[4] For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.
Adversaries — They requite my love with enmity, as it is explained verse 5.
Verse 6
[6] Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.
A wicked man — Who will rule him with rigour and cruelty.
Satan — To accuse him; for this was the place and posture of accusers in the Jewish courts.
Verse 7
[7] When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.
Sin — Because it is not from his heart.
Verse 10
[10] Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.
Desolate places — Into which they are fled for fear and shame.
Verse 11
[11] Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.
Catch — Heb. ensnare, take away not only by oppression but also by cunning artificers.
Stranger — Who hath no right to his goods.
Verse 17
[17] As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
Delighted not — In desiring and promoting the welfare of others.
Verse 18
[18] As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
Garment — Which a man wears constantly.
Like water — Water in the cavity of the belly, between the bowels, is almost certain death. And oil soaking into any of the bones, will soon utterly destroy it.
Verse 20
[20] Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
That speak evil against my soul — With design to take away my life.
Verse 21
[21] But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.
Is good — Above the mercy of all the creatures.
Verse 23
[23] I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.
When — Towards the evening, when the sun is setting.
The locust — Which is easily driven away with every wind.
Psalm 109 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 1
[1] Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;
God — The author and matter of all my praises.
Verse 4
[4] For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.
Adversaries — They requite my love with enmity, as it is explained verse 5.
Verse 6
[6] Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.
A wicked man — Who will rule him with rigour and cruelty.
Satan — To accuse him; for this was the place and posture of accusers in the Jewish courts.
Verse 7
[7] When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.
Sin — Because it is not from his heart.
Verse 10
[10] Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.
Desolate places — Into which they are fled for fear and shame.
Verse 11
[11] Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.
Catch — Heb. ensnare, take away not only by oppression but also by cunning artificers.
Stranger — Who hath no right to his goods.
Verse 17
[17] As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
Delighted not — In desiring and promoting the welfare of others.
Verse 18
[18] As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
Garment — Which a man wears constantly.
Like water — Water in the cavity of the belly, between the bowels, is almost certain death. And oil soaking into any of the bones, will soon utterly destroy it.
Verse 20
[20] Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
That speak evil against my soul — With design to take away my life.
Verse 21
[21] But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.
Is good — Above the mercy of all the creatures.
Verse 23
[23] I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.
When — Towards the evening, when the sun is setting.
The locust — Which is easily driven away with every wind.