#DailyDevotion Do You Wear Blessings Or Curses As A Garment?
Psalm 109 16For he didn’t remember to be kind but hunted down the poor, needy and brokenhearted to kill them. 17He loved to curse — let a curse come on him! He didn’t like to bless — may a blessing be far from him. 18He wore cursing like his clothes — may it enter into his body like water and into his bones like oil. 19May it be wrapped around him like a garment, like a belt he always wears!
As the previous verses were fulfilled by Judas, were these passages also fulfilled by Judas? Is this a revelation of his heart? We do not see all this exposed in the Gospels. Though we do see Judas being chastised by Jesus when the woman broke the perfume jar to anoint Jesus. We know he did not care about the poor but instead stole money from the common purse. It seems also the Pharisees, Sadducees and the Scribes loved money as well from the Gospels.
Perhaps that unholy trio of the Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes who opposed Jesus also loved to curse rather than bless. Instead of desiring to call people to repentance through the Law they preferred only to judge and condemn people and then abandon them. It did not seem they wanted the sinners to turn from their ways and live. We should take note of that in ourselves when we condemn people’s actions. Are we doing that to call them to repentance or is it an extracurricular activity? David has some strong words here for those who love to curse (call down evil upon people). It calls for it to be like the garments and belts they always wear. Blessings will be far from those who do this. They themselves become the curses they call upon others.
20That is what the LORD should pay back to those who accuse me and talk evil against me. 21But You, O Lord GOD, deal with me according to Your reputation; Your kindness is so good, rescue me. 22I am poor and needy, and my heart is troubled within me. 23Like a shadow getting longer, I am gone; I’m shaken off like a grasshopper. 24My knees give way because of fasting, and my body is lean, without any fat. 25I’m a victim of their insults; they look at me and shake their heads.
Here we see Jesus’ response to the betrayal, the false accusations and the curses that is put upon them. The LORD will repay them. He calls for His Father in heaven to fulfill His name in Himself by being kind to Him. In the Garden, we see Jesus poor and needy and His heart greatly troubled because of the upcoming cross. He becomes the victim of their insults on the cross and they shake their head at Him. Their descendants continue their lies against Him.
26Help me, O LORD my God! You are so kind; save me! 27Then they will know this is Your hand, that You, O LORD, have done it. 28They may curse, but You bless. May those who attack me come to a shameful end, but may Your servant be glad. 29May those who accuse me put on disgrace as a garment and be wrapped in their shame as in a robe. 30I will thank the LORD very much and praise Him among many people, 31for He stands at the right side of the needy man to save him from those who condemn him to die.
The Father heard Jesus’ prayers here and raised Him from the dead. Having been raised from the dead, He has sat down at the right hand of the Father in glory. Those who rejected Him and cursed Him, if they did not repent, found themselves and their children receiving the brunt of Rome’s armies. A curse remains on all who hear the good news of Jesus and reject Him, both Jew and Gentile. May we who follow Jesus also join Him in His shame and not be afraid to call Him our Friend. If we do, He will acknowledge us before the Father and we will join Him in His inheritance in eternal life and glory.
Heavenly Father, may those who oppose Jesus today repent and turn in faith in Him. Grant us boldness of faith to confess Jesus as LORD and Savior of all so we may join Him in Your glory and Honor. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.