Harsh Reality

My husband and I have been working our way through the book of Psalms.  After more than a year, we finally made it to Psalm 109 a few weeks ago and, let me tell ya, it's a doozey.  If you're not familiar with Psalm 109, take a moment to read through it. 

My initial reaction was Wow.  Um, isn't this kinda harsh?  My very basic summary? David is being falsely accused of something and prays that his accusers will die...give or take a few verses.  He calls for some serious judgement upon them:

"When he is judged, let him come forth guilty, and let his prayer be sin.  Let his days be few.  Let another take his office.  Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.  Let his children wander about and beg; and let them seek sustenance far from their ruined homes" (vs. 7-10)

The commentator for the ESV Study Bible points out that, in this particular psalm, King David is proclaiming himself innocent of the accusations against him.  David then calls upon and rests in the Lord's steadfast love to deliver him from his accusers (vs. 21).

Now, if an unbeliever were to read this psalm they would be outraged.  Truthfully, I'm a little appalled myself.  David comes across as this self-righteous, arrogant guy who has the gall to ask God to totally blot his accusers out from the earth.  I mean, seriously.  That's not very...um, nice, is it?

It just seems harsh.  The way that David talks about his accusers and then calls on the Lord to help him (and come on, David wasn't perfect!) - it offends my delicate sensitivities.

The irony is, I'm offended not by the sin of David's accusers but by the seemingly extreme penalty for their sin.

Now there's a thought.

Who is the Lord?  He is a righteous judge, good and perfect.  Being perfectly good and righteous and just, He is compelled to demand payment for our sin.  If He didn't He would be neither just nor righteous.  Who are we but offenders of this Most High God, in debt to His Holiness.

David may or may not have been totally innocent here...but his sins were paid for in blood, as were mine.  We both were blessed that the blood shed was not our own.  David's accusers?  Clearly they chose to bear the cost themselves.  And what a cost it is.

Isn't the truth that we all deserve the same fate?  And were it not for the unfathomable grace of God, we would share it.