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"With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD; I will praise him in the midst of the throng. For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death."

~ Psalm 109:30-31

 

This psalm is a very personal psalm of lament by King David.  It is also an imprecatory (to invoke evil upon; curse) psalm.  The imprecatory nature of this psalm is only in line with what God himself has already declared as the things he will do against those who are doers of such wickedness.  It is not wrong to do as David does here, but take caution in following the example of David in this way, for it is easy for our heart to go astray.

But like he (in his lament), we too have many who surround (v.3) and taunt (v.2) and curse (v.17) and speak evil (v.20) against us. They lie (v.2) and they accuse (v.4); they threaten (v.3) and condemn (v.31). These words of wicked men, or perhaps words form our own wicked hearts, are words of deceit (v.2), rooted and sourced in the father of lies himself (John 8:44).

But the Truth remains (John 14:6, 17:17), and we are to remain in the Truth (John 8:31-32). Our God is the Judge (v.6-7), he is our Avenger (v.8-15), our Deliverer (v.21), our LORD (v.26) and Savior (v.31). His steadfast love is good (v.21) and unfailing.

Our identity rests in Christ…not in our self-perceptions nor in others’ perceptions of us.  How often I have heard and felt the derision of others who hate (for cause or for no cause at all).  How hard it is for me to not listen to these deceitful lies and not believe what they say to be true.  How wonderful it is when instead I rest in Christ…to see myself as my Savior sees me…to entrust myself to him and find my identity in him!