Daily Devotions

Psalms

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Day 
Day 214

Psalm 109:1 "Do not keep silent, O God of my praise!"

Day 214 – Psalm 109

“Do not keep silent, O God of my praise!” Psalm 109:1

SUPERSCRIPTION: To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1. Straightforward features

2. Authorship of David

3. In care of the Chief Musician

IMPRECATORY PSALMS

Psalm 109 is essentially an imprecatory psalm. David wrote a small number of such psalms (Psalm 35, 58 etc). These psalms are challenging to read and interpret. They may be almost painful to read and yet when carefully studied will yield deep spiritual insights.

CRYING OUT TO GOD

Imprecatory psalms are essentially prayers offered up to God from a heart that is deeply grieved. These prayers often cry out to God to act swiftly against those who pursue unjust and wicked goals. Human efforts at upholding justice have largely failed and the psalmist feels that he needs to make an appeal to a higher Divine Court.

“Do not keep silent,
O God of my praise!
For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful
Have opened against me;
They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.”
Psalm 109:1-2

1. A prayer to God

a) Not to remain silent.
b) Hope is expressed that the God worthy of praise will respond swiftly.

2. The occasion

a) The mouth of the wicked had spoken against the king.
b) They had employed deceit to speak against the king.
c) These wicked had resorted to lies.

3. Potential danger

These acts were essentially seditious. They could de-stabilize the nation. They could cause the nation to be badly divided. Though the attacks were in some measure personal due to the fact that the office of the king was attacked, the threat of undermining the rule of the king must be noted.