Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19980426.htm

PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm One Hundred And Nine - Handling Opposition From A Group That Was Initiated By Malicious Slander
(Psalm 109:1-31)
  1. Introduction
    1. Aside from being verbally abused, one of the most difficult challenges to face is that of being unjustly slandered to where one's relationships with others are unfairly damaged.
    2. Psalm one hundred and nine is a primer on handling one's being harmfully, painfully slandered as follows:
  2. Handling Opposition From A Group That Was Initiated By Malicious Slander, Psalm 109:1-31.
    1. David presented his plight of being unjustly slandered so that a group opposed him, Ps. 109:1-4a, 5:
      1. David asked the Lord Whom he praised with his mouth not to remain silent to his call for help, 109:1.
      2. His call was important as David was unjustly afflicted by wicked, deceitful, lying men whose hateful words had turned others against David so that David had trouble ruling his subjects as God's king, 2-4a.
    2. The solution to this plight was prayer: David abruptly countered his focus on his plight with the short statement, " . . . but I (emphatic position, like "I myself") am a man of prayer."
    3. David's prayer to handle being countered by the group due to unjust slander is laid out as follows:
      1. Prayer Factor One - David requested just payback from GOD upon his slanderers, Ps. 109:6-20.
        1. Though the thought of a vengeance is today often considered sin, in reality, there is no sin in seeking for there to be justice. Thus, in verses 6-20, (a) David ventilated his hurt feelings and sense of being robbed of justice. (b) In doing so, he let God know his need for just recompense at length.
        2. This truth is validated for our dispensation as well as David's from Romans 12:19: though it is wrong for US to take vengeance, a payback is NECESSARY in accord with divine justice; thus, the Christian should lay his case before God so that He can deal out justice, Rom. 12:19b; Deut. 32:35.
        3. However, toward the wrongdoers themselves, the wronged party must give place to his wrath, not doing anything negative to harm him. Any harm must be meted out by God alone, Rom. 12:19a.
      2. Prayer Factor Two - David requested reimbursement for the cost suffered by the slander, 109:21-26.
        1. Directing his petition to the Lord as his Master ("Adonai"), David asked God to deal with him for the sake of upholding His own righteousness and loyal love promises to David, Ps. 109:21.
        2. The basis of his request is the cost to David's relationships caused by the slander that in turn countered God's plan for David to rule his subjects effectively, 1 Samuel 16:13 with Ps. 109:22-26.
      3. Prayer Factor Three - David requested that his enemies be educated by God so as to stop their efforts.
        1. Since there was the need for the opponents to be checked from continuing this slander, David requested that his opponents see that God was taking vengeance for David, 109:27.
        2. He requested that his accusers be countered by God's blessing David, Ps. 109:28. That would shame them, effectively cutting off their motivation to continue futile slander efforts, Ps. 109:29.
      4. Prayer Factor Four - David expressed confidence that GOD would counter the opposing group issue:
        1. Out of confidence in God's coming help, David claimed he would greatly extol the Lord in the temple throng. This meant the effects of slander on his subjects would be overturned by God, 30a,b
        2. This confidence was based on David's belief that God stands ready to help the needy in such a plight who are unjustly condemned by slanderers, Ps. 109:31. Also, based on David's appeal to God's loyal love (v. 26b), David implies God must keep His promise for David to be king, and that HAS to include good enough rapport with his subjects so he can RULE them!
Lesson: (1) God is SOVEREIGN over SLANDERERS and their INFLUENCE over any group of people! Thus, RESIST taking personal vengeance if a group turns on us as a result of slander! (2) We do so by PRAYER (a) for justice, (b) for a recompense of costs suffered and (c) the inhibition for opponents against continuing their slander. (d) We must trust God to reverse the unjust GROUP attitude against us so HE can fulfill His plan regarding our relationship to that group!

Application: It is wise to entrust our relations with others to GOD'S WILL to avoid taking vengeance if slanderers misrepresent us before that group, for even SLANDERERS cannot do harm that overturns God's will for us in such relationships!