The Message of the Psalms

IMPRECATORY PSALMS:
CURSING THE ENEMIES OF GOD
The Problem
And imprecation is a curse or a malediction; a word of
destruction against some one or group. There are
numerous prayers of imprecation in the Scriptures. To the
New Testament Christian there is an obvious problem with
calling down curses from Heaven; they seemingly
contradict the Christian standard of loving our enemies
according to the New Testament in Matthew 5:43.1

Proposed Solutions
There are a number solutions proposed by those confronted
with this difficulty. Some just ignore them because they
throw their theology of love out of focus; some view them
as representing the religious climate of black magic and not
commensurate with the God of the Bible. Some try to solve
the problem by saying that they represent the Old
Dispensation whose ethic was inferior to the New
Dispensation. Still others explain them by consigning them
entirely to the future and the messianic period. It is true
that some are prophetic of Christ but this does not satisfy
the entire problem. Another alternative, and the only
biblical approach is to see them in the larger context of the
Scriptures and the Kingdom of God. To pray for the
Kingdom of God (Luke 11:2) it is in effect, a prayer against
the enemies of God and His people.

The Nature of the Imprecatory prayers.

1
Note: in this passage Christ is condemning the anti-biblical
tradition of inter-testamental Judaism (evidenced for example in
the sectarian literature from Qumran). The teaching of the Old
Testament demanded love for personal enemies, just as the New
Testament (see Ex. 23:4,5; Lev. 19:17, 18) In Matthew Christ is
not changing the meaning or intent of the Old Testament
Scriptures. Christ is contradicting what they had heard in the
traditional sectarianism that had developed in the inter-
testamental period.

2007, Victoria Free Presbyterian Church

 The Message of the Psalms

a. These prayers are just as much inspired by the

Holy Spirit as any other Psalm. They are therefore
divinely given patterns to follow.
b. The prayers are not merely emotional outbursts,
but carefully written revelation. (These prayers
occur throughout Scripture, e.g. in the Old
Testament, Jeremiah 15:15; 17:18; 18:21-23; Neh.
6:14; 13:29. In the New Testament, Gal. 1:8-9; 5:12;
II Tim. 4:14. And in Heaven Rev. 6:10.
c. The prayers are addressed to God in good
conscience as they are the desires of a heart
devoted to God’s glory. David was a man after God’s
own heart.

Aspects of Imprecatory Psalms.

a. They often contain poetic statements that
must be interpreted figuratively (Ps. 68:21-23)

b. They reflect an abhorrence of sin (Ps. 5:5;

139:21; note that hatred in these contexts reflects a
rejection rather than an emotional aversion. A
hatred of sin for what it is against God not for its
adverse effects on the sinner in life.

c. They Place Vengeance in God’s hands (Ps.

37:8-9; 104:34-35; 109:31; cf. Deut. 32:35; Rom.
12:19; II Timothy 4:14). The Psalmist does not take
the matter into his own hand. Punishment is in the
hands of God rather than men so that God receives
the glory. David refused to kill Saul when he had
opportunity (cf. Psalm 109:4-5).

d. They reveal God’s attitude towards sinners

and therefore stand as warnings to sinners (Ps. 5:4-
6; 145:20; 83:16-17).

e. They are concerned with God’s glory and

not personal vindication. (Ps. 52:6; 69:7; 109:3,21;
Ps. 83:16-18).

2007, Victoria Free Presbyterian Church

 The Message of the Psalms

f. Many are Prophetic of Christ. (Cf. Ps. 69:25

and 109:8 with Acts 1:20; Ps. 69:4 with John 15:25;
Ps. 69:9 with John 2:17 and Rom 15:3). There is
clearly a prophetic spirit in these Psalms, which in
no way denies their historical situation.

2007, Victoria Free Presbyterian Church