The Poor Millionaire

Psalm 109:20-31

20May those curses become the LORD’s punishment for my accusers

who are plotting against my life.

21But deal well with me, O Sovereign LORD,

for the sake of your own reputation!

Rescue me because you are so faithful and good.

22For I am poor and needy,

and my heart is full of pain.

23I am fading like a shadow at dusk;

I am falling like a grasshopper that is brushed aside.

24My knees are weak from fasting,

and I am skin and bones.

25I am an object of mockery to people everywhere;

when they see me, they shake their heads.

26Help me, O LORD my God!

Save me because of your unfailing love.

27Let them see that this is your doing,

that you yourself have done it, LORD.

28Then let them curse me if they like,

but you will bless me!

When they attack me, they will be disgraced!

But I, your servant, will go right on rejoicing!

29Make their humiliation obvious to all;

clothe my accusers with disgrace.

30But I will give repeated thanks to the LORD,

praising him to everyone.

31For he stands beside the needy,

ready to save them from those who condemn them.

David had a personal fortune worth millions, perhaps billions, of dollars, much of which he later donated for the construction of a temple for the Lord. It included 112 tons of gold and 262 tons of refined silver (see 1 Chronicles 29:4-5). So he certainly wasn’t poverty stricken. Yet several times in the Psalms he refers to himself as being poor and needy.

What did he mean by that? The poor and needy person is one who cannot get himself out of the jam he is in; he has no resources to deliver himself, and he depends completely on others for help. Sometimes the poor and needy person may be financially destitute, but often the trouble is in other areas of life. According to these verses, David may have been physically and emotionally without resources—perhaps Absalom was threatening to take over the kingdom, and David felt powerless. Whatever the reason, David knew that he was completely dependent upon the Lord.

Are you poor and needy? Is there an area of your life in which you feel powerless? Depend on the Lord, “for he stands beside the needy, ready to save them from those who condemn them” (verse 31).

Poor and naked, sick and blind,

Bound fast in misery,

Friend of the needy, let me find

My help, my all in thee.

CHARLES WESLEY

Notable Quotable

“God will not be absent when his people are on trial; he will stand in court as their advocate, to plead on their behalf. How different is this from the doom of the ungodly who has Satan [the accuser] at his right hand.”

CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON