Psalm-109
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Remember the
following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO
THE WORD which I command you,
NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT,
that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago and of today have, and are shamefully disobeying this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ - ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Foreword:
Psalm 109 is known as one of the most intense “imprecatory” (cursing) Psalms in the Tanakh. Written by David, it is a desperate plea for Divine justice against a specific, treacherous enemy who has repaid his kindness with hatred.
Introduction:
In this Psalm, David finds himself surrounded by
deceitful accusers who attack him “without a cause”. Rather than taking
personal revenge, David brings his raw emotional pain, his anger, sense of betrayal,
and physical exhaustion, directly to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, whom he calls the “אֱלֹהִים of my praise”. The central
theme is a reliance on אֱלֹהִים - Elohim as the ultimate Judge who defends the needy from those who would
condemn them.
Let us read
Tehillim - Psalm Chapter 109: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
1. For the Leader. A Psalm of David. O אֱלֹהִים of my praise, keep not silence;
2. For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit have
they opened against me; they have spoken unto me with a lying tongue.
3. They compassed me about also with words of hatred, and
fought against me without a cause.
4. In return for my love they are my adversaries; but I am
all prayer.
5. And they have laid upon me evil for good, and hatred for
my love:
6. 'Set Thou a wicked man over him; and let an adversary
stand at his right hand.
7. When he is judged, let him go forth condemned; and let
his prayer be turned into sin.
8. Let his days be few; let another take his charge.
9. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
10. Let his children be vagabonds, and beg; and let them
seek their bread out of their desolate places.
11. Let the creditor distrain all
that he hath; and let strangers make spoil of his labour.
12. Let there be none to extend kindness unto him; neither
let there be any to be gracious unto his fatherless children.
13. Let his posterity be cut off; in the generation
following let their name be blotted out.
14. Let the iniquity of his fathers be brought to
remembrance unto יְהוָה -
the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15. Let them be before יְהוָה -
the LORD continually, that He may cut off the memory of them from the
earth.
16. Because that he remembered not to do kindness,
but persecuted the poor and needy man, and the broken in heart he was ready to
slay.
17. Yea, he loved cursing, and it came unto him; and he
delighted not in blessing, and it is far from him.
18. He clothed himself also with cursing as with his
raiment, and it is come into his inward parts like water, and like oil into his
bones.
19. Let it be unto him as the garment which he putteth on, and for the girdle wherewith he is girded
continually.'
20. This would mine adversaries
effect from יְהוָה -
the LORD, and they that speak evil against my soul.
21. But Thou, O יְהוִה
אֲדֹנָי - Elohim the
LORD, deal with me for Thy name's sake; because Thy mercy is good, deliver Thou
me.
22. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within
me.
23. I am gone like the shadow when it lengtheneth;
I am shaken off as the locust.
24. My knees totter through fasting; and my flesh is lean,
and hath no fatness.
25. I am become also a taunt unto them; when they see me,
they shake their head.
26. Help me, O יְהוִה
אֲדֹנָי - LORD my Elohim;
O save me according to Thy mercy;
27. That they may know that this is Thy hand; that Thou, יְהוָה -
LORD, hast done it.
28. Let them curse, but bless Thou; when they arise, they
shall be put to shame, but Thy servant shall rejoice.
29. Mine adversaries shall be clothed with confusion, and
shall put on their own shame as a robe.
30. I will give great thanks unto יְהוָה -
the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise Him among the multitude;
31. Because He standeth at the
right hand of the needy, to save him from them that judge
his soul.
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Text and Commentary (JPS 1917 Version):
Section I: The Complaint (Verses
1-5).
In the opening verses, David pleads with אֱלֹהִים to intervene, as wicked
enemies have attacked him with lies and hatred. He highlights their malice
despite his love for them.
Section II: The Imprecations
(Verses 6-20):
This section contains severe curses against his adversaries and their descendants.
The curses wish for their condemnation, ruin, and the blotting out of their
name. David attributes these harsh desires to the enemies' own lack of kindness
and persecution of the needy. Some interpretations suggest verses 6-19
represent the curses David’s enemies directed at him, which he then presents to
אֱלֹהִים in verse 20.
Section III: The Plea for Help
(Verses 21-29):
David shifts focus to his own suffering, describing himself as poor, needy, and
physically and emotionally broken. He asks אֱלֹהִים to save him out of mercy, so
that his enemies will recognize אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s hand in his deliverance. He asks אֱלֹהִים to bless him even as his
enemies curse, ensuring his adversaries are shamed
while he rejoices.
Section IV: The Closing Vow (Verses
30-31):
The Psalm concludes with David vowing to publicly praise אֱלֹהִים - Elohim. He praises אֱלֹהִים for standing at the right
hand of the needy to save them from those who seek to condemn them.
Summary & My Closing Message:
Psalm 109 reflects the intense emotions of someone facing deep injustice. It illustrates the practice of bringing anger and pain to אֱלֹהִים rather than seeking personal revenge. The psalm's ultimate message is one of trust in אֱלֹהִים as the just advocate for the oppressed, even when human support fails.
These commentaries explore the imprecatory
nature of Psalm 109, its themes of Divine justice, and David’s plea for deliverance!
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD
of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem;
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine
ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign
between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He
is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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