How could this psalm, with its full-throated cries for God to punish the wicked, possibly apply in the New Testament era? Well, we cannot doubt that it does – after all, in Acts 1:20, Peter applies verse 8 directly to Judas Iscariot, arguing that another apostle had to be appointed to replace him. Moreover, we cannot doubt that the Son of David endured exactly the sort of suffering that David so vividly described: His enemies hated Him and made all sorts of false accusations about Him (verses 2-4), and as He hung on the cross, those who passed by hurled abuse and wagged their heads at Him (verse 25; see Matthew 27:39).

And over the last 2000 years, so many of Jesus’ afflicted and needy followers have continued to experience the same kind of suffering described here; indeed, many continue to be put to death because of their faith in Christ (verse 16). But as understandable as Psalm 109 may be for the persecuted Church, how can we square it with Jesus’ commandment for us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44)?

Well, notice in the first place that David doesn’t try to take matters into his own hands (see I Samuel 24:12; 26:23). Instead, in verses 6-15, he keeps asking God to punish the wicked. And he is very careful to ask that they get only what is coming to them: those who curse others should themselves be cursed (verse 17).

But at the same time that David trusts in God’s perfect justice, he also relies on the Lord’s unconditional, covenant-keeping love to save him and deliver him (verses 21 and 26). And those of us who trust in the Son of David are called to do the same thing, following Jesus’ example as He committed His Spirit into the hands of the One Who sent Him to the cross (see Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46).

But at the same time, we are also called to follow the commandment of Christ and the example of David: loving our enemies and praying even for those who falsely accuse us (verses 4 and 5). After all, Jesus washed Judas’ feet, even though He knew that on that same night Judas would lift up his heel against Jesus, betraying Him to His enemies (John 13:14, 18).

So, no matter what we may be going through today, let us give God our thanks and praise (verse 30), confident that He will save us according to His lovingkindness (verse 26), even as He uses our suffering to reveal Himself to an unbelieving world (verse 27).

Psalm 109 (NASB)

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
O God of my praise, Do not be silent!
2 For they have opened the wicked and deceitful mouth against me; They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
3 They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, And fought against me without cause.
4 In return for my love they act as my accusers; But I am in prayer.
5 Thus they have repaid me evil for good, And hatred for my love.
6 Appoint a wicked man over him; And let an accuser stand at his right hand.
7 When he is judged, let him come forth guilty; And let his prayer become sin.
8 Let his days be few; Let another take his office.
9 Let his children be fatherless, And his wife a widow.
10 Let his children wander about and beg; And let them seek sustenance far from their ruined homes.
11 Let the creditor seize all that he has; And let strangers plunder the product of his labor.
12 Let there be none to extend lovingkindness to him, Nor any to be gracious to his fatherless children.
13 Let his posterity be cut off; In a following generation let their name be blotted out.
14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, And do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15 Let them be before the LORD continually, That He may cut off their memory from the earth;
16 Because he did not remember to show lovingkindness, But persecuted the afflicted and needy man, And the despondent in heart, to put them to death.
17 He also loved cursing, so it came to him; And he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.
18 But he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment, And it entered into his body like water, And like oil into his bones.
19 Let it be to him as a garment with which he covers himself, And for a belt with which he constantly girds himself.
20 Let this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD, And of those who speak evil against my soul.
21 But Thou, O God, the Lord, deal kindly with me for Thy name’s sake; Because Thy lovingkindness is good, deliver me;
22 For I am afflicted and needy, And my heart is wounded within me.
23 I am passing like a shadow when it lengthens; I am shaken off like the locust.
24 My knees are weak from fasting; And my flesh has grown lean, without fatness.
25 I also have become a reproach to them; When they see me, they wag their head.
26 Help me, O LORD my God; Save me according to Thy lovingkindness.
27 And let them know that this is Thy hand; Thou, LORD, hast done it.
28 Let them curse, but do Thou bless; When they arise, they shall be ashamed, But Thy servant shall be glad.
29 Let my accusers be clothed with dishonor, And let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.
30 With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the LORD; And in the midst of many I will praise Him.
31 For He stands at the right hand of the needy, To save him from those who judge his soul.