Many Christians struggle with the question of whether it is wrong for them to read psalms like Psalm 109, 35, and 37 when enemies have done wickedness to them. These Psalms are known as imprecatory Psalms, which are prayers that invoke God's judgment or curse upon one's enemies. They contain strong expressions of anger, hatred, and vengeance, such as:
"Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children be
continually vagabonds and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their
desolate places." (Psalm 109:8-10)
"Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek
after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my
hurt. Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase
them." (Psalm 35:4-5)
"For I have seen the wicked in great power and
spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was
not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found." (Psalm 37:35-36)
Some people may think that reading these psalms is wrong
because they contradict the teachings of Jesus, who said:
"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;" (Matthew 5:44)
Others may think that reading these psalms is right because
they reflect the feelings of the psalmists, who were inspired by the Holy
Spirit, and who trusted in God's justice and sovereignty. They may also argue
that these Psalms are not expressions of personal revenge but of God's
righteous wrath against the wicked.
So, how should we approach these Psalms? Here are some
points to consider:
- We should acknowledge that these psalms are part of God's
inspired word and that they reveal something about God's character and will.
They show us that God hates sin and injustice and that He will judge the
wicked in His own time and way. They also show us that God cares for His
people and that He hears their cries and delivers them from their troubles.
- We should recognize that these psalms are not meant to be
taken literally or applied indiscriminately. They are poetic expressions of the Psalmists' emotions and desires, not commands or prescriptions for us. They are
also context-specific, reflecting the historical and cultural situations of the Psalmists, who lived under a different covenant and dispensation than we do. We
should not use these psalms to justify our own hatred or violence against our
enemies or to wish harm upon anyone.
- We should read these psalms in light of the whole counsel
of God's word, especially the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. We should
remember that Jesus fulfilled the law and the prophets and that He brought a
new commandment of love and forgiveness. We should also remember that Jesus Himself
prayed for His enemies on the cross, saying:
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they
do." (Luke 23:34)
We should follow His example and pray for our enemies'
repentance and salvation, not their destruction. We should also remember that
Paul taught us to:
"Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse
not." (Romans 12:14)
We should overcome evil with good, not with evil.
- We should use these Psalms as a means of expressing our
honest feelings to God, and of seeking His comfort and guidance. We should not
suppress or deny our anger or pain when we are wronged by others, but we should
bring them to God in prayer. We should also ask God to search our hearts and to
purify our motives. We should ask Him to help us forgive our enemies as He has
forgiven us. We should also ask Him to help us trust in His justice and mercy and to wait for His perfect timing.
In conclusion, reading these Psalms is not wrong in itself,
but it depends on how we read them and what we do with them. We should read
them with reverence, wisdom, humility, and love. We should read them as a way
of drawing closer to God, not as a way of distancing ourselves from others.
