#DailyDevotion Scripture Fulfilled By Judas’ Betrayal & Death
Psalm 109 O God, Whom I praise, don’t be silent. 2Wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me, spoken to me with lying tongues, 3surrounded me with hateful talk, and fought against me without a reason. 4In return for my love they accuse me, but I pray for them. 5They give me evil for good and hate for my love.
While David certainly did have his detractors, especially Saul before David became king, I believe David is writing this Psalm prophetically, looking to the betrayal and trial of Jesus.
So David, and therefore Jesus look to God the Father, who they praise to not be silent. They are having men oppose them wickedly. They accuse Jesus falsely with the intent to kill Him. Throughout Jesus’ trial they brought false witness after false witness to get an executable crime in the Mosaic law. Jesus had prayed for them outside the city gates. He called them to repentance in love. They would not have it. They even lied to Pilate to try to get Him executed. While having an appearance of holiness, they were rotten to the core.
6Appoint a wicked man over him; let one stand at his right to accuse him. 7When he’s tried, may he come away guilty;let his prayer become a sin. 8May his days be few, and another take over his office! 9May his children be orphans and his wife a widow! 10May his children wander around and beg and look for help far from their ruined homes!
By inspiration, Peter tells us Judas fulfilled this prophecy in Acts 1,
16“Brothers, long ago the Holy Spirit spoke through David about Judas, who led the men that arrested Jesus. And what He wrote had to come true. 17Judas was one of us and was given a share in the work we’re doing. 18With the money he got for his crime he bought a piece of land; and falling headfirst, he burst in the middle, and all his intestines poured out. 19Everyone living in Jerusalem heard about it. And so that piece of land is called Akeldama in their language; the word means ‘Place of Blood’. 20It is written in the book of Psalms: ‘His home should be deserted, and no one should live there’, and ‘Someone else should take over his office’. Then someone should be added to our number as a witness of His resurrection.”
We can only guess by this what happened to Judas’ family. We can see from this why Judas did not repent in a godly way. The wicked man and the accuser of Judas is seen the word “accusar.” So Satan entered Judas according to Judas’ own wicked heart. Then Satan accused Judas of the very thing he tempted Judas to do. He still operates this way today. This is something movies and tv shows often portray correctly. We are tempted to do something by the glamour of the act. Then Satan pounds on us for falling for the temptation. Our only hope is Jesus’ cross and His message of forgiveness from the cross that can cleanse our conscience.
11May a creditor grab everything he has and strangers plunder what he produced by his work! 12May no one be kind to him anymore or pity his fatherless children! 13May his descendants be cut off and their name be wiped out in the next generation! 14May the LORD remember the guilt of his fathers and not wipe out his mother’s sin; 15may they always be before the LORD! May He cut off the memory of them from the earth!
I’m not sure whether this applies only to Judas or to all those who sought His life. It isn’t a legacy you would generally want on your enemies. Yet this was the fate of those who rejected Jesus as their king and did not repent. It is not an absolute for we see Paul repented and inherited eternal life.
Gracious God and Father grant repentance to those outside the Church who persecute Your people so they may escape the curse of rejecting Your Son. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.