What are imprecatory psalms?

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TL;DR:

Imprecatory Psalms include the psalmist’s request for the Lord to bring specific harms on some enemy. These express deep emotions and a yearning for God’s goodness and justice. They also remind us that we are in need of His mercy, and that vengeance is His business, not ours.

from the old testament

  • There are several imprecatory poems in the book of Psalms, including Psalms 5, 10, 17, 35, 58, 59, 70, 79, 83, 109, 129, 137, and 140.
  • Moses spoke an imprecation in his farewell message to Israel (Deuteronomy 32:19-33).
  • There are many imprecations throughout the prophets, calling judgment upon Israel (Hosea 2:2-13; Micah 1:2-16).

from the new testament

  • Jesus spoke imprecations of judgment against the religious (Matthew 23:13).
  • Paul pronounced imprecations upon various members in the church (1 Corinthians 16:22; Galatians 1:8-9, 5:12; 2 Timothy 4:14).

implications for today

Imprecatory psalms call for God's judgment in a direct, tangible form. How do we reconcile these imprecatory psalms and prayers with Jesus' command to "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44)?

First, God's own people were not immune from receiving God's judgment. In Deuteronomy 27, the Levites were commanded to call down curses on the Israelites if they do not follow God's law. Second, these imprecatory psalms or prayers are not uncontrolled explosions of personal anger; they are meditations provoked by zeal for God's honor and a sense of the horror of sin. In Psalm 69:9 David says, "For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me." David was not promising to personally take revenge for a personal offense. He was calling for God’s judgment because he saw how God had been wronged and God's honor had been impugned. Third, imprecatory prayers reveal a trust in God's timing and His decisions—an acknowledgement that God's judgment and God's mercy can both bring Him glory and that it is up to Him to choose which attribute to bring to bear on the current situation. In Psalm 69 David said, "At an acceptable time, O God,… answer me in your saving faithfulness" (Psalm 69:13).

The imprecatory psalms are not necessarily sentiments the Lord intends for us to use in typical life situations. However, they can be used to explore how we can pray for God's justice in our world. Praying in humility with an awareness of our own sin, for the purpose of God's glory rather than our own revenge, and trusting His decision to exercise judgment or mercy at the appropriate time is praying in a way that aligns with biblical teaching as seen in the imprecatory psalms.

understand

  • Imprecatory psalms include passionate calls for God to bring harsh and literal physical judgment against enemies, expressing a deep desire for His righteousness.
  • Imprecatory psalms are not driven by uncontrolled rage, nor are they promises to take revenge. Instead, they present raw, honest emotions connected to a concern for God's honor and a response to the seriousness of sin.
  • The Imprecatory psalms leave all consequences in God’s hands; this reflects trust in God's timing and in His execution of justice and mercy.

reflect

  • How do the imprecatory psalms challenge or encourage me in my sentiments about the world and injustice?
  • When I feel wronged, do I respond with anger or with a desire to see God's honor upheld? How can I shift my focus toward God's righteousness?
  • How can I trust God's timing in situations where I seek justice, and how can I balance this with a humble awareness of my need for His mercy?

engage

  • What role do imprecatory psalms play in our understanding of God's justice, and how can we apply this understanding in our community today?
  • Why is remembering God’s mercy significant in guiding our hearts’ responses to injustice and sin?
  • How can we encourage one another to trust in God's timing for justice, especially when we feel wronged or see injustice in the world around us?