicked man over him: And let Satan stand at his right hand.
Instead of wise counsel give him ungodly counsel.
Discernment by those around the enemy is a form of God’s judgment.
Discernment by those around the enemy is a form of God’s judgment.
Psalm 109:7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: And let his prayer become sin.
7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: And let his prayer become sin.
Two fold. Court of law and before God.
Sin is missing the mark. “Let his prayer miss their mark!”
Not allowing the sin of this man to continue for years would be merciful
Not allowing the sin of this man to continue for years would be merciful
Psalm 109:10-15 10 Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: Let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places. 11 Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; And let the strangers spoil his labour. 12 Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: Neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children. 13 Let his posterity be cut off; And in the generation following let their name be blotted out. 14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the Lord; And let not the sin of his mother be blotted out. 15 Let them be before the Lord continually, That he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
10 Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: Let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places. 11 Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; And let the strangers spoil his labour. 12 Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: Neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children. 13 Let his posterity be cut off; And in the generation following let their name be blotted out. 14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the Lord; And let not the sin of his mother be blotted out. 15 Let them be before the Lord continually, That he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
We are staggered to find the children included in the father’s sentence, and yet as a matter of fact children do suffer for their father’s sins, and, as long as the affairs of this life are ordered as they are, it must be so.” - Spurgeon
He is able to explain pure motives in his appeal.
He is able to explain pure motives in his appeal.
His accuser is described as someone who not merciful, persecutes the poor and needy, and slays the broken hearted.
His accuser is described as someone who not merciful, persecutes the poor and needy, and slays the broken hearted.
Psalm 109:16 “16 Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, But persecuted the poor and needy man, That he might even slay the broken in heart.”
16 Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, But persecuted the poor and needy man, That he might even slay the broken in heart.
The hateful ways went beyond the wrong done to David
Cruelty against the broken in heart goes against the nature of God.
Psalm 34:18 “18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psalm 51:17 “17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
His accuser loved heaping curses on other people.
His accuser loved heaping curses on other people.
Psalm 109:17-19 “17 As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: As he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him. 18 As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, So let it come into his bowels like water, And like oil into his bones. 19 Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, And for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.”
17 As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: As he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him. 18 As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, So let it come into his bowels like water, And like oil into his bones. 19 Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, And for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.
Since he loved cursing—may it come to him; since he had no delight in blessing—may it be far from him.
Concern for God’s name and based on God’s mercy
Concern for God’s name and based on God’s mercy
Psalm 109:21 But do thou for me, O God the Lord, for thy name’s sake: Because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.
Even though David was in a pitiful situation is plead was based upon God’s reputation not David’s shame Psalm 109:24-25 My knees are weak through fasting; And my flesh faileth of fatness. 25 I became also a reproach unto them: When they looked upon me they shaked their heads.
24 My knees are weak through fasting; And my flesh faileth of fatness. 25 I became also a reproach unto them: When they looked upon me they shaked their heads.
Help requested with a heart for God’s glory.
Help requested with a heart for God’s glory.
What did He want his enemies to know.
What did He want his enemies to know.
Psalm 109:26-27 “26 Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to thy mercy: 27 That they may know that this is thy hand; That thou, Lord, hast done it.”
26 Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to thy mercy: 27 That they may know that this is thy hand; That thou, Lord, hast done it.
He didn’t want to them to know..
They had messed with the wrong man.
That he is was smarter
That he was stronger
That he was right and they were wrong
It was very important to David that his enemies and all who looked on him knew that his rescue was from God’s hand; the LORD had done it.
He didn’t want deliverance only for his own sake, but also for the glory of God.
David wanted God’s blessings not his accusers approval
David wanted God’s blessings not his accusers approval
Psalm 109:28 “28 Let them curse, but bless thou: When they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.”
28 Let them curse, but bless thou: When they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
David understood that the curses of his enemies could never triumph over the blessings of God in his life.
This would make David rejoice and his enemies be clothed with shame, wearing their disgrace as if it were a mantle.
Psalm ends with praise being given to God. Thought the enemy curses His name he will praise the Lord.
Psalm ends with praise being given to God. Thought the enemy curses His name he will praise the Lord.
His praise to God will define his life, not the cursing from his enemies.
His praise to God will define his life, not the cursing from his enemies.
Psalm 109:30 “30 I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; Yea, I will praise him among the multitude.”
30 I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; Yea, I will praise him among the multitude.
God is nearer to us than the enemy can ever be.
God is nearer to us than the enemy can ever be.
Psalm 109:31 “31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, To save him from those that condemn his soul.”
31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, To save him from those that condemn his soul.
“The psalm began with addressing ‘the God of my praise’; it ends with the confidence and the vow that the singer will yet praise Him. It painted an adversary standing at the right hand of the wicked to condemn him; it ends with the assurance that Jehovah stands at the right hand of His afflicted servant, as his advocate to protect him.” (Maclaren)
Conclusion
Conclusion
Here are some practical lessons when you are going through a time of criticism and unjust accusation.
Here are some practical lessons when you are going through a time of criticism and unjust accusation.
No matter what the enemy may prevent you from doing they cannot stop you from praising our God. God should be the God of our praise.
Turning to God will keep you from turning inward and becoming bitter. Give yourself to prayer not debating.
Trust God to provide what is needed to bring correction to your accuser. Do not take matters into your own hands.
Don’t only be confident they are on the side of wrong but you stand in the truth. There is room for both of you to be wrong.
We know who is at the right hand of your accuser but are you resting knowing that God stands at your right hand. You can trust Him. Do not move, respond, or act without His guidance.
Psalm 109:6 (KJV 1900)
6 Set thou a wicked man over him: And let Satan stand at his right hand.
6 Set thou a wicked man over him: And let Satan stand at his right hand.
Psalm 109:31 (KJV 1900)
31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, To save him from those that condemn his soul.
31 For he (God) shall stand at the right hand of the poor, To save him from those that condemn his soul.
Knowledge of this allows you to give yourself to prayer. Because you know He is the only one that matters. You do not need your accusers approval nor do you desire to act without God guidance.