Psalm 109:1-20

 Overview: (Kel) After calling to the LORD for help against those who fought him with evil devices, and after laying curses on the enemy so that he would be desolate and dispossessed because he (the enemy) loved cursing, the psalmist prays that the LORD will help him by avenging his shame and dishonor.

(1) v.1-5 the psalmist did not retribute or do anything to his enemies. Instead, he cried to God not to ignore me or "do not  be deaf" (NET). He just wanted God to listen to what the enemies said to him. Those were cruel and deceptive words, hateful things. They repay his love with accusations v.4.  What he will do is "continue" to pray. 

Reflection: Do I have this kind of faith during such times? Will I think praying and letting God listen to the enemies' words are enough? Will I just continue to pray when I feel that God have ignored me?

(2) v.6-20 the psalmist calls on God to judge his enemies severely. It seemed to be a very evil thing to curse someone, but right from the beginning, the psalmist asked God for a judgement and let his enemy take the stand at the trial v.6-7. Therefore, the curse could be seen as the anticipated results of the trial. Also, in v.16-20 the psalmist gave the reason for the curse, namely, the enemy himself. 

    109:17 He loved to curse others, so those curses have come upon him.
    He had no desire to bless anyone, so he has experienced no blessings.
    109:18 He made cursing a way of life,...

(NET)[v.17 those curses have come upon him]  indicating that the evil man’s lifestyle has already begun to yield its destructive fruit...A curse in OT times consists of a formal appeal to God to bring judgment down upon another. Curses were sometimes justified (such as the one spoken by the psalmist here in vv. 6–19), but when they were not, the one pronouncing the curse was in danger of bringing the anticipated judgment down upon himself.

Reflection: Curse words have serious consequences as seen in this psalm. The psalmist quoted repeatedly his enemies' words from the beginning v.2-3 and used that as an evidence to ask God to curse them back v.18-20. Do we curse anyone? In general, words have serious consequences. Are we careful with our words?  

Audrey