“Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.”
My Notes
What Does Psalms 109:6 Mean?
David prays one of the most severe imprecations in the Psalms: "Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand." The request is for God to appoint a corrupt authority over David's enemy AND to position the accuser at the enemy's side in the heavenly courtroom. The prayer asks for both institutional oppression (a wicked ruler above) and spiritual prosecution (Satan beside).
The "wicked man" set over the enemy means David asks God to give his enemy a taste of unjust governance. The person who has been wicked toward David should experience wickedness from above. The prayer for misrule is retributive: you governed wickedly. Now experience wicked governance.
The "Satan at his right hand" (the marginal note identifies Satan as 'an adversary') places the accuser in the position normally occupied by the advocate. In a courtroom, the right hand was where your defense counsel stood. David's prayer replaces the defense with the prosecution: instead of an advocate at your side, you get an accuser. The person who needs mercy gets opposition.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How do imprecatory prayers (asking God for retribution) differ from personal revenge?
- 2.What does Satan replacing the advocate (right-hand position) teach about the judicial dimension of divine judgment?
- 3.How does Peter applying this psalm to Judas validate its prophetic function?
- 4.Where does your anger at injustice need to move from personal action to prayerful petition?
Devotional
Put a wicked boss over him. Put the accuser where the advocate should stand. David prays for his enemy to experience from above (corrupt governance) what the enemy inflicted from beside (accusation instead of advocacy).
The wicked-man-over-him request is David asking God to impose what David experienced: unjust authority. The prayer is retributive: you used your power wickedly against me. Now someone will use their power wickedly over you. The experience you inflicted will be the experience you receive. The governance you gave will be the governance you get.
Satan at the right hand is the courtroom inversion: the right hand was the position of the advocate — the legal defender who stands beside you and argues your case. David's prayer removes the advocate and replaces him with the accuser. Instead of someone defending you, someone is prosecuting you. The position of support becomes the position of attack.
Peter quotes this psalm (Acts 1:20) in reference to Judas, making the imprecation prophetically applicable to the betrayer of Christ. The prayer David directed at his personal enemy became the Spirit-inspired prayer that described what would happen to the one who betrayed God's Son.
The imprecatory psalms are difficult for modern readers who associate Christianity with forgiveness. But the psalms model the full range of human emotion directed at God rather than acted upon independently. David doesn't take revenge. He asks God to arrange it. The distinction matters: personal revenge bypasses God. Imprecatory prayer defers to God. David is angry enough to pray for Satan at his enemy's side — but he prays it rather than arranges it. The violence is redirected from David's hands to God's courtroom.
Where does your anger at injustice need to be redirected from personal revenge to divine courtroom?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Set thou a wicked man over him,.... Or "them", as the Syriac version; over everyone of his adversaries, and all of them:…
Set thou a wicked man over him - This commences the imprecatory part of the psalm, extending to Psa 109:20. The first…
David here fastens upon some one particular person that was worse than the rest of his enemies, and the ringleader of…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture