(REFLECTIONS ON Psalm 109:1-31)

22 For I am afflicted and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. 23 I am passing like a shadow when it lengthens; I am shaken off like the locust. 24 My knees are weak from fasting, and my flesh has grown lean, without fatness. 25 I also have become a reproach to them; When they see me, they wag their head.

Beaten down, surrounded by a host of accusers and adversaries. Hopeless, in a hopeless situation, in a hopeless world. Yet, there is one hope, and that hope is in God.

1 O God of my praise, do not be silent!

The wounded heart, the broken heart. The wounded flesh, the broken flesh, can only cry out to the Lord to deliver justice in a world that brings judgment to the weak and poor. Justice will be delivered, not because of human strength, might, and faithfulness, but because God is faithful, He is just, and He hears the prayers of those that are His.

The wounded heart, the afflicted and needy, fading away like the passing shadow, ignored by the world, but yet holds on to the Lord as the one hope left. With weak knees from fasting, from coming to the Lord saying over and over again, “O God of my praise, do not be silent!” With no more strength, only looked down upon and given up on, with only one hope left,

31 For He stands at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul.

The wounded heart, our heart, our weakness, our flesh being sacrificed to the world, yet we have one hope left, and so we cry out, “O God of my praise, do not be silent!” And He will hear us, because we are His name’s sake, we are His people and He is our God, His sons and daughters, and He is faithful in a faithless world.

The wounded heart, yet “With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the Lord; And in the midst of many I will praise Him.” (v.30) Let us turn to the Lord, our God, our Maker, our Father, with a wounded heart, and let justice be delivered by Him, His justice and not our own, for His lovingkindness endures forever.

The wounded heart, to be healed, whether in life or in death, because eternity has been given by the Lord, through His Son, Jesus Christ, just as Isaiah 53:5 states,

5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging (NIV: wounds) we are healed.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Psalm 109