Ps 40 14 May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion;
  may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
 15 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be appalled at their own shame.


The Psalmist teaches that sin is a universal condition. All men are born and practice sin. Every person sins because he gives into temptation. Sin brings guilt and shame. Just as sin is in the culture so too are guilt and shame. This cycle is ingrained in the culture because all men practice sin. The problem of sin goes beyond personal guilt.

Because God implanted His law in man, man applies the law in order to justify his actions. Man was created to rule the world by applying the law in order to bring glory to God. But when sin entered, he began to use the law to become his own god. Not only do they use the law as a destructive means to rise in power but they use sin and guilt to keep people under their power. When a nation is turned upside down they face the stigma of an uncontrollable law that keeps them in bondage to wicked rulers. This is why the Psalmist curses his enemies.

God gave the curses because sin and guilt are abusive. The Psalmist is concerned about an indifferent attitude toward the abuse of the law. All sinners lower the standard of the law. The shame of the law is the means by which sinners bring others under their power. If we had not means to oppose the indifference to lowing the standard of the law then we would become hardened toward the abuse. God has spoken the curses of death in order to keep us sensitive to the abuse of lawless men.