Psalm 109:25 - People Shook their Heads

There’s a claim that Psalm 109:25 is a prophecy that was fulfilled in Matthew 27:39, when Jesus, already crucified upon his cross, watched his detractors shake their heads at him. Hence the claim: “People shook their heads”.

If this psalm number seems familiar to you, it should, since it was used in a previous claim, that declared that it was a prophecy about Jesus falling beneath a cross that he was carrying, even though there’s no cross, execution, or a condemned man leaving his trial to walk to his final end.

So apparently, one is able to use one “prophecy” to fulfill a number of claims.

And like the previous one, this one too is forced. It is forced so much that an Olympic gymnast would be required to match its contortions to fit the preconceived view.

The text in Matthew 27:39-40 says:

“And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads. And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself if though be the son of God, come down from the cross.”

Let’s look at Psalm 109:25:

“And as for me, I have become a person of disgrace for them, and when they saw me, they shook their head.”

And, as in the earlier claim, this person is not on a cross, is not a criminal, is not going to be executed, is not a messiah. Rather, he is a poor man, impoverished, weak from hunger and his struggles, and is ignored, crying out to God for help (next verse). He represents the downtrodden who is being ignored by others.

Keep in mind, as I have mentioned before, in ancient times it was believed that all misfortune was a chastisement from God, and therefore deserved. And the lack of empathy from such a view should not be surprising. And this Psalm is incorporating that view concerning the poor (the “ahni”) by those who remain indifferent, and declaring that God will be such a person’s salvation.

But it’s not about a crucified messiah where people are basically saying “Where’s your God now?!” In fact, the people in the psalm aren’t saying anything. They notice the poor man, shake their heads, and move on, avoiding him, ending the psalm with:

“Because He stands at the right hand of the needy, and will save him from they who judge him.”

In short, Matthew 27:39 doesn’t fulfill anything in psalm 109:25, which proclaims that God will defend those who are judged by others for His afflictions, a possible reference to “He will afflict they who judge the afflicted.”

Definitely not referring to the crucifixion!

Here's the meme used: