Psalm 69:27 Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you.
Psalm 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.
Early on in my walk of faith, when I would come across a passage such as this, I would default to the position that those that David referred to were those Philistines, or those Ammonites. Someone who had no relationship, no covenant, no connection with the God of Israel.
I should have read the passage a bit slower.
For David is not saying – Do not allow these enemies to get right with you God – that is do not write their names into the book of the living, but David is asking that the names would be removed, blotted out of the book of the living.
In my research, I have found this likely refers to the records of the nation of Israel, those who formally belonged to the nation of Israel. As children were born to natural Israelites, or as a proselyte joined the faithful people of God, their names would be recorded in the temple. This recordation provided those in the books to enjoy all the privileges of the people of God.
To have a name blotted out of the book of the living, as David prays for, is to remove them from being a part of the nation, removed from the covenant Israel entered into with Almighty God. David was not praying that these enemies simply cease to live, but to lose the privilege of belonging to the covenant people of God.
Remember, as I mistakenly assumed early on, these enemies David is referring are not “those Philistines”, or “those Ammonites”, but Israelites, specifically under the leadership of Saul, the king of Israel.
So, if I hear your right Carl, this blotting out of names from the book of life applies to those who are in covenant with God?
Consider a fellow centuries before David, as he mentions the blotting out of names in relation to the nation. Israel had recently entered into covenant with God, sealed with blood.
Exodus 24:8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
This fellow offered his own covenant relationship with the God of all Creation to be given up so that the nation could continue with God. (Very Christlike!)
Exodus 32:31 So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold.
Exodus 32:32 But now, if you will forgive their sin–but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.”
Exodus 32:33 But the LORD said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.
Moses, along with all the nation of Israel were in covenant with God, and the blotting out of names in this context was directly connected to those of covenant.
Though there are many passages that discuss the topic of the book of life, with many of those passages found in the New Testament, this post was not intended to be exhaustive on the topic. This post is intended to be but a challenge to each of us to consider the tremendous benefit and privilege of belonging to the people of God. Let us not take it lightly, but walk in a way that is worthy of the King.
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you would like to receive daily posts from Considering the Bible, click on the “Follow” link below
Considering the Bible 