Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Ps 109:1-2 and following. Indeed, this terrible psalm opens by invoking the « God of my praise » (verse 1). No threat, no subject of overwhelm prevented Jesus from looking up at his Father and praising Him. On the contrary, they were all reasons to do so. How did He defend Himself when He was « surrounded by words of hatred » (verse 3)? « But I, » He said, « am in prayer » (verse 4). This should be our only « response » when we encounter unjust hostility. If we remain silent – or rather if we speak only to God – He will not be silent and will answer for us (verse 1; Rm 12:9-21). However, Christ was alone to endure « such opposition… » (M b 12.1-3). His adversaries (who, in the original Hebrew, bear the same name as their master Satan) not only waged war on Him without cause; but, Jesus cries out, « they have returned evil to me for good, and hatred for my love » (verse 5). But among them had lined Judas, guilty of an ingratitude all the more awful as he had been the object of a more intimate affection. Acts 1:15-22 applies verse 8 to him (and, for the future, this passage relates to the Antichrist). Certainly, there was enough to break the Savior’s heart (verse 16).
« Act for me because of your name, » asks the one who has already been called to v. 16 the Afflicted and the Poor (Ps 109: 21:22; John 12:27-33). « Let us know that this is your hand… » (verse 27). God owed to His own glory to deliver the One who invoked Him. This is what Psalm 110 shows! What relief it takes after the painting of the lowering of the Man of sorrows. Jehovah had stood at the right hand of the Poor to save him (Ps 109:31); this is the past. For the present, He made him sit at His right hand proclaiming all his satisfaction in the finished work (Ps 110:1; this is Christ; Eph 1:15-23). And even later, verse 5 promises, « the Lord, at your right hand, will break the kings in the day of his wrath. » His opponents of Ps 109 will be put on the foot foot: their enslavement will be part of his glory.
Psalm110 is quoted no less than eight times in the New Testament: It serves practically as a common thread throughout the epistle to the Hebrews (Hb 1:13-14; Hb 7.15-17; Hb 10.11-14). Finally, in addition to these promises to the Messiah, there is one that relates to his way on earth (verse 7). From a moral point of view, in this psalm Judas and the people of Israel are one, just as Ishmael is one with this people in Gal. 4. Their land is but a vast Aceldama (Isaiah 4:4; Joel 3:21; Matt. 27). The judge also brings them together in the very words he pronounces, using both the singular and the plural to speak of his opponents. The difference is strikingly marked between the fate of Judas and the apostate nation, and that of the remnant of Israel according to the election, of the Jerusalem of Jehovah. For in this psalm, the great judge asks that Satan (v. 6) stand at the right hand of Judas. In Zach. 3, He himself taunts Satan when he wanted to hold that same place against Jerusalem — the true Israel. It is on one of the parts in this psalm that the vigilante calls for judgment, asking that all that is to the wicked – honors, family, property – be plundered, and that there be no one who has compassion; and in the second passage, it is in favor of the opposing party that he speaks, asking that the high priest be clothed with glory, the tiara and the robe, that all iniquity be removed and all defilement erased. In the same way all of Scripture clearly distinguishes between the judgment of the apostate nation, and redemption, the blessing of the elect and of the true Israel.
For the opprobrium of the « afflicted and poor » man, the murder of the One who was « heartbroken » are the reason for the judgment that is requested here; it is the rejection of Jesus. The same motive serves as an argument for the same vigilante to appeal the judgment on the Jewish people, to Ps. 69. This is also what the New Testament teaches; for if Israel perished miserably, and if the vine was taken from him, it is because he was the murderer of the heir of the vine. And how will the country be purified and israel’s name restored? It will be necessary for the faithful of the residue to return in faith to the One who has been rejected, look to « the One they have pierced » and learn to say, « He has been wounded for our transgressions. » This faith will recognize in Him an open source for sin and impurity, and will say in an even greater glee of spirit: « Blessed be he who comes in the name of the Lord. »
It is certain that this Psalm applies to Judas; however, we will see from reading it that it cannot apply exclusively to Him, and this remark helps us to understand how the Psalms are written: It contains the general condition of the Latter-day Saints, even in a way that absolutely cannot be applied to Christ personally, such as Ps. 118:10- 11 ; these passages apply to the righteous in general; there are others that may apply, and some with all their scope and prophetic accuracy, to Christ personally and to the circumstances in which He found Himself.
O God of my praise! do not be silent. In these words, which can be seen as an introduction to the psalm, David states that he could not and would not want God to defend the integrity of his heart. For by naming him God of his praise, he entrusts to him the justification of his innocence, in the face of the slanders by which he has been almost universally assailed. Some are of the view that this clause should be understood as referring to the fact that David did indeed state that he himself was the publisher of God’s praises; but the scope of the passage precludes such an interpretation; for we find David appealing to God’s judgment against the unjust and cruel hatred to which he has been subjected in the world. There is an implicit contrast in words, for when slander is endemic, innocence is duly and properly valued by no one but God alone.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
An accused appeals to God’s intervention:
- Bad conversations, general references
Ps 36.4 The words of his mouth are false and misleading; He renounces to act wisely, to do good. Ps 55:22 His mouth is softer than cream, but war is in his heart; His words are smoother than oil, but they are naked swords. Mt 12:34 Breeds of vipers, how could you say good things, wicked as you are? For it is from the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. Rom 3:13 Their gosier is an open sepulchre; They use their tongues to deceive; They have under their lips an aspic venom;
- Spiritual enemies
Ps 71:10 For my enemies speak of me, And those who watch for my life consult each other, Ps 109:20 Such be, on behalf of the Lord, the wages of my enemies, and of those who speak wickedly of me! Eph 6:12 For we do not have to fight against flesh and blood, but against domination, against the authorities, against the princes of this world of darkness, against the wicked spirits in the heavenly places. 1 Pet 5.8 Be sober, watch. Your adversary, the devil, prowls like a roaring lion, looking for who he will devour.
- Conviction, general references
John 3:19 And this judgment is that, since the light came into the world, men preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. Rom 5:18 Thus, as by a single offense the condemnation has reached all men, so by a single act of justice the justification that gives life extends to all men. 1 Cor 11:34 If anyone is hungry, eat at home, so that you do not gather to draw judgment on you. I’ll sort out the other things when I arrive. 1 Tim 3:16 And, without a doubt, the mystery of godliness is great: he who has been manifested in the flesh, justified by the Spirit, seen from angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed in the world, raised up in glory.
- Divine Promises to the Poor
-Divine protection Ps 12:6 Because the unfortunate are oppressed and the poor groan, Now, says the Lord, I rise, I bring salvation to those against whom one blows.
-Protective Providence Isa 25:4 You have been a refuge for the weak, a refuge for the unfortunate in distress, A shelter from the storm, A shade from the heat; For the breath of tyrants is like the hurricane that hits a wall.
-Heavenly Inheritance Jas 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has Not God chosen the poor in the eyes of the world, that they may be rich in faith, and heirs to the kingdom that He has promised to those who love Him?
From all of the above, we note that Christ, man, was to find here on earth a few rare moments of refreshment, suitable for encouraging and strengthening his soul (e.g., Luke 7:1-50; Lc 9.18-22; Lc 10.21-42; Lc 23.39-43). Under the feeling of Judas’ betrayal – a betrayal in which he was the guide and representative of the people of unbelieving Israel (Acts 1:16) – and at the thought of the death to which this betrayal led him, Jesus invokes here the One who could both save him from death and avenge him from his adversaries. For Jesus’ communion with God is presented to us in two characters, which this Psalm and Psalm 69 remind us of in an obvious way. I am referring to the one referred to in Heb. 5:7, and the one to whom attention is drawn in 1 Peter 2:23. The first passage is a call for deliverance, the second presents the expectation to the one who judges precisely. There is also in this psalm an allusion to the « trial of jealousy » of Numbers 5:14-18. And other passages of Scripture teach us that it is according to this character of unfaithful wife that Israel will be treated and even forgiven (see Hosea 1–3). When one reads the Psalms, one must have all this before the spirit, and seek God’s teaching. For Ps. 109 does not apply exclusively to Judas. He speaks, for the most part, of « the bad guys » rather than « the bad guy. » The first five verses speak of the hatred of the wicked who are of the troop of the Jews, hostile to Christ and to the faithful residue; Judas is a special case of this hatred of the wicked against Christ; – but I have no doubt that even this part of the Psalm is of general application, that is, that the judgments requested are general judgments, and that they should not be seen as a prophetic revelation that Judas had wife and child (Ps 109:9), or anything of the kind. Verse 20 unquestionably proves the generality of the application of these imprecations. However, we cannot doubt that our beloved Lord was in this position of suffering, but there is no doubt that he was there simply in grace, as if taking the position of the residue, and that the Psalm applies to the residue that passes through similar afflictions: theverses 30 and 31 make this clear. Nevertheless, it is a very certain thing that Christ has fully entered into all this, which is, for us, of the deepest interest, because the fact that he entered it gives precisely to what we find here his true character. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and for centuries of ages. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow « Prayer of the faithful unjustly accused. Ps 120 »
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.