A Reproach Among All My Enemies - Psalms 31:11

In Psalms chapter thirty one David said to Jehovah, “Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: my eye is consumed with grief, yes, my soul and my belly. For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones are consumed”, and in chapter thirty one and verse eleven of Psalms David said, “I was a reproach among all my enemies”, where we read,

I was a reproach among all my enemies, but especially among my neighbors,

and a fear to my acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.

The verse begins, “I was a reproach among all my enemies, but especially among my neighbors, ...” David began with the words, “I was a reproach” which means “I, David, existed as scorned, shamed and disgraced” “among all my enemies” or “in the middle of and between each, every, the whole and everyone of my, David's, hating adversaries and foes”, “but especially among my neighbors” which means “and abundantly and to a greater degree in the middle of and between each, every, the whole and everyone of my, David's, fellow citizens and inhabitants”. David said he experienced shame and disgrace in the middle of his “hating foes” and his “fellow-citizens”.

The verse continues, “... and a fear to my acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.” David added the words, “and a fear” or “and a terror or object of dread” “to my acquaintance” which means “toward my, David's, perception, discrimination and consideration”: “they that did see me without” or “the people whether male or female who observed, beheld and noticed me, David, from outside, abroad and out in the street” “fled from me” which means “retreated, departed, wandered and stayed apart and separate from me, David”. David wrote how he was not only a “reproach among” his hating foes and neighbors, but he also was a “terror and object of dread” to his perception. In fact, everyone who was outside and on the street who saw him ran away from him.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how David was treated by his “enemies, neighbors and strangers on the street”. It was as though no one wanted to be around David, and they shamed him for his ways of “iniquity”. Jesus knew what this was like as he was tried, tortured and crucified. People who observed Him, reproached Him whether they were “enemies or neighbors”. He caused terror to be within those who considered Him, and many, including His disciples, departed from Him while He was being judged. God allowed this punishment and shaming of His Son Jesus so people may be forgiven of their sins and inherit everlasting life with Him. God loves everyone, and even though people are “reproached” for their relationship with Him, He will “save” them for all eternity when they put their faith and trust in Him.

Next time David says, “I am forgotten as a dead man”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".