You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor;
my foes are all known to you.
Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair.
I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.
They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.
Let their own table before them become a snare;
and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.
Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see,
and make their loins tremble continually.
Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them.
May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents.
For they persecute him whom you have struck down,
and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.
Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you.
Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.
Comment: Obviously David’s enemies were very nasty to him. It seems as if David is very determined that they should be punished for all their nastiness to him. There is always the pleading on the behalf of the criminal trying to excuse his upbringing or the plea to give them another chance because ‘none of us are perfect’. At this time, in Australia we are having numerous repeat offenders, who, having been given suspended sentences proceed to even more evil acts. Justice needs to be seen to be and in fact to have been done. At the end David’s plea for them to be blotted out of the book of the living and to have no place with the righteous seems a bit tough. But if heaven isn’t free from sin and evil, will it be any better than what we see on earth these days? I believe that we can safely leave that in God’s hands – mind you He has shared His plans for the future with us, in His Magnificent Book.
Prayer: Thank You. Father, that You are a very fair, just and loving God.
As I read it! 