The problem of the wicked; David prays that the wicked man would receive his just reward.

v1-5: In days of difficulty, David was treated unjustly; they lied about him, they fought against him, they accused him, even though he had done no wrong. Such sufferings point us to those of Christ, see Luke 4.22,28. In the face of such sufferings, we can ask God to speak and to act.

v6-20: Prayer against the wicked, fulfilled in Judas Iscariot.

The judgments described (v6-12) would leave a family with little, as a testimony to others that God is neither silent nor passive.

Note also the prayer that he would experience the injustice that he had shown to others, see Neh 4.4. This is the Lord's payment;

• he did not show kindness, so he would not experience kindness;
• he cursed others; he would be cursed;
• he shunned God's blessing, and he would lose that too.

v21-25: The Lord God makes a distinction between the godly and the wicked. The believer finds mercy, and that it is great (2 Sam 24.14).

In our times of trial, when we feel the frailty of human existence (Ps 102.11) we particularly need God's mercy. Such hardship is not just the normal part of life, although it is that, it comes from other people, often by the deliberate actions of others.

The psalmist trusts himself to God, for vengeance is God's, and mercy will be given for His Name's sake. Faith in God looks to God to act.

v26-27: When God acts in these ways, it is clear testimony that His hand has done it, and He has shown mercy to His own.

v28-29: The distinction that God shows in dealing with people is itself a testimony of His righteous nature.

v30-31: Personal testimony; the words of the psalm were not theory, but real experience of God's hand.