The Book of Psalms
Psalm 109
Psalm CIX · Vol. II, pp. 1059–1060
1 David, complaining of his slanderous enemies, under the person of Judas, devoteth them. 16 He showeth their sin. 21 Complaining of his own misery, he prayeth for help. 30 He promiseth thankfulness.
To the chief musician, A psalm of David.
2 Forc the mouth of the wicked, and the mouth of the deceitful,1 are opened against me;2 theyd have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me ewithout a cause.
e Ps.37.7; 69.4. Jn.15.24,25.
4 Forg my love they are my adversaries: hbut I give myself unto prayer.3
g ver.5. Ps.35.12; 38.20. Jn.10.32; 15.18. Lu.19.10,14. 2 Co.12.15.
h Ps.35.13; 69.13. Lu.6.11,12; 23.34.
3 Brief, but most expressive and pregnant of meaning, are the words here:— 'For my love (my love and devotion to Thee) they are my adversaries; but I (am) prayer.' I am all prayer; I pray without ceasing prayer is my sole resource; prayer makes me confident. What a noble principle is embodied here, and what a noble lesson does it teach!—P.
5 Andi they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
i Ps.35.7,12.
7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned;6 and klet his prayer become sin.
6 Heb. go out guilty or wicked, Ro.3.19. Ga.3.10. Jn.3.18,19. Mat.27.3,4. Ac.1.25.
8 Letl his days be few; and let another take his office.7
l Ps.55.23. Ac.1.18,20. Mat.27.5.
7 Or, charge.
10 Leto his children be continually vagabonds, and beg; let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.
o Ge.4.12,14. Is.16.2. Job 24.8; 30.3-8. Ps.37.25.
11 Letp the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the stranger spoil his labour.
A.M. cir. 2946. B.C. cir. 1058.
p Job 5.5; 18.9,19; 20.18. 2 Ki.4.1,2. Mat.18.25.
12 Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.
14 Letr the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15 Lets them be before the LORD continually, that he may tcut off the memory of them from the earth:
16 Becauseu that he remembered not to show mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay vthe broken in heart.
u Ps.69.26; 10.2,14. Zec.1.15. Pr.24.11,12. Jn.12.6. Mat.23.23.
v Ps.34.18; 69.20. Is.57.15,16. 2 Co.8.9.
17 Asx he loved cursing, so let it come unto him; as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
18 As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels8 like water, and like oil into his bones.
8 Heb. within him.
19 Lety it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.
y Is.66.24. ver.29.
20 Letz this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
21 Buta do thou for me,9 O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.
28 Letk them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
29 Letl mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.
Notes
Ver. 6. This is one of those psalms against which, like its subject, the wicked infidel, and the uninstructed believer, have unhappily concurred to 'open their mouth.' To evade the imaginary impropriety of its heavy curses, some have imagined ver. 6-17 to be uttered by David's enemies. But how come they, in so imagining, to overlook Ac. 1. 16-20, where Judas, and not David, is declared to be its prophetical object? C.
Ver. 8. To vindicate these curses, for they are literally such, will be easy, before those who read and believe, and tremble as they read, De. 27. 15-26, and who fully comprehending Ga. 3. 10, do acknowledge and feel that 'Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them.' C.
Ver. 14. Most probably the sin of early training Judas up to the love of money, pilfering, and malignant cursing, and, so far from repenting of this perverted education, or seeing its bitter fruits, only gnawing her spirit with grief at its want of a successful issue. C.
Ver. 22. Poor and needy. On comparing these epithets with Ps. 40. 17, and remembering that He. 10. 5 proves Ps. xl. to be descriptive of Christ, no doubt can reasonably remain that, in this, he is the speaker likewise. C.
Ver. 23. The shiftings and currents of the wind toss the dense swarms of locusts in a very extraordinary manner. Even so was our Lord tossed up and down—at one time borne over palm-leaves and garments, and hailed with loud hosannas!—at another followed with deepest execrations—Away with him; away with him! Crucify him; crucify him! C.
Ver. 30. The comparison of this verse with Ps. 18. 49 and Ro. 15. 9, affords another unquestionable parallel proof that he who speaks in the first person is Christ. C.
Reflections.—Dreadful must be the nature of sin, which makes men so desperate and outrageous enemies to Christ and his people. But terrible, spreading, and extensive, lasting and yet most righteous, are the judgments which overtake them from heaven, from earth, and from hell! Deep marked was this truth on the enemies of David, on Judas the traitor, and his Jewish brethren, the murderers of our Lord and his saints; and on heathenish and popish Romans. But if men spitefully abuse us, let us give ourselves unto prayer. Though our God be long silent, he will speak at the last. If he help, we need not regard who harass us. If he bless, we need not care who curse us. If all our hopes be placed on his boundless mercy and grace, no matter how we be loaded with poverty, wounds of spirit, decay of body, or revilings of men. He can quickly help and save us. The more shame we take to ourselves for our sins, we are in the less danger of suffering for them. And God's support and salvation shall quickly fill our mouths with high and everlasting praise.