Click here to read PSALM 109 in poetic form.
Background
Psalm 109 is in the Deuteronomy Book of the Psalms (Psalms 107-150). These 44 Psalms, like the Book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament, show God’s Word as the source of salvation, deliverance, and healing. This would be fully carried out in the life of the coming Messiah, the living Word, Jesus Christ. Psalm 109 declares the Messiah as the suffering savior who would be delivered by God from his enemies, including death.
Structure
(Verses 1-5) Prayer: for help from the wicked and deceitful (despite the Messiah’s good words and works)
(Verses 6-15) God’s justice on Messiah’s enemies (“Let…” used 17 times)
(Verse 16) Wicked and deceitful works, persecute the poor and needy
(Verses 17-20) God’s justice on Messiah’s enemies (“Let…” used 5 times)
(Verses 21-27) Prayer: for help from those who oppress, reproach, and shake their heads
(Verses 28,29) God’s justice on Messiah’s enemies (“Let…” used 5 times)
(Verses 30,31) Praise for God’s salvation (through the Messiah)
Key Scriptures
Verse 5— “And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.” This was fulfilled in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. I Peter 2:22-24: “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
Verse 6— “Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.” The Hebrew word for “Satan” means an adversary. This would be similar to a prosecutor in judicial trial, as seen in the next verse: “When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.”
Verse 8— “Let his days be few; and let another take his office.” This was quoted by Peter in Acts 1:20 regarding Judas Iscariot.
Verse 25—”I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads.” This was literally true at the crucifixion. Jesus Christ bore more reproach than any person. The religious leaders, soldiers, others being crucified, and the crowd all carried out this prophecy (Matthew 27:43-44; Mark 15:29-32; Luke 23:35-37). This was the most absolute humiliation that Satan could muster against the Christ. Hebrews 12:3 says that Jesus Christ “endured such contradiction of sinners against himself.” Isaiah 53:3 says that “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
Verse 30—”I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.” Jesus Christ continually offered praise to his heavenly Father. One of his final acts was to lead his disciples in hymns of praise (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26).
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
