Understanding Psalm 139:19-22 is not as difficult for me as applying them to my life. Because of David’s exalted view of God described in verses 1-18, his zeal for God rose exponentially, especially as he saw around him “the wicked,” “men of blood” (18), “who speak against [Yahweh] with malicious intent” and “take [his] name in vain” (20). David hated those who hated Yahweh, whom he magnified in his mind and heart as the all-knowing, everywhere-present, all-powerful Creator. David hated them with the utmost hatred possible and counted them his enemies (22).
I think David is being consistent here, because elsewhere in his songs he wrote about hating “the assembly of evildoers (26:5) and “those who regard vain idols” (31:6). I remind myself that David was talking about his own people, fellow Israelites who were part of the covenant established by Moses centuries ago and codified in the law. But those people had no regard for God’s law while claiming the heritage and privilege of the nation of Israel. But what did David do with his hatred? He prayed, and in his prayer he appealed to God to “slay the wicked” (19a). He didn’t go on a personal crusade against them to kill them himself but left their judgment in God’s hands. However, he also didn’t associate with them or ally himself with them in any way (19b), as his descendant good King Jehoshaphat would do years later with wicked King Ahab (2 Chronicles 19:2). David’s animosity was a hatred toward a group of people who allied themselves together against God. David would have nothing to do with them and had no good intentions or sentiments for them. This was in keeping with the lex talionis, the law of retribution, “eye for eye” etc. , that we have seen often in the psalms. These people hate God, therefore, David hated them. These people were God’s enemies, therefore they became David’s enemies.
I can’t help but respect that kind of zeal for God and pray for more of it in my own heart. I, too, can hate an anonymous, faceless group, such as when I pick up trash along the road in front of my house that people have thrown out of their cars, and I grumble to myself, “I hate trashy people.” Or on a higher level, I can say that I hate abortionists who murder babies or rioters who loot from businesses & destroy other people’s property. But on an individual level, when I’m face to face with one of these people, and they are known to me personally, I have a better disposition and attitude because of a higher calling from the Lord Jesus who taught me to love my enemies and pray for them & seek their welfare (Matthew 5:44). Instead of perfect hatred for the individual, I am called to have perfect love for them as my heavenly Father has for those he knows are his enemies (Matthew 5:48). All future retribution & judgment is in God’s hands. Until then, I will live as Jesus taught me to live, for He alone had perfect and holy zeal for his Father and took appropriate action when he was on earth (John 2:17), and will do so again when he returns (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 19:11-16).
Joan Fisk says
Thank you for your commentary. It helped me to understand
Terry Manahan says
Joan,
I apologize for the delayed reply. I have not been checking comments lately. I’m glad my short post helped you understand David’s thoughts in Ps. 139 better. They are certainly sobering and startled me when I read them for the first time. I’m thankful God has a better way for us personally to deal with individuals – the way of love, the way of Christ.
Laura Zsofka says
Hello Terry,
What about people like Klaus Schwab of the WHO who announced recently that he wants laws overturned that keep adults from having sex with children. He said these laws are a violation of human Rights. He said sex with children is good because they can’t get pregnant, and they grow up to have less babies, and it will help decrease the world population. There are so many evil people in this world right now that are completely against God, and foisting treachery upon innocent people, I find myself filled with hatred and rage about these people even though I’m a very mature Christian. I can love every other human on the planet but these people have no redeeming qualities they are revolting. What is your opinion of this?
Terry Manahan says
Dear Laura,
I am sooo sorry for the delay in responding to your comment. Please forgive me. My opinion in the things you mentioned really doesn’t count for much. What counts is what GOD thinks and more importantly what he has already revealed about the things you mentioned. I think Isaiah 5:20 sums up well the age and culture in which we live, in that the world calls evil good and good evil and puts darkness for light and light for darkness as well as bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. They are wise in their own eyes but don’t realize how foolish they really are. I used to think that such people have lost their minds, but then I realized that they are only operating out of the reprobate mind that God has given them over to (Romans 1:28). They do not honor God and prefer their own desires and lusts rather than what pleases God. Our best response is to continue to shine the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ and to keep being the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
Terry Manahan says
Gary,
I apologize for the delayed response to your comment on my blog. It sounds like you are really hurting and disappointed with God, who you believe has “cursed you with singleness.” It must be frustrating to be single when you really want to meet and marry “the right good woman to settle down with.” I don’t believe that God is punishing you by keeping you from finding that right person to marry. I don’t know anything about you personally – your age and dating experience, or even your personal relationship with God – but perhaps God has kept you from marrying at this time because he is protecting you from being too hasty or preparing a special person for you, or perhaps he’s even preparing you for that special person. I encourage you not to give up hope that there is someone out there for you. Proverbs tells us, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing.” Keep on looking, keep on seeking, keep on asking, keep on trusting God. I can tell you from experience with counseling other married men that there is something far worse than not being married, and that’s being married to the wrong person. Proverbs also warns about nagging or contentious wives and tells us there’s something better than living with that kind of person. Right now, however, it’s your relationship with God that matters the most. Jesus Christ offers new life and peace with God through the forgiveness of sins. So, if you have not already trusted Jesus Christ to save you from the wages of sin, I encourage you to do so. Let us know if we can help you have peace with God through Jesus Christ, who died for sinners and rose again to save anyone who will call upon his name and believe in him.
Guest says
And why should many of us single men be alone all the time when it wasn’t even our choice at all in the first place? Didn’t God say that man shouldn’t be alone?
Terry Manahan says
Chase,
Friend, I apologize for the delay in responding. I haven’t checked the comments lately. I don’t know your situation, but it sounds like you are upset with God for still being single. If I knew you better, I might be able to say something more direct and pertinent to your situation. I can say that there are many advantages to being single, as the Apostle Paul taught us in 1 Corinthians 7, especially verses 26-35. Those who are married “will have worldly troubles,” (v. 28). A single man has a lot less to worry about as far as providing for a wife (and children). The unmarried man can devote himself to “the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided,” (vv. 32-34). There are benefits and blessings in being married, I know, but there are also many benefits and blessings in being single. Perhaps you could start writing a list of those benefits and blessings that fit your situation. We all have something to be thankful for every day.
Deborah says
Wonderful message. So helpful to me as I am currently struggling with this issue. Thank you for sharing it!