The "Curse" Psalms
July 22, 2001
Dear Friends,
In the course of reading the Psalms, you may have noticed a few comments interspersed throughout which, well…kindof make you cringe. Take for example Psalm 58:6a which says “Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth.” How about Psalm 137 :9? “Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock!”
These so-called imprecatory or curse psalms are not uncommon. How do we balance them against the saying of the Proverbs? “Do not rejoice when your enemies fall, and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble.” (Prov. 24:17) How do we balance this against the sayings of Jesus? “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44)
What is the correct way to understand the lines as found in Psalm 109:8-11: “May his days be few; may another seize his position. May his children be orphans, and his wife a widow. May his children wander about and beg; may they be driven out of the ruins they inhabit. May the creditor seize all that he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil.”
The key to understanding these Psalms (and, indeed, all of Scripture!) is to take them in their context. First, in none of these is the psalmist seeking to act out the revenge themselves. The request is for God to administer justice. King David had the wherewithal of personally and completely revenging himself. Yet, David, the author of many of these Psalms, did not revenge himself. He left it up to God.
Secondly, in each case (although some are more obvious than others), the psalmist gives us some indication of the complete wickedness of the person being referred to in the Psalm. It is not personal revenge, but the desire to see evil in general taken away. In Psalm 109 referenced above, for example, we are told in Acts 1:20 that the passage refers to Judas Iscariot!
Finally, we can understand from these Psalms that the ultimate desire of the Psalmist is for God’s honor and glory. Ps. 94 is a good example. Notice how, amidst the prayer for the punishment of the wicked, the psalmist always goes back to God’s purpose and glory. “They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.” (v5) “For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.” (vv.. 14,15) It is God’s heritage, honor and glory that are really at issue. God’s glory is not only accomplished in their punishment, but even more so in their repentance. “Happy are those whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law.” (v.12)
The proper balance would seem to be somewhere along these lines. As believers, we should desire the end of all evil and evildoers. First and foremost, we should desire that the evildoers repent and submit to God. However, we know that there will come a time when Jesus Christ, in his mercy for his faithful followers, will punish the wicked and make the nations submit to him. In the meantime, we should pray for those so steeped in evil that they persecute and blaspheme. It is not contradictory to pray for someone to repent all the while praying for their evil deeds to cease. Even so, we should never seek for personal revenge.
The righteousness of God is revealed not only in His blessings, but in His cursings. “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day.” (Deut. 11:26-28)
“O LORD, you God of vengeance, you God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth; give to the proud what they deserve!” (Ps. 94:1)
Have a great week!
Comments»
No comments yet.