Psalm 109:7

Verse 7. Let his prayer become sin. Kimchi in his annotations thus explains these words: i.e., "let it be without effect, so that he does not get what he asks for; let him not hit the mark at which he aims": for ajx sometimes has the meaning to miss. -- Wolfgang Musculus.

Verse 7. Let his prayer become sin. St. Jerome says that Judas's prayer was turned into sin, by reason of his want of hope when he prayed: and thus it was that in despair he hanged himself. --Robert Bellarmine.

Verse 7. Let his prayer become sin. The prayer of the hypocrite is sin formally, and it is sin in the effect, that is, instead of getting any good by it, he gets hurt, and the Lord instead of helping him because he prays, punishes him because of the sinfulness of his prayers. Thus his prayer becomes sin to him, because he receives no more respect from God when he prays than when he sins. And sin doth not only mingle with his prayer (as it doth with the prayers of the holiest), but his prayer is nothing else but a mixture or mingle mangle (as we speak) of many sins. --Joseph Caryl.

Verse 7. Let his prayer become sin. We should be watchful in prayer lest the most holy worship of God should become an abomination: Isaiah 1:15 66:3 James 4:3 Hosea 7:14 Amos 5:23 . If the remedy be poisoned, how shall the diseased be cured? --Martin Geier.

Verse 7-19. These and the following verses, although they contain terrible imprecations, will become less dreadful if we understand them as spoken concerning men pertinaciously cleaving to their vices, against whom only has God threatened punishments; not against those who repent with all their heart, and become thoroughly changed in life. --John Le Clerc.

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verse 7. When may prayer become sin. From what is sought, how sought, by whom sought, and wherefore sought.