Psalms 109:6

HIS PRAYER FOR GOD TO REWARD THEM WITH EVIL

"Set thou a wicked man over him;

And let an adversary stand on his right hand.

When he is judged, let him come forth guilty;

And let his prayer be turned into sin.

Let his days be few;

And let another take his office.

Let his children be fatherless,

And his wife a widow."

"Set thou a wicked man over him" (Psalms 109:6). It is a court scene which appears here. David is praying that his adversary will be brought before a wicked judge who shall declare him guilty.

"Let an adversary stand on his right hand" (Psalms 109:6). "This was the customary position of the prosecutor in an ancient trial."[8] The word for "adversary" here is also a title of Satan.

"Let his prayer be turned into sin ... his children fatherless ... his wife a widow" (Psalms 109:7-9). These are truly horrible imprecations. In fact the list of "curses" as they are called in this long passage is the most extreme and violent to be found anywhere in the Bible. "Calvin tells us that medieval monks hired themselves out to recite this passage against private enemies."[9]

"Let his days be few ... his office let another take" (Psalms 109:8). This passage, along with Psalms 69:25, is quoted by the apostle Peter, stating that it was written through David (Acts 1:16) by the Holy Spirit "concerning Judas Iscariot." For this reason, "The early Fathers of Christianity called this psalm, `Psalmus Iscarioticus.'"[10]