November 19
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DAVID LEFT VENGEANCE TO GOD
May his days be few; May another take his office.
9 May his children be fatherless, And his wife a widow.
10 May his children wander about and beg;
And may they seek sustenance far from their ruined homes.
11 May the creditor seize everything that he has,
And may strangers plunder the product of his labor.
12 May there be none to extend kindness to him,
Nor any to be gracious to his fatherless children.
13 May his descendants be eliminated;
May their name be wiped out in a following generation. -Psalm 109:8-13
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Enduringword.com comments that this is a psalm of David, and is thought to be the strongest of what are known as the imprecatory psalms, David’s songs that call down curses upon his enemies. It is important to remember that these are prayers, committing vengeance unto God. With the greater revelation of grace and truth that came by Jesus Christ, we understand that we are to pray for the good of our enemies, and not for their ruin. Yet, we remind ourselves that David refused to act upon these curses; he left vengeance up to God. This is especially relevant regarding David, who knew what it was to take life with the sword. When David withheld vengeance, it was because he chose to, not because he lacked the opportunity, skill, or courage. This begins a long and intense set of curses that David pronounced against his enemy. There are some who think that verses 6 onwards describe the lying words that David’s enemies spoke against him, and that the use of the singular in that section proves it – as well as later in verse.
Morgan had this opinion: “I entirely agree with those expositors who treat this passage as the singer’s quotation of the language of his enemies against him.” It is fair to note that the tone of these curses is generally in the form of prophecies rather than immediate curses. David predicted the righteous judgment to come rather than pronouncing it – though, he certainly wished for this judgment.
What is amazing with David is that even his vengeance, he lifts it up to God so that he won’t do the wrong thing. He leaves everything in God’s hand. He never operates on his own strength or understanding, something that is a novelty in our world today.
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REFLECTION
• How can we develop the habit of dependence on God on everything?