An Overview of the Book of Psalms
“As for God, His way is
perfect” 2 Samuel 22:31
Volume 3 Number 49
December 4, 2016
The
Way
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Psalm 109
Like Psalm 69, this psalm is imprecatory i.e., it contains
an appeal to God for a curse or destruction of the writer’s adversaries. It should be noted that David clearly
understood the forgiving nature of God toward the penitent, but he sees no movement of these wicked people
toward repentance. Since God has never sanctioned
personal vengeance, David prays to God to justly take
care of the situation, this situation in which he is being
afflicted by the wicked. cf. Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 32:35; Roman 12:19-21,
109:1-5 David details his complaint to God. The wicked have: Spoken against him v2; Lied v2; Hated v3;
Fought against him for no reason v3; Repaid evil for
good v4-5.
109:6-15 On the basis of their sins, David now asks
for judgment and punishment to be rendered against
them by God. Remember, this psalm, like the rest of
the Bible, is inspired of God. In Acts 1:16ff – an application of this psalm is made to Judas Iscariot. Note the
similarities with Jeremiah 18:19-23 “Give heed to me, O
Lord, and listen to the voice of those who contend with
me! 20 Shall evil be repaid for good? For they have dug
a pit for my life. Remember that I stood before You to
speak good for them, to turn away Your wrath from
them. 21 Therefore deliver up their children to the
famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the
sword; let their wives become widows and bereaved of
their children. Let their men be put to death, their
young men be slain by the sword in battle. 22 Let a cry
be heard from their houses, when You bring a troop suddenly upon them; for they have dug a pit to take me, and
hidden snares for my feet. 23 Yet, Lord, You know all
their counsel which is against me, to slay me. Provide no
atonement for their iniquity, nor blot out their sin from
Your sight; But let them be overthrown before You. Deal
thus with them in the time of Your anger.” David details his imprecation.
He wishes that these wicked men would have: Wicked rulers and judges v6;
An accuser v7; A guilty judgment rendered against them v7; Sinful prayers
cf. Proverbs 28:9; A short life v8; 6 A replacement note – this implied that
the wicked man is a man of authority; v8. David continues his imprecation
by focusing on the wicked man’s children and wife. From our limited human
perspective it seems unjust to offer a prayer like this. However, it may
very well be the case that the family partook in the sin also cf. Joshua
7:24-26. Regardless, we must understand that even today consequences
of sin often affect the family though the sin itself is only held against the
transgressor cf. Ezekiel 18:20; Exodus 20:5; 1 Samuel 2:31ff; Luke
19:41. David wishes that: The children would be without a father and that
the mother would be without a husband v9; The children would be forced
to beg v10; They would lose all of their possessions v11; They would have no
friends or defenders v12; They would suffer the disgrace of no posterity
v13; There would be no blessing of forgiveness v14; and finally that
They would not be overlooked by the angry God v15.
109:16-18 David repeats why he is asking for this punishment; these
wicked individuals have: shown no mercy, persecuted the innocent, killed
the weak, cursed others, and failed to be a blessing to anyone else. Instead they clothed themselves with all kinds of evil characteristics.
109:19-20 Therefore, David returns to his imprecation, wishing that
they would receive what they have given to others.
109:21-29 There is a major change in the psalm here as David now begins praying for deliverance. He mentions four reasons why God should deliver him: It would help God’s reputation among men v21; God is merciful
v21; He is too weak to help himself v22-24; Surely God doesn’t want
His child to endure public disgrace cf. Matthew 27:39.
109:30-31 These verses end the psalm with a promise to give praise to
God for being one who comes to the aid of the faithful.
Again, to our limited way of thinking, the tenor of this psalm may seem
vengeful, this literary style was used to convey the depth of the author’s
despair, but it also displays his utter reliance upon God as his hope, shield
and defender. 
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