Psalms 109 - Printer Friendly

What does Psalms 109 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

Certain psalms contain requests for God to harshly punish an enemy. These are labeled "imprecatory." Examples include Psalms 5, 10, 109, 17, 58, 59, 70, 79, 83, 129, 137, and 140. Most of those include a few imprecatory statements. Psalm 109, along with others such as Psalms 35 and 69, are more detailed in their imprecation. These songs record the heartfelt anguish of psalmists but don't necessarily indicate that the Lord granted those requests. It's possible that this psalm is labeled "of David" because of its style. No specific event is mentioned, but David certainly experienced his share of hardships and challenges.

The psalmist—probably David—begins with an appeal for God to act. He notes the abuse he suffers under his enemies. This includes malicious lies, slander, hateful words, and unjustified aggressions (Psalm 109:1–3).

Those sins are especially heinous because the psalmist has attempted to show love to those aggressors. His commitment to the Lord is shown in his attitude towards prayer. The Hebrew phrase in this psalm can be translated very literally as "but I am prayer." Rather than responding with violence or angry words, the psalmist chooses to rely on God's power (Psalm 109:4–5).

Next comes a relatively long series of misfortunes. These are the judgments the psalmist hopes the Lord will bring on slandering, lying enemies. The writer wishes them to be maliciously accused and convicted and that their prayers will be rejected. He prays for these wicked liars to lose their status and importance; this statement was noted by the apostles (Acts 1:20) while selecting a replacement for Judas (Psalm 109:6–8).

In an especially bitter turn, the psalmist asks for God to bring disaster on his enemies' families, as well. By praying that they lose father and husband, this effectively asks God to deliver the death penalty. The next section provides reasons why the writer feels this is justified (Psalm 109:16). Piling on, the writer wants the remaining family to be treated with coldness and hostility, with others condemning them for sin and shame, until the family line ends and the world forgets them. And yet, the psalmist hopes that God will forever remember their sins (Psalm 109:9–15).

Now the psalmist notes specific crimes committed by these enemies—or possibly by a single, especially wicked one. The antagonist was cruel to the disadvantaged, bringing them death instead of care. This opponent was verbally abusive and hateful towards others. The psalmist here prays that these curses and cruelties would turn back on the enemy and overwhelm them (Psalm 109:16–20).

The psalmist then explains what his enemies' attacks have done. His wealth and health are suffering. He feels shame because of their slandering. The song ends with a series of statements summarizing the rest of the song: a request for help, pleas for judgment on the enemy, and a promise to praise the Lord for His anticipated response (Psalm 109:21–31).

Psalm 109:1–5 begins with a request for God to act against the psalmist's enemy. That psalmist is likely David, but the label "of David" may refer to its style rather than its author. The first segment of the song explains what these opponents are doing. They slander and lie, with their sins targeting the psalmist. Apparently, the writer has tried to do good for these people, but they respond with hate.

Psalm 109:6–20 contains a long list of punishments which the psalmist—probably David—wishes upon his enemies. Prayers for wrathful judgment to come from God are labeled "imprecatory," and don't necessarily come with God's approval. These seem to be in response to sinful acts towards the poor (Psalm 109:16), as well as repeated lies (Psalm 109:4–5). The writer's wishes for his enemies include legal accusations and convictions, poverty, shame, humiliation, and curses. This even extends to asking for the enemy to die and leave his family destitute.

Psalm 109:21–31 is the third section of this "imprecatory" psalm: a song begging the Lord to deliver His wrath on an enemy. The first section noted the sins of enemies. The second was a list of misfortunes. Here, the psalmist, presumably David, emphasizes how he suffers at his enemies' hands. He calls on God to provide clear and obvious rescue, turning their own wickedness against them.

Chapter Summary:

The psalmist, probably David, calls on the Lord for help. He is under siege in the form of lies, hatred, and slander. Though David has shown them love, they respond with attacks. He prays that God would deliver punishment to these enemies. David's requests are harsh and even include the families of these opponents. Ultimately, David trusts God to provide rescue. He hopes that it will be clear to all that it was the Lord who rescued Him.

Chapter Context:

Certain psalms are labeled "imprecatory," meaning they call for God's wrath and punishment on some enemy. This is one example, along with others such as Psalms 5, 10, 17, 35, 58, 59, 69, 70, 79, 83, 129, 137, and 140. These do not promise revenge or an intent to act; they are pleas for the Lord to respond with harsh vengeance. This psalm is not associated with any specific event or incident.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

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