What does Psalms 109:20 mean?
"Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul." - Psalms 109:20
The verse in the book of Psalms, specifically Psalms 109:20 in the King James Version, is a cry for help from the psalmist. It reads, "Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the Lord, and of them that speak evil against my soul." This verse is part of a longer psalm, which is attributed to King David. The psalm is a lament, where the psalmist expresses his distress over the betrayal and persecution he is facing.
The theme of this verse is retribution and justice. The psalmist is calling upon the Lord to deal with his adversaries, to repay them for the harm they have caused and the evil they have spoken against him. This cry for justice reflects the human desire for vindication and restitution when wronged. It also reveals the psalmist's trust in the divine justice of God, believing that God will ultimately bring about justice for those who have been wronged.
The context of this verse is important to understand its full meaning. In the preceding verses, the psalmist describes how his enemies have surrounded him, spreading lies and hateful words against him. He expresses his feelings of helplessness and despair in the face of their attacks. In verses 6-19, the psalmist goes into great detail about the specific curses and judgments he wishes upon his enemies. It is in this context of persecution and suffering that the psalmist calls upon the Lord for justice in verse 20.
The symbolism in this verse lies in the psalmist's trust in the Lord as the ultimate judge and arbiter of justice. By appealing to God for retribution, the psalmist is acknowledging God's authority and power to right the wrongs done against him. The imagery of God as the one who repays his adversaries points to the divine attribute of justice, where God is seen as the one who ultimately brings about retribution and punishment for those who have committed evil.
Furthermore, the verse also reveals the psalmist's belief in the sovereignty of God. He trusts that God is in control of all things, including the actions of his enemies, and that ultimately, God will bring about justice in his own time and way. This reflects a broader theme in the Bible of God's sovereignty and control over all things, even in the midst of human suffering and persecution.
In conclusion, Psalms 109:20 in the King James Version is a powerful expression of the psalmist's cry for justice and retribution in the face of persecution. It reflects the universal human desire for vindication when wronged and the belief in the ultimate justice of God. The verse also symbolizes the psalmist's trust in God's sovereignty and control over all things. Its theme of justice and trust in God's divine justice continues to resonate with believers today, offering comfort and hope in the face of adversity.
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Psalms 109:20 - "Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul."
"Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul." - Psalms 109:20
Psalms 109:9 - "Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow."
Psalms 109:1 - "Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;"
Psalms 109:22 - "For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me."
Psalms 109:8 - "Let his days be few; and let another take his office."
Psalms 109:4 - "For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer."
Psalms 109:24 - "My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness."
Psalms 109:5 - "And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love."
Psalms 109:27 - "That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it."
Psalms 119:109 - "My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law."
Psalms 109:11 - "Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour."
Psalms 109:13 - "Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out."
Psalms 109:26 - "Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy:"
Psalms 109:29 - "Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle."
Psalms 109:3 - "They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause."
Psalms 109:12 - "Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children."
Psalms 109:15 - "Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth."
Psalms 109:7 - "When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin."
Psalms 109:25 - "I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads."
Psalms 109:14 - "Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out."
Psalms 109:30 - "I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude."
Psalms 109:6 - "Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand."
Psalms 109:19 - "Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually."
"Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy:" - Psalms 109:26
Psalms 109:2 - "For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue."
Psalms 109:23 - "I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust."
Psalms 109:31 - "For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul."
Psalms 109:10 - "Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places."
"Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle." - Psalms 109:29