Psalm 69:19-36

19 You know of my shame, scorn, and disgrace. You see all that my enemies are doing. 20 Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me. 21 But instead, they give me poison for food; they offer me sour wine for my thirst. 22 Let the bountiful table set before them become a snare and their prosperity become a trap. 23 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and make their bodies shake continually. 24 Pour out your fury on them; consume them with your burning anger. 25 Let their homes become desolate and their tents be deserted. 26 To the one you have punished, they add insult to injury; they add to the pain of those you have hurt. 27 Pile their sins up high, and don’t let them go free. 28 Erase their names from the Book of Life; don’t let them be counted among the righteous. 29 I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power. 30 Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving. 31 For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle, more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves. 32 The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged. 33 For the Lord hears the cries of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people. 34 Praise him, O heaven and earth, the seas and all that move in them. 35 For God will save Jerusalem and rebuild the towns of Judah. His people will live there and settle in their own land. 36 The descendants of those who obey him will inherit the land, and those who love him will live there in safety

"Erase their names from the Book of Life?" You think?

In the Old Testament the Book of Life is the book in which God records the names and lives of the righteous. Its analog for the wicked, is the Book of the Dead. According to the Talmud both are opened on Rosh Hashanah. For this reason extra mention is made for the Book of Life during the ten days between Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, and Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.

In the New Testament the Book of Life is referred to seven times in the Book of Revelation. As described, only those whose names are written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, and have not been blotted out by the Lamb, are saved at the Last Judgment; Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

So...These are tough words...particularly if we believe our salvation is secure in Christ. Can our names be in the "Book of Life" and than be removed? Many of our commentaries suggest this is not the intent. They explain the intent of the statement is that the names should not be entered. I'm not so certain.

(Just showing off here...Make sure you read it backwards) יִמָּחֽוּ מִסֵּפֶר חַיִּים וְעִם צַדִּיקִיםאַל־יִכָּתֵֽבוּ׃
"May they be blotted out of the book of life and may they not be recorded with the righteous." The possibility is that we have two entries in the ledger...one is a list of all the humans beings who have ever existed while the other entry is the list of the "righteous."

At any rate, this is serious stuff. This is our psalmist's desire for his enemies. I'll bet his prayers are answered. So the question for us today is simple: Are we a "friend of God" or an "enemy of God?" This is what will determine our eternal destiny. Our New Testament scriptures can help us with this. We are "in the Book" if we allow Christ's sacrifice to purify us from the stain of sin. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. "He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels."

A bigger question...what gets us blotted out?
1. Revelation 22:19 NIV - "And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." This is more common than we'd care to believe. I listen to people daily who have their own "spin" on what the Bible means. They devise an understanding that supports their own intentions. Well, the Bible is a "no spin zone" according to God. If we fiddle with the intent we risk losing claim to eternal life.

Ever wonder how we can be sure we're not "spinning" the truth? Jesus gives us assurance in John 14: 26, 27. "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."

Live boldly out there today...