Psalm 109:4

4 (108-4) Instead of making me a return of love, they detracted me: but I gave myself to prayer.

Psalm 109:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 109:4

For my love they are my adversaries
For the love that Christ showed to the Jews; to their bodies, in going about and healing all manner of diseases among them; to their souls, in preaching, the Gospel to them in each of their cities; and for the love he showed to mankind in coming into the world to save them, which should have commanded love again; but instead of this they became his implacable adversaries: they acted the part of Satan; they were as so many Satans to him, as the word signifies.

But I give myself unto prayer;
or "I am a man of prayer" ^F25; as Aben Ezra and Kimchi supply it; so he was in the days of his flesh, ( Hebrews 5:7 ) , he was constant at it, and fervent in it; sometimes a whole night together at it: his usual method was, when at Jerusalem, to teach in the temple in the daytime, and at night to go to the mount of Olives, and there abide and pray, ( Luke 6:12 ) ( 21:37 ) ( 22:44 ) . This was the armour he alone made use of against his enemies, when they fought against him, and acted the part of an adversary to him; he betook himself to nothing else but prayer; he did not return railing for railing, but committed himself in prayer to God, who judgeth righteously, ( 1 Peter 2:23 ) , yea, he prayed for those his adversaries: and so Aben Ezra and Kimchi interpret it, that he was a man of prayer for them, and prayed for them; as it is certain Christ did, when he was encompassed by his enemies, and they were venting all their spite and malice against him, ( Luke 23:34 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 (hlpt ynaw) "et ego vir orationis", Pagninus, Gejerus.

Psalm 109:4 In-Context

2 (108-2) for the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful man is opened against me.

3 (108-3) They have spoken against me with deceitful tongues; and they have compassed me about with words of hatred; and have fought against me without cause.

4 (108-4) Instead of making me a return of love, they detracted me: but I gave myself to prayer.

5 (108-5) And they repaid me evil for good: and hatred for my love.

6 (108-6) Set thou the sinner over him: and may the devil stand at his right hand.