Without retribution or punishment, there is no justice. Instead, they are expressions of deep trust in the Lord to execute justice in ways that are fitting to the retribution principle, a concept that was entirely fitting to the biblical world-and ought to be in ours. When we understand these psalms in their original contexts, we find that these prayers are not comprehensive vindictive attacks from the psalmists they are not the equivalent of nasty comments on social media. Rather, the imprecations are found in psalms that convey a cry for reprieve from deep distress, sometimes distress inflicted even from close friends (Ps 55:12–14). There are no psalms in the Psalter that are entirely filled with imprecations.
that every person of God may be equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16–17).Ĭertain psalms are sometimes called “imprecatory psalms,” but this isn’t quite right. We cannot disregard these portions of God’s Word or pass them off as irrelevant to Christianity because of their perceived ancient barbarism. The first thing we must remember is that the imprecatory prayers of the Psalms are inspired Scripture and therefore profitable in the Christian life. Howell considers these sticky questions-and how we can rightly apply the imprecations from the Psalter to pray for enemies in our own lives. In this excerpt, adapted from May/June 2021 Bible Study Magazine, Adam J. Let their name be blotted out in the next generation” (Ps 109:12–13).Īre Jesus and David contradicting one another? 1 Should we pray “imprecations” (prayers for God to bring retributive justice to wicked enemies) like these? 2 But David says-of an enemy-“Let there be none who extend to him loyal love, nor any who pities his orphans. Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt 5:44). Facebook Twitter Reddit Pinterest Email LinkedInĬhristians pray for their enemies -but should they also pray against them? Consider two verses.
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