The opening verses of this psalm are pretty mild as David asks God for help by pleading, “Hold not Thy peace,” when he praises God. He had shown goodness and love to others, but they have returned with false accusations, insults, and lies. They had become very vocal in slandering him with lies. So, he appeals for deliverance from those false accusers and asks for legal action against those people. They had rewarded his goodness with evil and his love with hatred.
David had done well for those people and had loved them. That is our responsibility toward people who need our help and honest concern. But what do we do when they slander us and lie about us? How are we to respond? We must do what God does. We must hate sin but love sinners. By the strength and grace of God, this is possible.
From verse 6 on, the psalmist wrote words of condemnation. Peter quoted them concerning Judas Iscariot. This psalm best describes Judas and the Lord Jesus, although it may refer to Israel and the antichrist as well as to David and those who had turned against him. There are descriptions of Judas and how he opposed the Lord. Not only is it a description of the person, but it is an awful word picture of a person who is forever lost. What he did against the Lord affects others in the same condition of soul. There is no teaching in scripture of a second chance for salvation for a lost soul. “He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life: he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him [John 3:36].” This psalm is a description of John 3:36.
The psalmist seemed to consider himself in a hopeless condition, as the wicked were using against him. His only hope was in God, and that his enemies would somehow know that God favors him. Any help he can get will come from God. In his appeal for retribution from false accusers, he wants legal action against them and deliverance for himself. When he wrote, “Let him be condemned…,” it means to deal with him as in a court of law where justice is done. Deal with all who speak evil of me in the same way.
When Judas betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ, no mercy was shown to him. The Lord Jesus stated in His prayer that Judas was lost and that the scriptures might be fulfilled. Peter said Judas purchased a field with the reward of iniquity, and his “habitation [would be] desolate.” The appeal was to divine justice to stop those evil practices from passing on to the next generation so that the ruthless character of enemies of God, His people, and righteousness will no longer be found. He asked for the consequences to be so severe that what happened to him would not happen again because of the fear of righteous vengeance.
For the lost, no mercy is shown. They showed no gratitude for the blessing they received, so that no mercy would be given to them. There is no promising future of any kind for the guilty. There is a moral law that whatever one sows, they reap. There is no escaping the consequences of sin. To many people in this day of tolerance and acceptance of sin and sinful practices as standard, the tenor of this whole psalm would be offensive. To understand justice and righteous vengeance, we need to remember the spirit of those living under the law, including vengeance, which showed no mercy. So, God established cities of refuge for lawbreakers to flee to get a hearing from the judges. If they lingered and died at the hand of a person who was seeking vengeance, the one seeking vengeance was not convicted of a crime. The onus was on the offender to find a place of mercy and safety.
The psalmist's vindictive words against lawbreakers are equal to their sinful actions. Justice was carried out with an iron hand. That was the demands of the law. The spirit of those who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ, in this “day of grace,” is much different. Justice was carried out on our behalf, and the law was fulfilled when our Lord Jesus demonstrated His love toward us “in that Christ died for us.” The law does not condemn the Gospel, but the Gospel, “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, He was buried, and He rose again the third day, according to the scriptures,” has fulfilled the demands of the law. The Gospel transcends the law. It justifies the ungodly and brings us into the family of God as sons and daughters by the new birth.
Knowing the severe consequences of breaking the law causes us to rejoice and praise God for our deliverance. God had mercy on us in our deep need. He delivered us from “so great a death.” He vindicated us so that we could testify to others that God Himself saved us and delivered us from the wrath to come. David was confident he could praise God for answering his prayer and delivering him. We are grateful that God has done that for us – and more. A lesson to be learned and remembered: God is, and always will be, a God of love and mercy. He is also just and faithful.
PSALM 109 ENEMIES OF GOD, BEWARE! An individual’s … v.1-5. Plea for help. “Hold not Thy peace…” v.6-20. Plea for retribution. “Let him be condemned…” v.21-31. Prayer for deliverance. “Do Thou for me… deliver Thou me…”