(1) Prayer for God’s Judgment on the Wicked (vv. 22–29)
The judgment includes the trap from one's friends, their eyes be blinded and making one shakes violently, cursing on one's home, deleting one's name from the scroll of the living, and do not let their names be listed with the godly.The psalmist prayed for the judgement of the wicked because of what they did to him.
v.26
For they harass the one whom you discipline;
they spread the news about the suffering of those whom you punish.
However, this psalm was quoted by Jesus.
(BKC)Parts of the psalm were applied to the life of Christ: hatred against Him (v. 4; cf. John 15:25), His zeal (Ps. 69:9; cf. John 2:17), and vinegar given to Him on the cross (Ps. 69:21; cf. Matt. 27:48).
Jesus should have prayed for the same prayer as this psalmist here and asked for the judgment of His enemies. Instead, He asked the Father to forgive them for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34).
Reflections: Whenever I come across with people inside of a store and wear their face coverings half-way up I usually will be very angry at them, especially when they keep talking/coughing and pulling down their masks. I am also mad to see the images on the news of large rallies held by some people and they do not care about the prevention of the disease. My thinking is those people do not deserve any treatment from the medical staff if they got Covid 19. However, in today's message I see the difference of Jesus. Yes, the wicked deserved the judgment like what the psalmist said here. But, we have an option to treat them differently, like Jesus.
(2) Personal and Communal Praise (vv. 30–32)
The psalmist praised God and he invited the oppressed to look at him. He was confident that they would rejoice. Those who seek God may be encouraged! v.32. Note, Zion was not delivered, and the cities of Judahs were not rebuilt yet v.35. The psalmist was not just confident that God would hear him and God would hear them as well.
Reflection: Let us not underestimate praising God. We can praise God before He delivers us from troubles. We can also encourage others to praise God when they are in the middle of their sufferings. We will see the works of God in us and in them as well.
Audrey
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