Psalms 69:26
For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern ethics demanded compassion for the suffering, even enemies (Exodus 23:4-5, Proverbs 25:21-22). To mock or exploit those under divine discipline was particularly heinous, essentially opposing God's own work. When God disciplined His people through foreign nations, He later judged those nations for excessive cruelty (Isaiah 47:6, Zechariah 1:15).
Job's experience illustrates this verse. God permitted Satan to afflict Job (Job 1-2), yet Job's "comforters" added to his grief through false accusations and theological cruelty (Job 16:2-5). Though claiming to defend God's honor, they actually opposed His purposes.
Isaiah 53:4 explicitly states the Suffering Servant would be "smitten of God," yet this divine smiting didn't excuse those who crucified Him. God's sovereignty in ordaining Christ's death didn't absolve human guilt (Acts 2:23, 4:27-28).
Questions for Reflection
- How do you distinguish between suffering as divine discipline and suffering as satanic attack or human evil?
- What does it mean that enemies exploit suffering God Himself has permitted, and why is this especially wicked?
- How does this verse apply to Christ, who was "smitten of God" for our sins yet whose crucifiers were guilty?
Analysis & Commentary
For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded. This verse provides theological justification for the imprecations: enemies aren't merely opposing David personally but opposing God's disciplinary work. "Him whom thou hast smitten" (אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּה הִכִּיתָ/asher-attah hikkita) acknowledges God permitted or inflicted suffering on the righteous as discipline or testing. Rather than showing compassion, enemies exploit this God-given suffering, adding cruelty to divinely-ordained affliction.
"They talk to the grief" (יְסַפֵּרוּ אֶל־מַכְאוֹב/yesapperu el-makh'ov) literally means "they recount" or "make conversation about" the pain—enemies gossip maliciously about divinely-wounded sufferers, mocking their affliction rather than showing mercy. This compounds wickedness: not only do they fail to help the afflicted, they actively increase suffering through mockery and slander.
This describes precisely what happened to Christ. God "smitten of God, and afflicted" Him (Isaiah 53:4), yet enemies mocked His suffering (Matthew 27:39-44). They "talked to His grief," adding psychological and spiritual torment to physical agony. The principle appears in Job (2:7-13, 16:10-11) and throughout redemptive history.