IMPRECATION, IMPRECATORY PSALMS Act of invoking a curse. In the Imprecatory Psalmsthe author calls for God to bring misfortune and disaster upon the enemies (Pss. 5; 11; 17; 35; 55; 59; 69; 109; 137; 140). These psalms are an embarrassment to many Christians who see them in tension with Jesus’ teaching on love of enemies (Matt. 5:43–48). It is important to recall the theological principles that underlie such psalms. These include: (1) the principle that vengeance belongs to God (Deut. 32:35; Ps. 94:1) that excludes personal retaliation and necessitates appeal to God to punish the wicked (cp. Rom. 12:19); (2) the principle that God’srighteousness demands judgment on the wicked (Pss. 5:6; 11:5–6); (3) the principle that God’scovenant love for the people of God necessitates intervention on their part (Pss. 5:7; 59:10, 16–17); and (4) the principle of prayer that believers trust God with all their thoughts and desires.
Chad Brand, Charles Draper, Archie England, Steve Bond, E. Ray Clendenen, Trent C. Butler and Bill Latta, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003).812.
Comments