They Reward My Good with Their Evil - Psalms 108-110

 Psalms 109:1-5 (ESV)

TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID.

Be not silent, O God of my praise!

For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,

speaking against me with lying tongues.

They encircle me with words of hate,

and attack me without cause.

In return for my love they accuse me,

but I give myself to prayer.

So they reward me evil for good,

and hatred for my love.

The above portion of Psalm 109 states that the song was addressed to the “choirmaster.”   This address indicates that this was to be a public song of prayer.    This might have been an individual song of David’s, but one he meant to be included in public worship.   Yet, it is David’s individual lament that is being captured in the song.   David is complaining to God that he has done good and is being rewarded by evil.   He wants God to no longer be “silent” and to do something about this trouble in his life.   He feels encircled by this (these?) enemies.   He finds no fault in his life.  They “attack me without cause,” he states, boldly.   And, he even makes sure we don’t conclude that he has sins of omission by stating, “in return for my love they accuse me.”  So, we have here a writer who is expressing love to others, but feels attacked and unfairly and unjustly treated in return.    Where might we see this again?  

1 Peter 3:13-19 (ESV)

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison,

Christ suffered harm for doing good.  He was unjustly crucified for our sins.   This individual song of David’s life is a precursor to Christ’s earthly life.   It is Christ personified by the experience of David.   Who can’t relate to this type of treatment?  Have not we all at one time or another thought we were doing good and right and yet suffered for it.   Perhaps when Jesus prayed in the Garden prior to His crucifixion, this is a song of prayer He uttered.   Our mistreatment by the hands of wicked men is what our Savior went through on the earth.  Like Him, our response should be worship in prayer to the Father and submission to His will.   Evil men will continue to reward good with evil and hatred for love.   Like David of old, our response is to appeal to God for vindication.  

Romans 12:19 (ESV)

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”