Psalm 69:29
But as for me, afflicted and in pain—
may your salvation, God, protect me. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Psalm 69
We have come to an interesting section of Psalm 69 in verses 22 through 28. We have clearly been reading an account of the crucifixion in first person as the psalmist describes all the thoughts and emotions of Jesus as he hangs on the cross. But beginning with verse 22, the emotion changes it. The psalmist goes from absorbing the scorn and shame of his enemies to calling down curses on them.
If you know anything about King David, you should know that calling down curses on his enemies is not out of character for him. If we attribute these words to David, which would be right to do since he is the author, we wouldn’t think twice about their accuracy. David was a warrior. With very few exceptions, if you crossed David, he had no compassion for you.
One example of this is recorded in 2 Samuel 21. During David’s reign as king, there was a famine for three straight years. David inquired of God why there was this famine and God told him it was because Saul had put the Gibeonites to death. So David went to the Gibeonites and asked them what they would like for David to do to make atonement for Saul’s mistake. They ask to be allowed to kill seven of Saul’s descendants and “expose their bodies on a hill before the Lord” (2 Sam 21:9). So David handed them over.
The Gibeonites killed seven of Saul’s grandchildren and exposed them on a hill. Two of those that were killed were sons of Rizpah. These two boys were raised in the king’s palace by David’s wife Michal who was also Saul’s daughter. The other five sons belonged to Merab who was Saul’s older daughter. David and Merab were almost married at one point.
For about six months, Rizpah stands guard day and night over the seven bodies so that the birds and wild animals wouldn’t eat them. I mean this is not a pretty scene at all! So it is not out of character for David to ask God to reign down all kinds of vengeance on his enemies. These boys were very well known to David and yet he showed no mercy.
However, we have been reading this psalm as if they are the words of Jesus. Could it be possible for Jesus to ask God to do such things to his enemies? Recall that verse 22 follows the verse where Jesus is given gall and vinegar on the cross. We know from the gospel of Luke what Jesus said right before this happened. He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). So which is it? Curses or forgiveness?
I think it can be both. Which one it is depends on you. Jesus also said, “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. So watch yourselves” (Luke 17:1-2). We also know the future of the enemies of God, “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:15).
But for those that accept the forgiveness that Jesus offers and draw near to God with a sincere heart (Heb 10:22), “to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). So whether we see the forgiveness of God or the vengeance of God depends on our response to the gift of Jesus. If we choose wisely, we can say along with Jesus, “But as for me, afflicted and in pain—may your salvation, God, protect me” (Psalm 69:29).
Christ in the Old Testament 
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