September 20, 2021
Scripture: 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 ESV
Observation: Psalm 109, attributed to David, is the last of the imprecatory psalms. With no holds barred, it is a lengthy rant against David’s enemy. Understanding that Jesus called for us to love our enemies and turn the cheek when others insult us, we can frame this psalm as an example of honestly expressing our thoughts and feelings before the One who already knows what’s running through our minds. Nevertheless, this psalm opens a window to the issue of being accused. In verse 6, David writes as if this was a courtroom hearing: “Appoint a wicked man against him; let an accuser stand at his right hand.” The noun “accuser” is the Hebrew word we translate as “satan.” Here, David asks God to let those committed to perpetuating evil stand at their day of judgment accused by their like-kind. In the above closing verses, David declares the needy (who are broken in spirit) will stand at their day of judgment with the Lord by their side to defend and save their souls from their accusers.
Takeaway: First, our battles are not against fellow humans but Satan and his accusers (Ephesians 6:12). Secondly, when we feel accused, we need to remember that “he who is in [us] is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Finally, all humankind is rightly accused of guilt, but for those who know and love Jesus, he will stand by our side on our day of judgment and tell the Judge that he has fully paid the price for our sins (Colossians 2:13-14).
Prayer: Father God, in your mercy, when we hear the condemning words of the Accuser, help us to remember that your Son who was unfairly accused has overcome the Accuser and stands by our side in our defense. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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