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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
109:6-20 May He Suffer What He Deserves. This section asks God to vindicate his faithful one by bringing on the enemies the troubles that they deserve (and that they have been bringing on the faithful). This is clear from the way that wicked man and accuser (v. 6) echo vv. 2, 4: they have opened "wicked mouths" against the psalmist, they "accuse" him, so therefore let them suffer the same fate. Cf. v. 12 with v. 16; cf. also v. 17. Like the curse of 69:22-28 (see notes there), the description here uses imagery to depict a life that is devastated and sad (109:18-19) in its various aspects: a shortened life (v. 8), poverty for himself and his dependents (vv. 9-12), no posterity (v. 13), and no forgiveness (vv. 14-15), which goes beyond merely temporal punishments. As with Psalm 69, one must recall that the people cursed are grievous sinners, covenant members who are unfaithful to the covenant, who would use whatever means they can to oppress the faithful. Further, the unstated assumption is that they will not repent (see notes on 5:10; 35:4-8).
109:6 against him. Although vv. 2-5 speak of attackers (plural), vv. 6-19 speak of only one (singular: "he," "him," "his"), and v. 20 returns to the plural. Possibly the singular focuses on the chief attacker (cf. v. 8, an officeholder), or else it is to apply to each and every one of the group.
109:7 When he is tried. Because he now has an "accuser" (v. 6). his prayer. In contrast to the devotion of the faithful singer (v. 4).
109:8 may another take his office. That is, his "office of oversight" (cf. Num. 3:32; 1 Chron. 26:30; Ezek. 44:11), a responsible position among the people of God. In Acts 1:20 the disciples combine this verse with Ps. 69:25 (see note there) to explain why someone else should take Judas's "office of oversight" (Gk. episkopē; cf. 1 Tim. 3:1).
109:9-12 children . . . wife. The man's early death (v. 8) has its inevitable effect of impoverishing his dependents (contrast 37:25). See also Ex. 34:7 ("visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children"); each member of the people is linked to others, and the unfaithfulness of one makes others suffer, especially those closest to him. Again, the assumption is that neither the man nor his family escapes the judgment through repentance.
109:13 posterity be cut off. Part of the blessing of being Israel is the prospect of one's family line continuing (cf. Deut. 25:6), with one's descendants under God's perfect care (cf. Deut. 7:9; Ps. 103:17-18). The unfaithful may forfeit that blessing.
109:16 did not remember to show kindness. This is the explanation for v. 12. Covenant faithfulness is most clearly seen in showing kindness to the most vulnerable (the poor and needy and the brokenhearted), especially those among one's fellow members of God's people; the cursed person has repudiated this, seeking to harm and exploit them instead.
109:17 For the theme of proportional reversal, cf. 7:15; 9:15; 57:6; Prov. 28:10.
