Psalm 109,1-5

Abstract

Psalm 109 is one of the most difficult biblical texts. It is not the language of it that may cause the difficulty but its contents. The analysis of the psalm proves that the psalmist used a mental scheme known to his contemporaneous from their social life; these were court practices. There have been various ways to define its main message in the history of the psalm’s interpretation. Literary analysis of the Psalm 109 leads to spot elements of personal lamentation where we can find themes of prophetic oracle against the enemy. It comprises viptuperating damnation characteristic for the oriental style. The introduction lines 1-5 of the Psalm expose the psalmist’s existential situation. He indubitably was a pious Israeli, one of those who put all their trust in God. He was a man of prayer and dedication. Life of such a man was pretty hard in a society full of people trespassing the law of Jahveh. Such a man became an aim for wretched people who could even use judicial methods to get rid of the poor. The psalmist, going through an ordeal, kept faith to his God whom he appeals to as his rescue and shame of his opponents.