How does Psalm 69:27 reflect God's justice towards unrepentant sinners? The Verse in Focus “Charge them with guilt upon guilt; do not let them share in Your righteousness.” (Psalm 69:27) Immediate Context • Psalm 69 is an impassioned prayer from David as he faces relentless hostility. • Though rooted in David’s experience, the New Testament applies this psalm to Jesus’ sufferings (John 15:25; Acts 1:20). • Verses 22–28 form an imprecatory section—calls for God’s righteous judgment on hardened enemies. What the Petition Means • “Charge them with guilt upon guilt” pictures a piling‐up of sins on those who persistently oppose God’s purposes. • “Do not let them share in Your righteousness” asks that they be denied covenant blessing because they refuse repentance. • The language assumes God keeps precise record of sin (Psalm 130:3; Revelation 20:12) and will repay accordingly. Justice Highlighted: Key Principles • Accumulated Guilt: Sin unconfessed compounds (Romans 2:5). Rejection today increases accountability tomorrow. • Exclusion from Righteousness: God’s holiness bars unrepentant sinners from fellowship (Isaiah 59:2). • Divine Retribution Is Measured: Judgment fits deeds—“each will be repaid according to his works” (Proverbs 24:12; Revelation 22:12). • Mercy Remains Available: The psalm targets those obstinate in rebellion, not the penitent (Ezekiel 18:23, 32). Supporting Passages • Hebrews 10:26–27—willful sin after knowing truth brings “a fearful expectation of judgment.” • Romans 1:24, 26, 28—God “gave them over” after repeated rejection, evidencing judicial hardening. • 2 Thessalonians 1:6–9—God’s justice repays afflictors and “inflicts vengeance” on those who “do not obey the gospel.” • Revelation 16:5–6—angels praise God as “just” for judging persecutors. Why It Matters Today • Warns against casual attitude toward sin; every refusal of grace increases debt. • Affirms that God sees unresolved injustice and will act in His time. • Encourages believers: entrust wrongs to the Lord rather than seeking personal revenge (Romans 12:19). • Underscores urgency of the gospel: only in Christ can guilt be removed and righteousness granted (2 Corinthians 5:21). |