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"And David says..."

Text: Romans 11:9

ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT TEXT CITED

Paul was truly a master of the Scriptures. Not only was he familiar with the prophetic books, he also knew “The Writings” well. The book of Psalms belongs to this category of “The Writings”. He cited David the psalmist.

“And David says:
‘Let their table become a snare and a trap,
A stumbling block and a recompense to them.
Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see,
And bow down their back always.”
Romans 11:9-10

1. The Psalm cited

a) This was one of David’s psalms.

b) There were Messianic elements in this psalm (e.g. Psalm 69:21).

c) This psalm also has strong imprecatory features (e.g Psalm 69:22-28).

2. The Imprecatory element cited

a) Paul actually chose to cite the imprecatory elements of Psalm 69.

b) “Let their table become a snare…and a trap”.

i) The table here refers to a mat placed on the floor at meal time.

ii) Many sat on the floor when having their meals.

iii) If the diners are careless they will trip over the table.

iv) The table (the simple mat) will become their snare and trap.

v) The mat would become a stumbling block.

c) “Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see.”

i) Paul drew from this text the concept of being inflicted by spiritual blindness.

ii) God reserves the right to withhold spiritual sight because of the sins of the nation (physical Israel).