CHRIST’S MOST AWESOME PRAYER
A Sermon By Wayne Camp
Psalm 69:27-28 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
When we think of Christ praying, we usually think of the great mediatorial prayer of the seventeenth chapter of John. Or, his prayer on the cross comes to mind: "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Most would not think of going to Psalm 69 or 109 to find a prayer of Jesus. These, along with others, are known as Messianic Psalms. Though written by David, they are actually the prayers of Jesus. And awesome prayers they are.
It is evident from another verse in Psalm 69 that these are the words of Jesus written prophetically by David. Psalm 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. That verse should leave no question in anyone’s mind about this being a prayer of Jesus. Then in Psalm 109 there is also a verse that distinctly reveals that this is another prayer of Jesus. Psalm 109:8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office. This identifies the person concerning whom Jesus prayed in this Psalm to be Judas Iscariot. This verse is referenced in Acts 1 and points to its being prophetic of Judas.
What is so awesome about these prayers? In verse 27 of Psalm 69, Jesus does not pray for the forgiveness of his persecutors; he prays that iniquity be added to their iniquity. He also prays that they not be permitted to come into his righteousness. In the next verse he prays for their death and that they not be written with the righteous. There are other things in this prayer that make it awesome. May I encourage you who read this to read at least verses 21-28. In verse 22 he prays, "Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a snare." This reminds me of what Paul said in another place. 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness. The gospel of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection did become a snare, a stumblingblock, and foolishness to many of his persecutors and their descendants. It should have been for their welfare but God has blinded them because of their rejection of Christ. John 12:39-40 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. This prayer was prayed by Christ and answered by God’s spiritually blinding many of those involved in the crucifixion.
In Psalm 109 there are some awesome petitions made by Christ. In verse 8 he prays that the days of Judas Iscariot be few and he killed himself before Christ was even crucified. The petition was answered. In verse 10 he prayed that his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. This was answered with his suicide. In verse 12 Christ prays that no one show Judas any mercy, not even God and Judas went straight to hell without any mercy being extended. He prayed that Judas’s last name be blotted off the face of the earth. Have you ever met a Jew whose surname was Iscariot?
Awesome! Awesome and answered prayers of Jesus. Everything he prayed for was granted. If one compares the prayers with events recorded in the New Testament there is no doubt these are prayers prayed by Christ and answered by the Father.
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Updated Friday, March 04, 2011