詩篇69:22-36
22 願他們的筵席在他們面前變為網羅， 在他們平安的時候變為機檻。 23 願他們的眼睛昏矇， 不得看見； 願你使他們的腰常常戰抖。 24 求你將你的惱恨倒在他們身上， 叫你的烈怒追上他們。 25 願他們的住處變為荒場； 願他們的帳棚無人居住。 26 因為， 你所擊打的， 他們就逼迫； 你所擊傷的， 他們戲說他的愁苦。 27 願你在他們的罪上加罪， 不容他們在你面前稱義。 28 願他們從生命冊上被塗抹， 不得記錄在義人之中。 29 但我是困苦憂傷的； 神啊， 願你的救恩將我安置在高處。 30 我要以詩歌讚美神的名， 以感謝稱他為大！ 31 這便叫耶和華喜悅， 勝似獻牛， 或是獻有角有蹄的公牛。 32 謙卑的人看見了就喜樂； 尋求神的人， 願你們的心甦醒。 33 因為耶和華聽了窮乏人， 不藐視被囚的人。 34 願天和地、 洋海和其中一切的動物都讚美他！ 35 因為神要拯救錫安， 建造猶大的城邑； 他的民要在那裡居住， 得以為業。 36 他僕人的後裔要承受為業； 愛他名的人也要住在其中。
Psalm 69:22-36
22 Let their table become a snare before them, and their well-being a trap. 23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; And make their loins shake continually. 24 Pour out Your indignation upon them, and let Your wrathful anger take hold of them. 25 Let their dwelling place be desolate; Let no one live in their tents. 26 For they persecute the ones You have struck, and talk of the grief of those You have wounded. 27 Add iniquity to their iniquity, and let them not come into Your righteousness. 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. 29 But I am poor and sorrowful; Let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high. 30 I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving. 31 This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves. 32 The humble shall see this and be glad; And you who seek God, your hearts shall live. 33 For the Lord hears the poor, and does not despise His prisoners. 34 Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them. 35 For God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it. 36 Also, the descendants of His servants shall inherit it, and those who love His name shall dwell in it.
Does today’s passage bother you? Do you find it difficult to reconcile the “harsh” language of this passage with Jesus’ teaching that we should love our enemies? If that is the case, you are not alone.
But the New Testament writers are not the least embarrassed about these imprecatory passages in Psalms. In fact Psalm 69 is the 3rd most cited Psalm by the New Testament writers. David is not praying to God out of malice and vindictiveness against someone he dislikes personally. It is a spirit filled prophet who is being inspired to write down the very words of God! It is not a matter of personal revenge; rather, these “harsh” statements reflect David’s awareness of God’s justice and his intolerance for sin. C. S. Lewis was correct when he wrote: “The ferocious parts of the Psalms serve as a reminder that there is in the world such a thing as wickedness and that . . . is hateful to God”
Sin must be punished, will be punished and is being punished. Let us remember that God is a HOLY God who hates sin! May today’s passage reminder us that:
we once were ALL CURSED,
but now we have been REDEEMED from the curse
as Jesus Christ died on the cross to BECOME ACCURSED FOR YOU AND ME!
Only the SALVATION of God sets us up on high! It is GRACE ONLY! That is why you and I need to have a THANKFUL heart!
