I have recieved a number of emails from an acquaintance of mine in the USA in the last few days.

He is a political activist, and this being the US Preisential election year, his signature block contains the phrase “Pray for Obama, Psalm 109:8”.  Also I found a bumper sticker with the same message.

Now with my limited knowledge of American politics, and him being a political activist, I naturally assumed that this would be a statement of support for the presidency of Barack Obama .  So I decided to look up Psalm 190:8. It was during this search that I also found an image of the bumper sticker.

Car Bumper Sticker

In respect of the Psalm, this is what I found:

“Let his days be few; and let another take his office.”

Clearly, the message is not one of support.  Let his days be few? Am I being asked to pray for Obama’s death or demise?  I’m wrong, yes?

Of course I realise that real intent of this message is probably “Let his days (in office) be few; and let another take his office”. But that’s not what the Psalm says!

But Psalm 109 goes on thus:

“Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.
Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labor.
Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favor his fatherless children.
Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the Lord; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
Let them be before the Lord continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.”

Now this I found disturbing.  I thought it was only Australian politicians and political parties that were devoid of morals and conscience. Nothing has Obama has done throughout his presidential term is deserving of this level of vitriol. It appears that American political parties will do and say anything to get their nominee elected.

Ultimately, I find this message and the sentiment conveyed by the message completely derogatory and absolutely inappropriate, whatever the colour of your politics.

Or am I reading too much into this? Can I hear the “free speech” movement sharpening their quills already?