Psalm 109 - A man of prayer

Read: Psalm 109 vs 1-31

We all like to be liked and there is something very reassuring and comforting when people get on well with us. The Bible encourages us to make the pursuit of good relationships with others a real life priority, so for example in Romans 12:18 we read:

‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.’

When you read those words and then land in to Psalm 109 you get a sharp shock. David is in a situation where other people are speaking against him. They are telling lies and their words of hatred surround him. He has offered them friendship and got only hatred in return (vs 1-5). 

So where does David go with this? David goes where, at his best, he always goes. He goes to prayer. David’s words and emotions in vs 6-20 hold very little back, David has been hurt badly and he wants to see his accusers hurt badly in return. We are uncomfortable with words like this, we might think them, but surely feelings like these don’t belong in church! 

The Bible is one whole book and it needs to be read as one book. When we go back to Romans 12 we read: ‘Do not repay anyone evil for evil … Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (vs 17, 21).

For the Christian the pain and hurt (and you could almost say bitterness) of Psalm 109 does not have the last word but rather these very real words, these real emotions, these real hurts push us forward to the cross where Jesus Himself prayed ‘Father, forgive them , for they do not know what they are doing’ (Luke 23:34).

The cross changes things, at the cross we see how God treats His enemies (us! – Romans 5:10). When Jesus tells us to pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44) He doesn’t disallow the words of Psalm 109, but He gives them an ending; an ending, where we ultimately leave our hurts, our sense of injustice, and our enemies, at the foot of cross, where Jesus laid down His life for us, and for them.

Prayer: Father, hurt and pain are real in life. Help me to be honest with You about times when I have been hurt by others. Thank You that You do not treat me as my sins deserve. Help me to live at peace with everyone … and when this is not possible, help me to pray, to love, to keep forgiving, and to follow in the way of Jesus. In His Name. Amen.