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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
69:22-28 May They Suffer the Punishment They Deserve. The next section asks God to vindicate his faithful one by bringing on the enemies the troubles they deserve (and that they would bring on the faithful if they could). The description in vv. 22-25 uses imagery to convey the idea of a life devastated and sad in various ways: in home life (v. 22), in personal health (v. 23), and in its posterity (vv. 24-25). It is clear from v. 26 that these people are grievous sinners; they are Israelites who do not embrace the covenant and who can wield influence to harm the faithful. As with these curses in general, the unstated assumption is that they will not repent, which of course would be preferable (see notes on 5:10; 35:4-8).
69:22-23 In Rom. 11:9-10, Paul cites this curse to explain why his fellow Jews who reject the message of Christ have been hardened. Nevertheless, in the rest of Romans 11, he also explains why the curse is not irrevocable: it is a "partial hardening," which will be relieved if and when they repent (Rom. 11:23-25).
69:25 In Acts 1:20, this text is applied to Judas, who had taken part in destroying Jesus, the perfect embodiment of this psalm. If it is part of Peter's speech, then he is combining it with Ps. 109:8 to show why the disciples should give up on Judas and replace him with another.
69:27-28 no acquittal . . . blotted out . . . not be enrolled. These prospects go beyond temporal punishments to include an eternal one. Again, the assumption is that the people in question will not repent. These words could prove to be a mercy to the evildoers, should any of them be present at worship when the congregation sings them, and they heed the warning.
