Psalm 109

Read Psalm 109

“Be not silent, O God of my praise! For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues.” David turned to God when his enemies were trying to destroy him. “They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause.”

David faced the hatred of men that he had treated with kindness. When he asked God to aid him, his focus turned to one treacherous individual out of the entire group of enemies. “May his days be few; may another take his office!” These exact words were quoted in the New Testament by Peter concerning the death of Judas.

Peter wrote in Acts 1:16, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.” The apostles acted upon Peter's understanding of Psalm 109 and selected another man to replace Judas in “his office” as one of the twelve. This citation helps us to see that the suffering man in the psalm was not only David so many centuries earlier, but our Lord Jesus, who was betrayed by his friend.

David asked God to bring His justice down upon those who were standing against him with murderous intent. He looked to the God of vengeance to take action. Yet when Jesus suffered pain at the hands of those who crucified Him, he spoke these words: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

The Lord understood that the curses of Psalm 109 were real and that they stood against all those who were complicit in His death. When He was carrying the cross, He said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” (Luke 23:28) He also knew that He was going to the cross to suffer the curse that we deserved.

The blessings of deliverance that David sought for himself back in his time of distress have now come to the body of Christ throughout the world. “Because your steadfast love is good, deliver me!” Jesus was “an object of scorn” to those around Him at His death, but He has become our saving Lord.

Our Savior has been vindicated before the world through His resurrection. Those who plotted against Him, like Judas, have lost everything. Even today, many will not embrace the Lord who sends His church to the ends of the earth with the message of His forgiveness. But we have found eternal life through our association with the Lamb of God who died for our sins.

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Our God, please speak to us powerfully through Your holy Scriptures. Save us in Your infinite strength. There is one who comes to make accusations against us. We know that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but there are those who have fallen under the foul sway of a wicked adversary. Surely You will make a final end of Satan, together with all His allies among men and angels. They have despised You, and have hated Your mercy. We trust in You. Please continue Your great faithfulness to us for the glory of Your holy Name. Continue in Your everlasting love for Your people.