A Devotion from Psalm 109

A Devotion from Psalm 109

Psalm 109 is filled with prophetic information about the treachery of Judas Iscariot, and his judgment: it could almost be called the Judas Psalm.  In verses 28-31 David takes time to teach us how to respond to such treachery.  This advice follows immediately after a summary poem about the sufferings of Christ, especially on the cross in verses 21-27.  So verses 28-31 are the prayer of Christ when responding to treachery: let them also be our prayer in Christ.

"Let them curse.  But You bless.  When they arise, let them be ashamed.  But let Your servant rejoice.  Let my adversaries be clothed with shame.  Let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.

"I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth.  Yes, I will praise Him among the throngs.  For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save [him] from those who condemn his soul."

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We are able to love our adversaries because God has already provided for their end: whether for repentance unto life, or to hardness unto death.  We do not need to go over our defense against them repeatedly, because God has already provide our defense in the death and resurrection of Christ.  We are able to forget the whole matter and put it to rest: it is out of our hands, and into God's loving hands.

In addition, we may love our enemies by following the examples of Jesus, John, and the Apostles when dealing with adversaries, and adversity.  Our faithful leaders faced such opposition unflinchingly head on.  The problem, whatever it was, was confronted openly and forthrightly: then our faithful leaders moved on.  The New Testament is filled with all sorts of tactical information for developing our skills at this.  Nevertheless, we ought not expect this to have a peaceful ending by worldly standards: for Jesus, John, and the Apostles were almost all murdered.  On the other hand, we have a different kind of peace, the "weapon of peace".