“He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him! He clothed himself with cursing as his coat; may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones! May it be like a garment that he wraps around him, like a belt that he puts on every day! May this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD, of those who speak evil against my life! But You, O GOD my Lord, deal on my behalf for Your name’s sake; because Your steadfast love is good, deliver me! For I am poor and needy, and my heart is stricken within me. I am gone like a shadow at evening; I am shaken off like a locust. My knees are weak through fasting; my body has become gaunt, with no fat. I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they wag their heads. Help me, O LORD my God! Save me according to Your steadfast love!” Psalm 109:17-26
Devotional Thought For The Day
In these verses the psalmist, in his dire distress and desperation, contemplates more of the characteristics and behaviors of his accusers, those who repaid his love and goodness with betrayal, evil, and hatred. His adversary cursed rather blessing others. This goes to the very heart and nature of his accuser – that he is no believer or respecter of God. The psalmist also asks the Lord to observe the effects of this betrayal and how it has emboldened other enemies to attack him. This description of the effect of the treachery of his accusers upon his health documents how slander is also murderous, ruining the health and physical well-being of others. Such dynamics should be carefully considered by all – that words not only can harm but can actually cause deep distress and even the demise of others. Those who engage in this harmful behavior, slandering others, while smiling and feigning care and consideration, are especially wretched and abhorrent; they deserve the worst of what the psalmist prays against his enemies.
The psalmist essentially prays that the nature of his accusers and their violent behavior might be returned upon them. It is not always noticed, but God often allows this, and it is the natural course of events. Those who engage in specific kinds of evil are often consumed from the inside by their evil, and the suffering that they invite upon themselves often comes in similar fashion to what they have devised for others. This is a warning to all to carefully consider taking up curses and plotting evil against others; quite often there is a “boomerang” effect. And the real nature of slander ought to be considered before we even think of engaging in gossip and speaking evil of others – that those who do so “speak evil against my life.” The greedy are often consumed by greed, and by other greedy people. The gluttonous become preoccupied with consumption and destroyed by their excesses. Drunkards are infatuated with “drink” [or other drugs] and are destroyed by the object of their desire. The dishonest are often entrapped in their own dishonesty, and taken advantage of by other liars and deceivers. The lustful are inflamed by their appetites, and become the objects of other people’s appetites. The violent [those who take up the sword] are often destroyed by violence. The slanderous are eaten up by their own malice and destroyed by other gossips. So again, we might want to consider carefully what we pray against others, lest we be meting out the same measure to ourselves [Matt. 7:1,2].
There is, however, another consideration that the psalmist brings up – and that is the reputation and honor of God in regard to His repentant children who have sought refuge in His mercy, have entrusted themselves into His care, have devoted themselves to His ways, and associated themselves fully and completely with God and His Name. The psalmist identifies himself as one who knows God’s steadfast love and mercy, and one who has put His faith and trust in God’s promises of forgiveness and grace. He has preached repentance and faith to others, encouraging them to turn from evil and to return to God’s goodness and love. As such he has become God’s agent, and he understands that this makes him a target of evil, of God’s enemies, and he also understands his vulnerability – unless God protects him. The world is a wicked place, and a very dangerous place for those who take God’s side. So the fate of God’s servants reflects upon the honor of God. This does not mean that His servants do not suffer the malevolence of the wicked – the psalmist cries out to God to notice how decimated he has become. And the vindication of God’s servants does not always come in this life. Consider Abel, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Stephen, James, and many others, including the martyrs of recent times. Still, it is the very nature of faith and trust in God that we acknowledge our weakness and the reality that only God can save us. Jesus did the same, “offering up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.” [Heb. 5:7]
So let us reflect deeply about these things. First, that we never succumb to temptations to engage in evil against others. Second, that we ourselves repent and confess our sins, and take refuge in God’s gracious forgiveness, mercy, and salvation in Christ Jesus. Third, that we weigh carefully the cost of following Jesus, and devote ourselves to the cause and mission of His love and to following His example of humble faith and trust in God. Finally, that we put our vindication into His hands – careful in what we pray for in regard to our enemies, those who seek our destruction, but certainly praying that God’s Name be vindicated in the fate of His dear people of faith, especially His servants, knowing and asserting the goodness of His steadfast love, certain of His ultimate deliverance of His dear people of faith, especially in the life beyond this present age. For we know that His strength is made perfect in our weakness, and that His grace will always be sufficient for us in our trials and troubles in this life [2 Cor. 12:9]. Thanks and praise be to God!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, strengthen us in faith and trust when we are touched, humbled, and even devastated by the evil all around us, enemies and haters who seek our destruction and death. Humble us also to cry out to You, knowing that You are able to save us. Forbid that we ever return evil for evil, or succumb to the temptation of trying to overcome evil with evil. Rather let us trust ourselves to Your vengeance and vindication. Turn the hearts of our enemies, but if they will not be reconciled by Your love and our love, then deal with them in Your wisdom. Help us, save and deliver us, according to Your steadfast love. Amen.