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Psalm 109:17
Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him.
15Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off their memory from the earth;
16because he didn’t remember to show kindness, but persecuted the poor and needy man, the broken in heart, to kill them.
17Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him.
18He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment. It came into his inward parts like water, like oil into his bones.
19Let it be to him as the clothing with which he covers himself, for the belt that is always around him.
Notice
Cursing returns to the man who loved it, within a prayer for judgment against someone who withheld kindness and sought to kill the poor.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
How does the persecution of the poor in verse 16 shape your reading of this curse?
Write on thisWhat do you notice about the link between loving cursing and receiving it?
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Where else Scripture says this
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Matthew 7:2For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.Both describe a return upon the speaker: cursing comes back to its lover, and judgment returns according to the measure used.
2 Thessalonians 2:11Because of this, God sends them a powerful delusion, that they should believe a lie,Both describe a grim consequence tied to what came before, though only Thessalonians names God as sending delusion.
Proverbs 14:14The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.The curse returning to its lover matches Proverbs’ statement that the unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways.
Ezekiel 35:6therefore, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will prepare you for blood, and blood will pursue you. Since you have not hated blood, therefore blood will pursue …Cursing returns to the one who loved it, while blood pursues those who did not hate bloodshed.
Psalm 52:4–5You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue.Both passages name a love for harmful speech: cursing in Psalm 109 and devouring words in Psalm 52.
Psalm 59:12–13For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride, for the curses and lies which they utter.Both link curses spoken against others with consequences for the speakers themselves.
2 Thessalonians 2:10–11and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.Both describe people lacking love for what is good: blessing in the psalm, saving truth in Thessalonians.
Revelation 16:6For they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this.”Both describe judgment corresponding to the harm done: cursing returns, and those who poured out blood receive blood to drink.
Psalm 109:28They may curse, but you bless. When they arise, they will be shamed, but your servant shall rejoice.Both verses contrast cursing with blessing; verse 28 names God as the one who blesses while others curse.
Numbers 23:13Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place, where you may see them. You shall see just part of them, and shall not see them all. Curse them from …Both concern a desire for cursing, though Numbers records Balak requesting a curse without describing its return upon him.
Judges 9:27They went out into the field, harvested their vineyards, trod the grapes, celebrated, and went into the house of their god and ate and drank, and cursed …Both mention cursing another person, though Judges records the curse against Abimelech without describing consequences in the supplied verse.
2 Chronicles 18:21“He said, ‘I will go, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ “He said, ‘You will entice him, and will prevail also. Go and do so.’Both involve harmful speech, though Chronicles describes a spirit permitted to deceive, while the psalm describes someone who loved cursing.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
These are severe words about someone who persecuted the poor. The prayer brings his cruelty before God, whose judgment reaches beyond outward acts to what a person loves.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).