As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Context for today's passage: This is one of those psalms which is hard for us to read, because we hear King David calling for God to bring judgment on those who do evil and oppress the needy. These are words that only Jesus can say on his own merits. But the Bible invites us to join with Jesus in saying them. We do so aware that we are standing on holy ground – this is a fearful place, and we only dare to enter clothed by the grace of God in Christ.

For the music director, a psalm of David.
1 O God whom I praise, do not ignore me.
2 For they say cruel and deceptive things to me;
they lie to me.
3 They surround me and say hateful things;
they attack me for no reason.
4 They repay my love with accusations,
but I continue to pray.
5 They repay me evil for good
and hate for love.
6 Appoint an evil man to testify against him.
May an accuser stand at his right side.
7 When he is judged, he will be found guilty.
Then his prayer will be regarded as sinful.
8 May his days be few.
May another take his job.
9 May his children be fatherless,
and his wife a widow.
10 May his children roam around begging,
asking for handouts as they leave their ruined home.
11 May the creditor seize all he owns.
May strangers loot his property.
12 May no one show him kindness.
May no one have compassion on his fatherless children.
13 May his descendants be cut off.
May the memory of them be wiped out by the time the next generation arrives.
14 May his ancestors’ sins be remembered by the LORD.
May his mother’s sin not be forgotten.
15 May the LORD be constantly aware of them
and cut off the memory of his children from the earth.
16 For he never bothered to show kindness;
he harassed the oppressed and needy
and killed the disheartened.
17 He loved to curse others, so those curses have come upon him.
He had no desire to bless anyone, so he has experienced no blessings.
18 He made cursing a way of life,
so curses poured into his stomach like water
and seeped into his bones like oil.
19 May a curse attach itself to him, like a garment one puts on,
or a belt one wears continually.
20 May the LORD repay my accusers in this way,
those who say evil things about me.

Now think about the two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.