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Psalm 69:28
Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous.
26For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.
27Charge them with crime upon crime. Don’t let them come into your righteousness.
28Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous.
29But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me.
30I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Notice
“Blotted out” is a severe plea against persecutors, confronting you with a wounded person's demand that they be excluded from life among the righteous.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What questions does “book of life” raise as you read this wounded person's prayer?
Write on thisWhat do you notice about the plea for exclusion followed by the plea for protection?
Write on thisWhat injustice would you want to bring before God while leaving judgment in his hands?
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Where else Scripture says this
11 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Exodus 32:32Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out of your book which you have written.”Both speak of being blotted out of God's book, though Moses offers himself while the psalm seeks the removal of persecutors.
Revelation 3:5He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, …Both name the book of life: the psalm requests erasure, while Revelation promises that the overcomer's name will remain.
Luke 10:20Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”Both speak of names being written in a divine register, with Luke making enrollment in heaven a reason for joy.
Philippians 4:3Yes, I beg you also, true partner, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose …Both name the book of life, with Philippians identifying fellow workers in the Good News as people whose names are there.
Exodus 32:33The LORD said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot him out of my book.Both describe blotting someone out of God's book, connecting that removal with wrongdoing.
Ezekiel 13:9“My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who utter lying divinations. They will not be in the council of my people, neither will they be …Both describe judgment through exclusion from a written register associated with God's people.
Revelation 20:12–15I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were …Both mention the book of life in a setting of judgment, with Revelation depicting the dead before the throne.
Revelation 13:8All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has …Both distinguish people by whether they are written in the book of life; Revelation identifies it with the Lamb.
Revelation 22:19If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are …Both describe exclusion connected with life, though Revelation names the tree of life rather than the book of life.
Hebrews 12:23to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,Both connect enrollment with the righteous, while Hebrews describes an assembly enrolled in heaven before God the Judge.
Isaiah 4:3It will happen that he who is left in Zion and he who remains in Jerusalem shall be called holy, even everyone who is written among the living in Jerusalem,Both connect written enrollment with life and holiness, with Isaiah locating those written among the living in Jerusalem.
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 from someone in pain. The sufferer brings the demand for exclusion to God; the prayer leaves the verdict in God's hands.
Now put it in your words.
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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).