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542_A God who stands at our right hand always

Pslam 109 Be not silent, O God of my praise!
2 For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
speaking against me with lying tongues.
3 They encircle me with words of hate,
and attack me without cause.
4 In return for my love they accuse me,
but I give myself to prayer.
5 So they reward me evil for good,
and hatred for my love.

26 Help me, O Lord my God!
Save me according to your steadfast love!
27 Let them know that this is your hand;
you, O Lord, have done it!
28 Let them curse, but you will bless!
They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad!
29 May my accusers be clothed with dishonor;
may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!

30 With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord;
I will praise him in the midst of the throng.
31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy one,
to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.

There’s a story about a young missionary named John G. Paton, who went to the New Hebrides Islands—lands known for their hostility toward outsiders. One night, soon after his arrival, the natives surrounded his small hut with torches and weapons, ready to burn it down and kill him. Paton and his wife fell to their knees and prayed through the night, pleading for God’s protection. They could hear angry voices outside and see the flicker of torches through the cracks in the wall, yet no harm came to them.

At dawn, they looked out and saw no one. Later, after one of the tribal chiefs became a Christian, Paton asked about that night. The chief said, “We came to kill you—but we saw hundreds of tall men in shining garments with drawn swords standing around your house, and we were afraid to attack.”

Paton never saw them, but he knew who they were. The Lord Himself had sent His angels to stand guard.

Psalm 109 is about that kind of God—a God who stands beside us when the world turns against us, who defends and upholds us when we are falsely accused or misunderstood. It’s one of the most intense psalms David ever wrote—an imprecatory psalm, in which he calls on God to judge his enemies. But beneath its sharp words runs a deep stream of faith—a conviction that God stands at the right hand of the needy one.

When David wrote this psalm, he wasn’t on the throne surrounded by loyal followers. He was the target of cruel lies and slander. In verses 1–5, he pours out his complaint: “For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me… They encircle me with words of hate and attack me without cause.” He says, “In return for my love they accuse me.” He had shown kindness, yet was repaid with hatred.

That kind of pain runs deep. Many of us have faced it—betrayal, gossip, false accusation. It may come from coworkers, friends, or even family. You try to love, but your kindness is twisted against you. David knew that heartbreak, but instead of fighting back, he brought his case to God. That’s where real faith begins—not in retaliation or self-defense, but in trusting the God who judges righteously.

Then, in verses 6–29, David prays that God will deal with the wicked. At first, his words sound harsh—he calls for their downfall and ruin. But these verses aren’t vengeful rants; they are prophetic. They reveal the ultimate destiny of those who persist in rebellion against God.

Verse 8 is quoted by Peter in Acts 1, speaking of Judas Iscariot: “May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it.” Judas had walked with Jesus for more than three years, seen His miracles, heard His words, and yet sold Him for thirty pieces of silver. Even when Judas betrayed Him with a kiss, Jesus called him “Friend.” He was offering one more chance to repent. But Judas chose despair over repentance. He preferred death to humbling himself before God.

So when David prays for justice, he is not merely venting anger—he is describing the tragedy of hardened hearts that refuse mercy. Sin, when it matures, brings forth death.

Yet amid his cries for justice, David humbly acknowledges his own weakness. In verse 21 he pleads, “But You, O God my Lord, deal on my behalf for Your name’s sake; because Your steadfast love is good, deliver me.” He says, “I am poor and needy… I am gone like a shadow at evening… my knees are weak through fasting; my body has become gaunt.”

David feels forgotten and mocked. His enemies wag their heads and scorn him. He admits that, in the world’s eyes, he’s a failure—a man forsaken. But instead of sinking into despair, he focuses on God alone. In verse 26 he prays again, “Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to Your steadfast love! Let them know that this is Your hand—You, O Lord, have done it.”

That’s the turning point. David no longer prays for revenge but for vindication that reveals God’s glory. He wants everyone to see that God Himself has acted on his behalf.

Then comes the psalm’s radiant close:
“With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise Him in the midst of the throng. For He stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.”

That final verse captures the essence of David’s faith. Even though he’s surrounded by mockers, he declares that God stands at his right hand. In biblical imagery, the “right hand” was the place of defense and honor. A warrior held his shield in the left hand, leaving his right side exposed—so a trusted friend or ally would stand at his right to protect that vulnerable spot. David says, “That’s where God stands—right where I am weakest.”

What a comforting picture. When words cut deep, when accusations fly, when we feel defenseless and small, God stands at our side. He doesn’t stay distant, watching from heaven; He steps into our pain and takes His stand beside us.

Maybe you’ve been through seasons like that—times when you were misunderstood or treated unfairly, and God seemed silent. Like David, you felt like a fading shadow. But the God who stood beside David stands beside you too. He may not silence every accuser right away, but He surrounds you with His presence. And when His hand moves, all will know that it was His doing.

Charles Spurgeon once said, “When you cannot trace His hand, you can trust His heart.” That’s what David discovered. Though he couldn’t see the outcome, he chose to keep praising God “in the midst of the throng.” He refused to let bitterness consume him.

Faith doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine; it means standing in the storm and declaring, “My God is with me.”

And when we look at the cross, we see the ultimate fulfillment of that truth. Jesus Himself was betrayed by one who ate at His table. False witnesses accused Him, and the crowd mocked Him. Yet He entrusted Himself to the Father who judges justly. Though abandoned by men, He was upheld by God. The Father stood at His right hand, and on the third day, He raised Him in victory.

So when you feel alone and misunderstood, remember this: the same God who stood by His Son will stand by you. He may not remove every difficulty, but He will never abandon you to face it alone.

David’s psalm ends not with despair but with praise. He chooses to thank God publicly, right in front of those who mocked him. That’s the mark of faith that has seen God’s hand at work.

Perhaps today your prayer is the same as David’s: “Help me, O Lord my God; save me according to Your steadfast love.” Say it sincerely—and then rest in the quiet assurance that God is standing where you need Him most.

The God who surrounded John Paton in the night, who stood by David in his distress, who upheld Jesus in His suffering, now stands by you. He is at your right hand when you face the whispers, the injustice, the loneliness, the loss.

He stands where you are weakest—your defender, your companion, your strength. And when deliverance comes, you too will say with David, “Let them know that this is Your hand, O Lord—you have done it.”

For the God who stands at your right hand always will never let you stand alone. God bless.