You Are Not the Only One

For context, and commentary on verses 1-19, click here. 

David continues to complain to God about his accusers and haters.

¹⁹ Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee. ²⁰ Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. ²¹ They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

David’s quest for companionship, comforters, and friends was met with desolation, betrayal, and contempt. They hated him so much that he felt that they were attempting to poison him.  “They gave me also gall for my meat, and in my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.” Gall is a nasty, bitter-tasting thing. Remember that Christ was also given gall to drink when he was thirsty.  We should not expect anything less than what Christ and David received. When we are betrayed and left to “fend” for ourselves we must remember that Christ is the only constant in our lives.  Folks will help us for a time and a season, but Christ will always be there for us. Peter had even denied Christ 3 times. Don’t be surprised when it happens to us. NB: It is interesting that David felt he should pay restitution for the evil he had done. He stated, “I looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.” He felt it could have been just payment. Christ was betrayed, and dishonored by the religious leaders of his day, not because of anything that he did.  He had to pay the price for our sins for us. He had to die in the flesh so we could be forgiven and live with Him eternally.

²² Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.  [A snare was a trap that hunters used for birds.] ²³ Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; [Let their undersanding be darkened.] and make their loins continually to shake. ²⁴ Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them. ²⁵ Let their habitation be desolate, and let none dwell in their tents. ²⁶  [This very thing happened to the nation of Israel. God drove them out of the land he gave to their forefathers because they refused to worship him and obey his commandments. They did not return to their homeland until 1948. For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten, and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded. ²⁷ Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. ²⁸ Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. [David prophecies about the book of life described in Revelation 20:12. ²⁹ But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. He also asks God to be merciful to him and include his name in the Book of Life “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” This is the reward of the born again Children of God. Have you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior? Do you know him and does he call you his own?

The psalmist has asked for his protection, deliverance, and God’s overshadowing wins to cover him. Now he has had enough. He wants God to “tale out” his enemies. David pronounces the type of judgment that he wants his enemies to receive. The Apostle Paul referenced this chapter of Psalms in Romans 11:9-10 “And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them:Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway” (See commentaries on Romans 11.)  

I will continue to praise only you Yeshua.

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 bullock that hath horns and hoofs. ³²David doesn’t jsut go to the temple and praise God, note that he brings an offering with him. David follows the offerings detailed in the book of Exodus. It is also restated in Deuteronomy. Today Christians are expected to give offerings to their local congregations and to support the work of God.  Ministers, pastors, curches, and ministries exist to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They are supported by Christians. That is our calling and prevelege. The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God. ³³ For the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners. ³⁴ Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and everything that moveth therein. ³⁵ For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession. ³⁶ The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein. This will happen when Christ returns. Christians are members of the Family of God. Galatians 3:29 “And if ye [be] Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”  When he returns to set up his kingdom on this earth we wil be right there with him (Revelation 21.)

 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.² And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.³ And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.⁴ And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.⁵ And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. Even so come Lord Jesus. This world needs permanent peace.

This section of praise at the end of the psalmist’s lament is typical. He follows the script of trust, confidence, and acknowledgment of who God is in his life. Then he presents his complaint or prayer for help from his Jehovah Jireh. Last, he thanks God for answering his prayers-Selah